The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-18
IN THE TUNNEL.
A Story Of Love and Jealousy That
Ends Happily.

valley narrowed into gorge with steep pre-
cpitous sides, forming natural roadway out
into the open country.
So the valley and village were in a cal-de-Sdc,
and to this reason the peasants attributed q
great deal of their poverty.
In remote far-away times a narrow road had
been made over the mountains toward the
south, and the more enterprislng OF the VII
layers drove their mules once or twice year
over this pass-a day and half journey-to
the big town of Monte Caetano, to sell the
fruits OF their industry: but the journey took
time and money, and both were too valuable to
be spent on the road very often.
But with the energy and enterprise OF the
10Th century came a change. There was much
talk OF the inconvenience of not being able to
get to Monte Caetano easily. 1t was large
and important town, but its size and impor-
tance would both be much increased If free
communication could be opened with the
northern railways.
The inhabitants Of Santa Chiara were startled
one day by the arrival of engineers, but they
were destined TO be yet more astonished. In a
few weeks the village was overrun with work
men, the valley resounded with the blasting of
rocks and they understood that a great tunnel
was to be made through their mountain.
The work turned out less difficult than was
at first anticipated. The tunnel had not far
TO go in unbroben solid mountain, but emerged
occasionally into deep, narrow fssures from
thence making fresh start into the bowels OF
the earth
The work was finished at last, and an engine
decorated triumphantly with flags passed the
whole way down the line to Monte Caetano,
bearing upon ii the engineers foremen and
chief workmeu and one or two gentlemen
whose united money and exertions had carried
the great work through. They were received
at the new station at Monte Caetano with en-
thusiasm, were presented with handsome testi-
l. do IN {oo1 fha,, ncalx- raal
heroes and poblic benefactors.
1t was one hot, sunny Sunday evening in
Santa Chiara, about week after the opening
of the great tunnel. Vespers were over, the
bell had not yet rung for benediction, and all
the inhabitants of the little village were stroll
ing about the vineyards or sitting in the
churchyard. The village consisted of piazza
or square, round which stood the principal
houses. and out Of which few irregulary built,
struggling streets stretched up the sides of
the hill. The church stood at the head of the
piazza, in the midst of the church-yard. The
low wall all round it was a fayorite seat of the
VILLAGERS, where they lounged away many an
idle hour In the angle of the wall stood a
large shady chestnut tree. Pippa Novatelli,
the prettiest girl in the village, leaned against
its trunk with her little brown hands demurely
clssped together.
AHA, it is true that Pippa has beauty" said
old Mariuccia TO another old crone yet more
wrinkled than herself.
'Pippa may have beauty, but she is little
demon for all that The holy saints don't give
everything TO one person, and they have taken
too much pains in the making of her face to
have given themselves time to look after her
heart! Look there! The little viper"
Pippa was looking her best, for her betrothed
Gianui (called the Bellino on account of his
sky-bue eyes was there, sitting on the wall
and it was so amusing to make him Jealous
the foolish fellow. On the other side, sitting
on the grass with his large dark eyes fixed on
her, and an indescribabe, dainty grace in the
pose OF his light, active figure, sat TOnino Zei
one of the suhordinates of the engineers, one
of the fiood of newcomers whom the great tun-
nel had brought beyond the mountains to dis
turb the peace of Santa Chiara.
Tonno had not been long in the village.
Only three weeks ago he had come to replace a
Piedmontese who had finished all the skilled
work aud had passed on to new labOrs else
where Tonino was but beginner as yet, but
he was quite capable OF carrying on his prede
cessor's work, and his superiors pronounced
him young fellow of much promise.
Tonino had lost his heart. From the moment
that Pippa passed him, the day after his ar
rival. in her dark gown, with scarlet hand
kerchief knotted round her curly black hair,
with her brown skin and red lips, and the
wonderful dark eyes which flashed on him as
she turned her head and looked at him over
pleasure IL his too-evident admiration.
Pippa had many lovers Old Pietro, with
his farm, and the ll-known hoard of money
in his big gilt caSSone. Young Ceccho, who pos
ses5ej nothing but strong arms and wistful
eyes. Baldoyinnetto, called il Zoppo, and
Lenzo, who had so taken her refusal to heart
that he sold his patrimony, bought an organ
and a monkey, and went away over the noun
tains and never came back again.
But after weary courtship of alternate
hopes and despairs, waverings, coquetteries,
and heartburnings, at last Pippa agreed to
marry Gianni IL Bellino, and he thought him
self the happest of men. He was a UettaTiaO on
the great Corniche road, and he prepared g
sunny little home for his bride near Sestri. A
house at the end of a long avenue of acacia
trees, with a vineyard of Its own, leggid look
ing over the see, and every comfort that the
heart of little mountain coatadilsa could de-
sire When Pippa should be his wife he meant
TO drive her there in state, in his big voituricr
carriage and he would establish her there, and
as he drove his travellers backward and for
ward on the road, would look cut as he passed
to see her standing smiling at the door. The
vision was only too sweet. The big carriage
with the four hOrses-Blondo, Nero, GiallO and
the last purchased, Pinno-were all waiting at
Monte Caetano for the happy day-and the
coupe had been refined with a bright, shiny
yellow chintz, TO be worthy of his Pippa.
But there IS ne rose without thorn, and the
brighter the light the darker the shadow il
throws.
Tonino arrived with the polish of CITY, life in
his manners, and the chic OF city tailor in
the cut of his clothes, and he began to make
love to Pippa as no one had ever made love to
her before He paid her honeyed compliments,
Ae threw an air Of tender, rapt admiration into
the adoring gaze of his dark eye he offered her
the cOmmonest flower with an air OF devotion
which threw into the shade Gianni's far larger
offering.
- it is too large," she cried pettishly, reject
ing her bethrothed's great posy Of roses, and he
had the modification of seeing her fix Tonino's
Insignificant carnation into her bodice instead
Ganni flung away his roses fercey, and
Pippa was so busy talking to Tonino that not
till her foot trod on it did she perceive that he
had done so.
Now that the tunnel is done and the way
open, you viii be leaving u.s." she said, softly,
leaning against the chestnut tree and playing
with the fading carnation.
sound in his voice that expressed more devo
ton than the words he uttered:
And if / were TO be called away, would
there be one heart in Santa Chiara to mourn
me; one eye TO shed tears over my departure 2'
Can you doubt?" said Pipps. Friends
are not so easily forgotten"
"a fig for friendship " cried Tonino with {
snap of his fingers so loud that all started.
"That is a strange sentiment, Signor lei .
said GI2nni bitterly.
Tonno only stared at him; then turning TO-
ward Pippa he rose TO his feet and approached