The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-04-17

lmpaIlcnIly. SP was d plaln, matter
of-fact woman, and she thought Annina
a silly, romantic girl, whose enthusiasm
should be crushed She told me pri-
vately that she had a very poor opinion
of Allesio Ghiandaja.
"My brother-in-law would do better.
to arrange a marriage for Annina with
his partner, Signor Benelli," she said.
"He is a prudent, middle-aged man,
and would make an excellent hus-
band"
..But if she loves Allesiop" 1 asked;
for although 1 was ~forty-seven, 1 was
sentimental.
Signora Comba shrugged her hand
some shoulders. "Annina's love doesn't
count for much" she replied. 'She
would love a broomstick."
l did not agree with her. Annina
was a child of an ardent, passionate
temperament. She could love, and she
loved Allesio.
Late that night she came to my bed
room, dressed in a flowing white wrap
per and a pair of scarlet slippers, her
long black hair floating about her shoul-
ders. If she had sung the mad-song
from Lucia L should not have been par
ticularly surprised; but 1 was surprised,
not to say Mortified, when she flung
herself on her knees before me and
burst out crying. 1 finally succeeded
in comforting her, and she raised her
disheveled head. 49," she moaned,
'tyou will think me sc wicked! 1 lied
to you. 1 did see Allesio alone once.
1t was in the garden, and by moons
light. You will never tellP Promise
me never to tell"
1 solemnly promised. Ihad heard of
lovers in a moonlight garden before,
| and l mentioned the fact now.
''But in American she exclaimed, as
though anything were possible there. 81
was SO frightened that EVENING"" She
shuddered at the recollection. 81 only
stayed ten minutes, and 1 was trembling
all the time; for if my mother had dis
covered us, she-oh, I can't think what
she would have doner
/ saw him at Christmas time, this
Signor Ghiandaja, for he came with his
future mother-in-law to pay a visit.
They arrived late one evening, and the
mother entered first. Alesio had
stopped below to pay the cabman, she
said; but in a minute he walked into
the drawing-room, where we were all
assembled. He greeted Pastor Comba
and his wife, he was introduced to me
and finally he approached Annina, with
both hands outstretched. She came
forward slowly, her head hanging and
q hot flush dyeing her cheeks; she put
her hands in his and looked up at him
shyly. He glanced over his shoulder
at the mother, a plump, consequential
little woman tsWith your permission"
he said; then without waiting for it, he
stopped and kissed Annina. For a
moment she stood bewildered. Her
mother began to laugh, and Annina
covered her face with her hands and
ran away, while Allesio twirled his
mustache and looked very handsome.
1 admire audacity in a man, and l adj
mired him, although there was a CLEAN
in his eyes that made me distrust him.
He OWNED that I was simpatica, and
during his visit he poured out his heart
to me, as Annina had poured put hers.
l took these lovers under my wing; !
carried them off on walks and drives,
never neglecting an opportunity to turn
my back on them, and acting deaf and
blind to their whispers and chances. In
return these lovers declared an undying
affection for me.
"You must come and see US, when we
are married." Allesio said. ssThere
shall be a room set apart for you; and
you must stay weeks-a whole winter.
Annina mia and 1 will try to prove that
we are not u~ngrateful. We shall never
forget you, Ell, Amman"
She shook her head and slipped her
hand in mine, by way of reply. She
never chartered in his hearing; she be.
came shy and silent in his presence,
hardly daring to raise her eyes; but
when she did raise them, it was to be.
stow an eloquent glance on her lover.
At table she sat beside him, and she
blushed when he filed her wineglass,
blushed again when he passed her the
bread. Alone with me, however, she
ratified away as though to make up fol
lost time.
Once I asked her who Signor Benell
was, and she looked at me in surprise,
"Papa's partner" she replied.
"Do you like him, Amman"
"Cosi, cost. He is not young; he il
fat, he is bald, but he is very amiable.'
Clearly the thought of him as a suitol
had never entered her head, and / con
toned him only to contrast him will
1llCSlOs L buC . LII IOfO WILL Gus
young man, too. He was always tn,
same, serene and smiling; perhaps
trife arrogant, a trife vain, but cour
teous and considerate. Animals mothe
I disliked, for she seemed a purse-prout
dame, and l know that she told Signor,
Comba that l ought to pay more for m,
board. Annina stood in awe of her. ant
her mother corrected her continually
1t was sit up, Annina;'' or, ''Turl
out your toes, Animal or, take car,
what you say, Annina." 1 was glat
! when the tiresome woman went, but
missed Allesio's bright smile and melo
dious voice, and Annina was sad-eyet
for a week. She wrote letter
than ever, and received more; mean
while the spring came up u way
Annina grew very religious; she wen
to prayer-meetings with her uncle, sh'
attended service three times on Sunda,
: and she visited the poor with her aunt
She became interested in a Protestan
charity school; so she taught ragamuf
fins the Testament twice a week. TIL
ragamuffins' fathers and mothers, ig
. norantfolk, Pastor Comba declared, di,
not like to see their children taught, an
) they stoned the school-room one day
Annina came home, a martyr, with he
right wrist sprained; so l wrote letter
, for her to Allesio. In them she DIES
cribed infinitely all that she did an
thought; nothing was too trivial, and
was skeptical enough to wonder if an,
| man lived in this workaday worl'
who could read one of those ten-pag
letters through, every morning for
, year. But a a in love performs eX
t%raordinary feats-there is no doubt o
} that.
Suddenly, Allesio's letters stopped
The days went by, and it was almost
r week since Annina had heard from him
She ate nothing, she refused to go out
1 and she locked herself in her room t
weep and be miserable. Her uncl
and aunt and 1 met in conclave on
= evening, for we feared she would fal
i'll.