Saint Mary's beacon., 1882-08-03

o0uerIk obedience.
They IRE very nice old ladies, she
sAid; 4 met them at AErs. Gorthrup' ..
But this vas not ct all what the
young girl wanted.
s0nly think, Aunt Margaret, she
cried impatientlY, / am to stay there
for at least eix weeks. and / know
nothing abont them. not what age
they are, nor il they are tall or short.
jolly or prim, pretty or ugly; not
sven If they speak English
They speak EngIish. said Miss
Hamelyn, beginning az the end.
.Qne Of them il English, or a least
Irish Erunty
kA4d
She ii an ITALIAN. a6Ea pslfucsi
shs used TO be very handsome.
oh, said Goneril, looking pleased.
I'm glad shes handsome, and that
they speak EngIish. But they are
not relatiyes2
No. they are not connected; they
are friends
And have they always lived to
gether
Ever since Madame Lili died, !
and Miss Hamelyn named a very
celebrated singer.
'Whyr cried GOneril, quite excited !;
were they singers, too2
Madame Petrucci; nevertheless q
lady Of the highest respectability.
Miss Prunty was Madame Lilli's Sec
retary.'
How nicer cried the young girl.
how interestingl Oh, anntie, I'm 50
glad you foand them cut
so am /, child; but please remem-
ber, IL Is not an -ordinary pension.
They only take you, Gcneril. till you
are strong enough to travel, as an es-
| pecial favor TO me and to their old
friend, Mrs. Gorthrup.
III remember, auntie.'
By this time they were driving
under the terrace in front of the little
house.
'Goneril. said the elder lady, I
shall leave you outside; you can play
in the garden or the orchard
Very we'll
Miss Hamelyn left the carriage
and assembled the steep little fight Of
steps that leads from the road to the
cottage. garden.
In the porch a singular figure was
awaiting her.
Good afternoon, Madame Petrucci,
said Miss HameIyn. -
"a slender7old lady, over 60, rather
tall, in q brown silk skirt and awhile
bnrnouse that showed the shrunken
slimness Of her arms, come eagerly
forward. She was still rather pretty,
with small refined features, large ex-
pressionless blue eyes, and long whit
ish-yellow ringlets down her cheeks,
in the fashion Of forty years ago.
oh. dear Miss Hamelyn, she cried,
how glad / am to see youl And have
you brought your charming young
relation
She spoke with q languid foreign
accent, and with an emphatic and
bonntiful use Of adiectives that gave
tosour severer generation an impress
sion Of insincerity. Yet it-was said
with truth that Giulia Petrueci had
never.fo forgotten friend nor an enc
my.
'Goneril is outside said Miss Ham
elyn. How is Miss Prunty?
iBrigida? Oh, You must come in
side and see my invaluable Brigida.
She is as usual fatiguing herself with
our accounts. The old lady led the
way into the darkened parlor. II
was small and rather stiff. As ones
eyes became accustomed to the dim
green light one noticed the incongru-
ity Of the furniture, the large account
ants desk with ledgers, the. large
Pleyel grand piano, a bookcase, II
which all the books we-e rare copies
or priceless manuscripts Of old-fash.
Toned operas, hanging against the
wall an inlaid guitar and SONS
faded laurel crowns. moreover, a fine
engraving Of composer, twenty
years ago the most popular man in
Italy; lastly, an oil-colored portrait
by Winterman, ofa fascinating blonde
with very bare white shoulders, hold.
ing in her hands q scroll, on which
were inscribed some notes Of music
under the title Giulia Petrucci. In
short. the private parlor Of an elderly
and respectable diva Of the year 20.
'Brigida / cried Madame Petrucci
going TO the door. 'Brigidal oul
charming English friend is arrived I
AL rightf answered . strong
hearty voice from up stairs. I'm
coming.
You must excuse me, dear Mis-
Hamelyu, went on Madame Petrucci
You must excuse me for shouting ii
your presence, but we have only on,
little servant. and during this suffo
eating weather I find that any move
ment reminds me Of approaching age.
The old lady smiled, as fshe though
time still far ahead.
i am sure you ought to take car
of yourself. said Miss Hamelyn. :,
hope you viii not allow Goneril b
fatigue you.
'Gonerillal What pretty name
Charming ] suppose i Is in you
family 2 asked the old lady.
Miss Hamelyn blushed little, fo
her niece's name was sore point wit
her.
It's an awful name for any Chris
tian woman, said 3 deep voice at th
door. And pray who's called Con
arilla 2
| Mss Prunty came forward shogl