News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-11-29
A VERY ROMANTIC STORY.
AN ITALIAN ARTIST EI.0PFS WITH
\ ERCiT-SEI4LER.
One Hundred Thousand Dollars Reward
for mn itmiiHn Lnborcr's Widow and
Child.

From the Schenectady Union.l
A gentleman who gave the name q
Peterson, and who said he was a lawve
from Philadelphia, called at the Uni05
Office and asked the privilege of search
ing the files of the paper for the d S
few months. He told a remmkabl,
story. He said he was looking for traces
of ThOnIasso Panini. who had been EN-
plCyed on the West Shore Railroad, anG
who, he believed, had been killed by ar
accident to a construction train, neal
Schenectady, few months ago. He
said Panini was the son of a very
wealthy italian residing near Florence.
He was the only child and gave at an
early age evidences of rare artistic tai
ent. His father had resided IN Padua,
but moved his family to Florence to give
the son opportunities to pursue the
study Of art. The son and a daughter
two years his junior were the only chill
dren. Ten years ago, when the son was
! twelve years old, he and his sister were
! enjoying a sail near the fathers country
seat, when the boat upset. The girl
was drowned, although the brave lad
! tried hard to save her, and, in fact, sank
with her to the bottom, but was resusci-
tated. The sister could not be brought
back to life. The death Of his only sis
ter made the boy very respondent. His
| father took him back to Florence and
tried to dispel his gloomy thoughts by
visits to the great picture galleries; but
the lad would not be comforted
One day, four years ago, while the
young man was walking along the street
in Florence, he passed little fruit or
market stand, behind which sat girl of
about sixteen years. She was poorly
dressed, but very tasteful in her attire
and gracious in her manner, as she
politely invited Panini to make pur-
chase. He scarcely glanced up before
his gaze became riveted and he stood
spelI-bound. Asking pardon for his
rudeness, lie begged that he might know
her name. She gave it to him. He
called thereafter daily at her stand, and
was a liberal purchaser. A strong
friendship grew up between the two
young people, and finally Paniri painted
a picture of the fair young fruit-seller |
and took it home. It was the picture |
not only of the fruit-girl, but also of his
dead sister. The resemblance was won |
derful. When he exhibited the paint |
ing at homo his parents could hardly be
lievo his story about the girl. The |
result Of the incident was the adoption
of the fruit-selIer by Mr.. Panini as his
daughter.
But the young mans devotion to the
girl was something more than affection.
He cIovcdbcr, aud his Paru1lts streuuousIy
such an alliance proposed sep
arating the two. On the day OF the pro
posed separation the young couple
eloped, were married secretly, and fed
to America. Thomasso left brief note
saying he had gone forever. lie took
with him only 1,O0Of., or about $500.
Reaching New York he tried hard to
support his wife by sketching, but
failed utterly. After re8orting to every
expedient to obtain a living, he finally
gave up III despair. His young wife
then proposed that she resume her &C.
cupation as a fruit seller. This reused
him again and he said he would make
one more effort to provide for her and
the babe that had been born to the
couple. He sought and obtained posi-
ton on the West Shore Road and re-
mitted sufficient to provide for his family,
who lived for time near Baxter street,
New York.
A few months ago the young wife re-
ceived a letter from her husband, dated
at Schenectady, in which he said he felt
at last as if it would be right to tell the
story of his wanderings to his father and
seek again the happy home Of lis youth.
He added that he had written to his
parents telling his whereabouts, and
asking if he could return and be, with
his wife and child, cordially and kindly
welcomed. The overjoyed mother re-
ceived his letter with inexpressibIo de-
light, and waited patiently to hear again
from her husband. But she had re-
ceiyed his last letter. Within two days
young Panim was accidentally killed
while at work. He was buried in
field somewhere near this city, as Mr..
Peterson believes.
The first news the young wife had of
the tragic occurrence was brought her
by the wife of an italian who had been
working beside Panini at the time of
the latters death. Mrs. Panini could
not survive the shock. She became
crazed and wandered about with her
child. She was last traced to Philadel-
phia and it is believed that she and her
little one are there alive or dead. After
his disappearance o letter came from
Panini;s father, begging him in touch
ing terms to return, and saying he had
been forgiven over and over again, that
his mother had died of broken heart.
and he himself was fast nearing the
grave. As 70 response to this letter was
received, Mr.. P.mini sent an agent to
to trace out the matter, and he made the |
above disclosures. He retained Mr.. !
Peterson to continue tho search. LEle
agent went back to report the sad facts
to Mr.. Panini. Mr. Peterson saws that |
a week ago he received a cahlegram
from Italy announcing that $lGO, 600 re
ward would be paid for the discovery Of
the mother and child, dead or alive.
No trace OF the missing ones was found
IN this city, and even the burial place of
young Puniui cannot he found. Mr..
Peterson left to continue his search !
further west. He says he will travel,
If necessary, afoot all along the line of
the West Shore Road, until he finds
some trace of the remains of the uufor-
tunate young man.
A VALUABLE MacmNE.-A machine
for picking cotton has, the Charleston
Nc10@ says, been satisfactorily tested in
Sumter, S. G. It's capacity is 900 |
pounds an hour. The cost of picking
the late crop 10y hand was $50, O0O, 600 |
or at the rate Of 81 bale. The cost of
picking by machine will bo 81 bale 1t |
IS estimated that u ihird Of the crop has |