The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-19

She looked much scandalized. HE
told my mother" she answered, "and
mother told me; but | knew it before, "
she added, naively. There is much
in glance"
The rogue shot demure sidelong
look at me, as she said this, and gave
an ecstaic little skip. We were walk
ing in the cascine, and the officers be-
slowed bold stares of admiration on
Annina. She was very pretty, and by
no means unconscious of it; but she
talked of her beauty in the same frank
way that she did of her love affair.
"Were you ever alone with AllesiO-
L mean after you became engaged"
l asked, wondering whether old Gus
toms still held sway.
"No, mo-" she cried. THAT nv
mother would never allow"
l felt her hand tighten on my arm,
and she suddenly became silent. She
did not even grow gay at the sight of
Mr.. Livingstone driving his sixteen or
eighteen horses. At dinner, she spoke
hardly word, and her uncle rallied
her on her melancholy, her unwonted
silence. "No letter from Allesio?' he
said; for when no letter came, Annina
usually wept copiously.
go, she had ream of paper this
morning" his wife answered, a triAe
impatiently. She was plain, matter
of-fact woman, and she thought Annina
a silly, romantic girl, whose enthusiasm
should be crushed She told me pri-
yately that she had very poor opinion
of Allesio Ghiandaia.
"My brother-in-law would do better
to arrange a marriage for Annina with
his partner, Signor Benelli," she said
''He is q prudent, middlc-aged man,
and would make an excellent hus-
band
"But if she loves Allcsio?' l asked;
for although | was forty-seven, was
sentimental.
Signora Comba shrugged her hand
some shoulders. "Annina's love doesn't
count for much" she replied. "She
would love a broomstick"
| did not agree with her. Annina
was child of an ardent, passionate
temperament. She could love, and she
loved Allesio.
Late that night she came to my bed
room, dressed in flowing white wrap
per and a pair of scarlet slippers, her
long black hair floating about her shout
ders. If she had sung the mad-song
from Lucia | should not have been par
ticularly surprised; but was surprised,
not to say Mortified, when she flung
herself on her knees before me and
burst out crying. | finally succeeded
in comforting her, and she raised her
disheveled head. co." she moaned,
you will think me so wicked! | lied
to you. did see Allesio alone once.
1t was in the garden, and by moon
light. You will never tell? Promise
me never to tell"
l solemnly promised. I had heard of
lovers in moonlight garden before,
and | mentioned the fact now
'But in America" she exclaimed, as
though anything were possible there. 81
was so frightened that eveningn' She
shuddered at the recollection. 81 only
stayed ten minutes, and l was trembling
all the time; for if my mother had dis
covered us, she-oh, I can't think what
she would have done!'
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. Allesio had
stopped below to pay the cabman, she
said; but in minute he walked into
the drawing-room, where we were all
assembled. He greeted Pastor Conba
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
a hot flush dyeing her cheeks; she put
her hands in his and looked up at him
shyly. He glanced over his shoulder
ut the mother, a plump, consequential
little woman. "With 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
mustaohe and looked very handsome,
| admire audacity in a man, and | adj
mired him, although there was CLEAN
in his eyes that made me distrust him.
He OWNED that | was sinlputjc0, and
during his visit he poured out his heart
to me, rs Annina had poured out hers.
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 "Therc
shall be room set apart for you; and
you must stay weeks-a whole winter
Annina mia and | will try to prove that
we are not ungrateful. We shall never
forget you, eh. Annina?"
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 filled her wineglass,
blushed again when he passed her the
bread. Alone with me, however, she
ratified away as though to make up for
lost time.
Once | asked her who Signor Benelli
was, and she looked st me in surprise.
"Papas partner" she replied.
''Do you like him, Annina?"