The Arizona sentinel., 1883-12-29
PetrarSb and Laura.

J
 rarch and Laura, who lived il Italy in the fourteenth century. Petrarch was a young man wht had been educated for the law but who. to the indignation of hi' father, hated the dry study, anc devoted his time to reading TO- mantle histories and to writing poetry.
 Once, it is said, his parent, in state of tremendous indignation threw all his library into the fire; but, though the books were burn. ed, the love of them lived ou, and on the death of his father, Pet rarch purchased a prettyscountry- house at Vaucluse, and indulged without restraint in his favorite employment.
 He had the students usual love for solitary wandering, and once he roamed so far from home that hs was belated, and sleptall night in fsherman;s hut. At 6 o'clock in the morning he entered the gates of Avignon, and, according to custom, entered the nearest church to offer up a morning prayer. It was the Church Of St. Clair, and being the holy week, it was hung in black. The effect created in the sensitive soul of Petrarch was one of extreme mel ancholY.
 AS he knelt, he felt the tears rise to his eyes, and premoni- tion of coming calamity filled his soul. But, as he raised his eyes, they fell upon the most beautiful figure he had ever seen. It was that of young lady who was also kneeling. She had magnificent bust and profusion of blonde hair. Her dress was a pale greeu robe, besprlnkled with violets and she wore crown of filagree gold set with precious stones, and a splendid necklace of large pearls and garnets. At first, he could not see her face, but in a little while she: arose, and. on leav- ing the church, passed him. Their eyes met; he was still kneeling with clasped hands. She started and blushed. Francis Petrarch could not move, but this soul followed her."
 This was Laura, then in her eighteenth year. From this mo- men!, to make her his wife be- came Petrarch's fondest hope. And Laura also seems to nave loved him, but her mother, who was the veritable cruel parent of fiction, had higher views for her daughter; and having pretended to give her consent, carried Laura away from Vaucluse to Av- ignon and forced her to marry the Count de Sade.
 This was done while Petrarch was at Naples, combating for the laurel crown which he desired tC lay at Laura's feet. However she may once have loved him-nay, perhps she loved him always Laua behaved with the mOdesty and prudence which so we'll be- came a matlon, and neither en- couraged his visits nor his protes tations. Yet though Laura lived to be forty years old, he ad0red her at the hour she died entirel, as he had in the brightest houl of her youth and beauty.
 A few years before her deatf he said to g friend:
 "Ths day may perhaps come when 1 shall have calmnes' enough to contemplate all the misery of my soul; but still I love her in spite of myself. 1 have said in lamentations and tears, must hate her-but ah ! 1 love her still"
 In moments of excitem mt ht used to fancy that he saw he spirit, she seemed to emerge iron a tree; from the waves of the sea once from a mouth of a canon.
 Thrice he saw her at night be side his bed, and found himsel overcome by the spectacle.
 The story of his love he told il t..,oo xLG Lo-o Laon t,orIn(