Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-25
MY LADY'S LOVE.
An Italian Love Story in Which Figure
Countess and Street Musician.

never glimmer of sunlight for two
weeks past-O bio MIC, can this be
Italy in summertime, with breeZes
sweeping down from the hills with the
freshness and sharpness of winter. No
flower-girls around the fountains-even
the crowd in the Pincio dwindcd to afew
grand carriages and fewer pedestrians.
Little Beppino, standing near the gate
way of the great Farnese Palace, grum-
bles to himself about the weather, and
draws his ragged jacket closer on his
shoulders.
Yet he is not so little-one should call
him slight-a lad of barely IS, with
swarthy cheeks and strong, sturdy, yet
slender limbs, graceful as a young deer
when he moves; with eyes of deep blue
which seem to look away beyond the
noise and c!amor of city TO the peace
full mountains, where there is rest and
quiet and the eternal SHOWS.
His old battered cap covers complete
ly the dark hair which curls lightly over
his head. The brow is n tri1e low, the
mouth is rather large, and the lips too
thick, but there is beauty of express
sion in the eyes forever looking to the
distance, and gentleness of gesture
and subtle grace of motion which
show that a drop of pure patrician blood
mingles with the common stock in his
coarse purple veins.
He has been playing for party up in
the Via Mascherone. and one of the
gay ladies there paid him with II kiss
instead of soldi. Aud now Beppo curses
himself heartily for not refusing the
one and demanding the other, for kisses
will not buy the supper he is almost
starving for, and sold would.
| However, it is over, and he will not
play there again, Those grand danes
have no sympathy with such as he
how could they, when they talked 50
openly of their hostess running young
Prince Ferra, just come to his majority,
and everything spent within tha year?
Well, he was glad now that she had
not given him the sold, since it was
not absolutely hers to give; You see he
was too young to rcaS IN very correctly,
and he did not appreciate kisses. 1t
was past 4. and 50 cold. But it was
colder yet in the little garret-room he
called his home. Should he go on to
the Piazza di Spagna, where there were
| generally some Americans and English
inside of Piale's Library, who always
listened when he played? Orshould he
go to his garnet?
While in such INDIGESTION the doors OF
the palace opened, and a lady with two
gentleman came down the steps.
She was tall and dark. with naughty,
| indifferent look on her handsome fea-
lures. Her eyes were half yelled with
their heavy lashcs, and she kept them
on the ground as she came along, but
she smiled once at something one Of
the men said, and o how cruelty the
lips cured even at light jest
Half way to her carriage she sudden
ly stopped, for her eyes fell on Beppo.
Merely one of the lazaroni," said the
man with the blonde beard and opened
the carriage door with low bow.
Mon ami, will look at him if l
please, and as long as L please an
swered the lady imperiously.
"Chere Comtesse,' the man replied,
with Il shrug of the shoulders, don't
for worlds get that malady which is so
questionable for your sex-philan-
tlropy. 1t generally comes to women
with age-like religion does. We all
believe you to be under so. Let no UNI
due manifestation of the quality have
mentioned destroy that belief"
The other mantle one with dark
hair and tawny skin, in uniform of
blue, with white and yellow braiding,
such as the Garde Imperiale of the
Second Empire used to wear-laughed
brutally, and struck Beppo with his
cane.
"Victorl" cried the Comtesse, sternly,
Il won't have him abused, and | will
be neutrality-suspicious. once
She raised her eyes this ii me from
their naughty, Indifferent languor, and
turned them full on Beppo. Her hand
was outStretched to his-he saw a gold
piece shining in the cold, gray light.
He flushed deeply, he knew not why,
for he had often taken gold before, why
should he flush then-he, poor little
beggar, whose sole idea of living was to
ramble through the streets the day long,
watching like a hungry hawk for far
less than she held out to him.
There will be another for you to-
morrow" said my lady. looking at him
for moment. Twill you Gomez
"Ah, Miladi.' cried Beppo, II will
play for you night and day for this, but
l cannot take it and not play"
80, Diavalo." muttered the dark
man called Victor, 1--WE don't want any
concert in the street. Get out, you
vagabond."
Give him your address, chere annie,
in case he would like to call, ~ said he
of the blonde beard, ironically.
III take you at your word, Baron"
said the Comtesse, and drawing a card
from her pocket she gave it to Beppo.
There is my address. Come to me
the day after tomorrow"
Then she got into her carriage, and
the men followed laughing. Beppo
stood motionless foralong time. Should
he come there again on the morrow, and
would she be there also, and would
there be another gold-piece, which was
most important of all?
Then he sighed. All, no. Doubtless
she would forget. 1t was only whim
of my lady's to be charitable. 1t was
quite likely such a within would be
quickly supplanted by others less noble
and good.
Still, he must wander somewhere on
the morrow, and the pavement by the
great palace was much the same as any.
The French Embassy were occupying
it now, and there were always some
. young Frenchmen going and coming
who liked much to listen to martial
music, in time of peace especially, when
they could make their cigarets at ease
and join in the chorus of Aux armes,
Citoyens,"
The gold-piece was not all spent for
a feast that evening, but the greater
part of it prudently laid by for other
days, also, when kisses were given in
place of soldi, for Beppo had small faitl
in her ladyship's word.
At . O'Clock the next day he stood
again by the gateway of the palace.
The ComtesSe again came out but she
was alone. She approached Beppo, and
nut her small plOyed hand on his ShOul.