The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-04-26
a MAIDEA'S FAITH.

a MAIDEH'S FAITH.
Teresa, where is thy Beppo? Why
dost thy Beppo not Gomez"
The long street, with its rows of small
mean shops, was comparatively desert
ed. and Teresa stopped and looked back,
half affrighted, to see from whence the
mocking voice came.
Teresa, when did thine eyes last be-
hold thy faithless Beppo?"
1t was Mother Annunciata who spoke,
and there was scorn in the tones of her
shrilI voice, and malice in the black
ewes, that twinkled in her wrinkled face
like round beads of jet.
"Beppo? l have not seen him these
two DAYS"
A little quiver crept into Teresa's
voice, and she turned and untwined her
slender fingers nervously."
Then thou wilt never see him more"
concluded Mother Annunciata in her
most impressive manner. ''See, now;
would it not have been better to have
listened to Carmelio, my handsome bold
Carmelio, who loves the very ground
thy feet press, than to have given thy
heart into the light keeping of such
one as this boatman Beppo?"
Talk not thus of him to me, Mother
Annunciata,' cried the girl passionate
ly. ''He has been my true lover for
three happy years, and we would have
been wed long ere this, only-only-
That he was too poor to give thee a
home. WOuldst thou like to hear a
story concerning this faithful lover of
thine?n
The old woman came nearer and laid
skinny hand on the girls shoulder,
peering into her face with malicious
eyes.
Then know that two ewes ago hew
seen crossing the bridge St. Mark with
Berthe, the fruiterers handsome daugh-
ter. and no eye has gazed upon them
since.
ssShe was an ancient sweetheart of
his, but as for that, those who knew him
best say that Beppo had new love for
every month.
Berthe, the fruiterer's daughter.
Il had passing fancy for her once"
Beppo had said, leaning over the little
white wicket in the moonlight, ''but
her bold dark face is naught to thy small
pure one, my Teresa. She is a red rose.
Thou art a white flower, and love the
white flower best.
Suddenly the angry blood surged into
Teresa pale cheek.
1T is Carmelio who told thee this"
she retorted, all the fire in her gentle
nature reused: land Carmelio hates
Beppo. Therefore, lie told thee lie!'
..But if not Berthe, then where is
he?" queried the mother innocently.
s.Aya fbat 7 kDotv NOT -
Teresa dropped her head to hide the
tears in her Young eyes, and Mother
Annunciata chuckled with delight.
Thou wilt be glad to take up with
my Carmelio yet" she sneered. ''Soon
the good people will begin to point at
thee in their pity, and to tell to one an
other. He has deserted her. See, he
has deserted her. y
'Mv heart is innocent of any wrong,
wherefore should fear?" cried Teresa
proudly. Il feel naught but dislike
toward thy son, and sooner than put my
hand in his, / would sever it at the
wrist.
Then what wilt thou do?" snapped
the crone angrily.
''Wait and trust. The hearts that love
truly, the good saints bless"
"a fig for thy saints retorted the
old woman contemptuously, as she
hobbled away. ''Put one hundred cam
dies on their shrines, in holders of solid
silver, as the highborn ladies do, and
pray from now to eternity, and see if
that VII bring thy Beppo back. And
thou shalt belong to my Carmelio yet in
spite of thy high mind"
Teresa's feet seemed to cling to the
time-worn pave as she went wearily on
her way toward the very wicket where
Beppo's stalwart form had leaned so
often.
Then she could have sung like a bird
for very JOY.
Now there was lightness il neither
heart nor step.
Her home was only tiny cot. with
pretty well-tended garden at the back,
where grew the flowers that every morn
she plueked- all glistening with their
bath of dew, and made into dainty bou-
quets for old Bartemo Palestro. whose
shop was the resort of half the gay gal
lants in town; and here she dwelt alone
with an old uncle who like Beppo piled
boat on the canal when the sun shone
brightly enough for his rheumatic frame
to hobble forth, or smoked quiet pipe,
with a neighboring gossip, under the
shadow of the magnoliatrees.
With the money thus earned, they
lived scantily enough, but the girl was
young and fair, and if she sometimes
sighed and wished her cotton gown
silken robe, she quickly forgot her dis
content; and then-she had Beppo.
The next morning Teresa did not
make her usual journey to Palestro's
shop, for fear of encountering Carmelio.
Before the sun was well up she was
out in the little enclosure filling her
basket with the fragrant blossoms, and
when her task was completed, she said
coaxingly to her aged relative:
''Do not seek the canal to-day. uncle.
4 stroll through the town viii do thee
good. an if thou wilt leave the flowers
at Bartemo's, my gratitude viii be
thine
There was a smile on her lips even as
she watched the old man hobble down
the street carefully guarding his fragrant
treasure, and she nodded brightly to one
or two passing neighhors.
They shall not pity me- she said,
her sad young heart growing heavier as
the hours sped away. My heart may
break, but they shall never know it. ]"
AT dusk the vespers bells rang out on
the clear air, the bells of ST. Angeles,