The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-26
MADDALENA'S LOVERS,
INex York Wnrid


 was wandering by our river few day: ago, seeking for a likely place to cas, q dy, when l came upon familiar nook It was the second day of my holidays, the first had spent for many years in the home of my childhood. On the previou: day had been disappointed to ind tha, remembered so little of the scenery now, in this most memorable of all our haunts, everything flashed back upon me Giving way gladly 10 the dreamy mood l flung myself down on a moss-covered rock that overhung the river and began to watch the clear brown waters as they uppled over the rushes. In few mo- mcnts l was deep in memories of the past.
 For several reasons. some of which m ay appear as l go on. think 1 shall write down the little history of which my mind Is full and le, some of my friends see it. Perhaps then they will understand more clearly how 1t is that things are as they are with us; perhaps they will believe me when say that, even in this prosaic nineteenth century, heroic lives are pos sible.
 Though my twin brother and I had something to say to the story am about to relate, neither of us was it's hero. The honors belong to Maddalena, and to ex- plain how Maddalena came to be wha, she was, shall have to refer to certain events that happened some years before we were born.
 Mir. Seymour, an elderly and some what eccentric Englishman, was travelling one year through the north of Italy. He came to Florence, which with its treasures of art so bewitched him that he could not tear himself away. He was alone, having left his wife and grown-up daueh- ter at Mentone. As was his custom upon these occasions of solitary travel, he avoided the finely appointed hotels, which English people love to frequent, and put up at small, unpreiending inn, visited principally by Italians.
 He had not been more than two days at the hotel before he was attracted by neighbor at the table d'ho,e. She was a child, probably about seven pears of age, quick, clever. vivacious little Italian, with small, round, olive-,inted face, ex- pressive brown eyes, and dark, curly hair. She had for companion a pale-faced, worn-looking woman, who, although she treated the child with the mos, perfect indifference appeared to be her mother
 The sharp child. discovering the im- pressioa she had made on the grave faced Enslishman, began to play of ali her little airs and graces upon him. She must have been delightfully comic as she smiled and made eyes at her neighbor, or shocked him by flying into mimic rage, or bewildered him by rattling nonsense music on the piano. Being a serious man, MT. Seymour did not see the comic side ot the listle maiden's performances. tt grieved him to the heart to think what the child's future would be, and, shy as he was, he introduced himself to Madda- keua's mother, and ventured on a few words of remonst-ance.
 She listened politely, expressed her re- gret that her Lena should have annoyed him, and said that owing to her occupa- -tion-she was a concert ssnger-she could mot look after her child as she would wish to do The sole consequence of Mir. Seymour's interference was, that on the next occasion when the mother wen, out to sing Lena was tied up in her room to keep her quiet. He heard her weeping and lamenting, ventured on the bold step ot releasing her, and from that day the two became fast friends.
 In the spring of the following year Mir. Seymour visited Florence again, this time in the company of his wife and daughter. The place reminded him of Maddslena, and he determined to find out whether she and her mother were still in the hotel where he had left them. It was evening when he started on his quest, which led him through the oldest part of the city. The inn he sought was close to a concert room. In front of this and completely choking up the narrow roadway, there vas dense throng of people. Supposing come popular entoEtainment to be about to take place, Mir. Seymour pushed his way through the crowd He vas h the midst of it. when shrill sound of cries aad lamentations fIll upoo his ear. He ~as pitiful nan aad ssopped to sse what lad happeaed. h the next instant tho chia of whom he had ben thinkine, the diaaie black-hcewed Italian girl, had sprune up fom under Ais fpek, and, 9raspinx his hand, vas drasging him forward. Undu .tAe afc of fading 6sht that spannod the udoo9 Of thn hu326fne. thara vas q hean nl