Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-11

always returned the same day. One day,
however, she did not return, and after
vainly waiting for her till the next morn.
ing, her house was closed and the child
given over to the nurse, with the expecta-
ton that sooner or later the mother would
come back. But they waited in vain, she
never came and as the nurse declared
herself willing to adopt the child, it was
delivered up to her with all the goods of
the Signora.
Nina and Cecco now grew up
together, and, even as little chill
dren, they were so inseparable that
they were called i gemelli, or the twins.
Years passed by; Nina grew and the
| Signora was seldom remembered. Shortly
after Nina had completed her tenth year,
| the minister, who went with US yesterday
to Mt. Salaro received letter, and again
| the attention of everyone was directed to
Nina. This letter contained 1000 francs
and a polite note asking the minister to
hand the sum to Nina's adopted parents.
! The mail roate could not be deciphered,
and from that time nothing further has
been heard. The 1900 francs was for
tune to the poor people they built the
| little home where they now live, and it is
! nara 10 say NLtCtl Ll1Ey ASNC DSSty OStSD VI
| Nina. Inseparable as children, so they
continued, and as gemelli, indeed, have
grown, for Nina is the 'promessa sposa
OF Coco, and their marriage will take
place in autumn.
"My story is through, my cigar smoked
cut; let US go to rest. the PaPano man
has already looked in several times to see
if he could extinguish the light.
My evenings adventure and Nina's
strange history caused me quite sleepless
night, SO was late at breakfast the next
morning. met Cecco below in the court /;
he had already waited two horrs, in order
! to give me the materials | had left behind
the night before inquired about Nina,
| and his laughing " benissimo sounded as
though he would say, How can it DE
| otherwise than well with her 2"
The following Sunday / met them on the
| piazza, and handsomer pair could hardly
be found moreover, they seemed so happy
they put me into good spirits Immediately,
and resolved to be present at their we'd
ding, even if must postpone my departure
in consequence.
But in the DEGREES of Providence it was
otherwise determined. About six weeks
later, in August, / worked with Faraglioni
| In order to save the time in the middle of
the day had my luncheon brought to me.
The 18th was hot, oppressive day. The
air trembled over the sun. burned earth, a
warm vapOr yelled the distant mountains,
and the heavens were blue over the motion
less sea.
| 1t was impossible to work so | found a
shadow by high rocky wall and laid N.Y.
| self down, to wait for later hour of the
day. No breath of air disturbed me, no
sound was heard, even the light humming
of the insects was silenced. The sea had
lost it's blue color and lay motionless at
my feet, like glittering mirror of metal !;
now and then it breathed as if in deep
sleep, softly swelled up and down, then
again all was still; only on the edge of the
rocks it splashed and sighed gently, like
the dream whispers from the slumbering
deep.
had fallen asleep, but a wicked, incom-
prehensible dream awakened me. Three
hours had passed, ard during that time all
had changed. Golden grey clouds had fed
over the heavens, and a raging hurricane
had awakened the sea from it's slunbers.
It ragged and foamed to the horizon the
white angry waves reared themselves on
the rocky bank wilder grew the stormy
sea, louder howled the wind, and dismaly
whining, like complaining voices, the echo
came back from the lacerated shore. All
nature was excited only the rocks stood
calm and immovable.
| noticed several fishermen on the
opposite bank from the buts above | saw
others approaching, also women and chill
dren, all in apparent excitement, and all
looking out upon the raging sea. What was
it, they sought A ship? A boat Then
God help the poor victims
From my position there was nothing in
sight. l hurried further, hardly able to
keep upright in the raging storm. Yes, it
was a boat a small boat, containing two
unfortunates battling for life.
Four or five fishermen, provided with
ropes and poles, descended the slope in or
der to reach rocky place that was visible
now and again in the foam of the waves.
Now they were at the boundary; two of
them had ropes bound to their arms, which
the others held while they courageously
stepped nearer the edge of the rocks.
A loud cry from the assembled people,
and the boat was gone. Had the sea al
ready devoured it's sacrifice? No, there it
is again, not thirty steps from the bank,
| high on an elevated wave /; now we see 1t
plainly, and Nina" Francesca, re-
sounded from all sides; but the wave
broke before it reached the bank, and down
plunged the boat in the foaming whirlpool
Laundering, the water rebounded from the
rocks, the foam dashed high then the sea
became smooth, and swimmer was visi-
BILE, who was greeted with shout of Joy,
as he erased the saving rope. His strength
was soon exhausted, and he was drawn
into the deep, for be would not leave his
bride, whom he embraced with the strength
of despair. Powerfully pulled the fisher
men the drowning ones were already
wave. raised them high and hurled them
lifeless on the rocky bank.
! Before the water had receded they were
snatched up, and rough hands bore them
tenderly and laid them under the protec-
ton of the great rocks.
Pisherwomen and maidens knelt before
Nina they knew well what should be
done, sad experience had taught them.
For long time their efforts were fruitless,
| however life was not extinct, weak
breathing raised the breast and soon the
cheeks colored with delicate pink pre-
sently she opened her eyes, and her glance
showed that with life returned also remem.
brance. Slowly she rose, and directed her
glance toward the group of earnest men,
who stood around In circle, with their
heads bowed and their caps in their folded
hands. With a cry of despair she spsang
forward; in vain they tried to hold her
, back, she broke through the circle of men
and sank unconscious by the dead loved
one.
Two days later we stood by Francesco's
grave; the entire village seemed to be
present for all had loved him and all had
lost him.
They lowered his body into the pit. and
many sad tears fell over the open grave.
The old pastor was deeply moved he ex-
tended his hands and began in tremulous
voice
1.-THE Lord gave, the Lord has taken -"
Deeply touching were those words, they
were words which came from the heart and