The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-17


| toms still held sway.
"No, no" she cried. ''That NV
mother would never allow"
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 a ream of paper this
morning." his wife answered, trife
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-
vately that she had very poor opinion
of Allesio Ghiandaia.
"Mv 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 Allesio?" 1 asked :;
for although was forty-seyen, l 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 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 flowing white wrap
per and pair of scarlet slippers, her
long black hair floating about her shout
ders. If she had sung the mad-song
from Lucia l should not have been par
ticularly surprised; but was surprised,
not to say Mortified, ~yhen 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 ne 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 10 tell"
L
lovers in a moonlight garden before,
and mentioned the fact now.
''But in American she exclaimed, as
though anything were possible there. Il
was SO frightened that evening"" She
shuddered at the recolle ton. 81 only
stayed ten minutes. and was trembling
all the time; for ii my mother had dis.
covered us, she-oh, can't think what
she would have dOnen
saw m at Christmas time, this
Signor iandaja, for he came with his
future mother-in-law to pay visit.
They arrived late one evening, and the
mother entered first. Alle~io 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 ard
hot flush dycing 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. with permission, "
he said; then without waiting for it, he
stopped and kissed Annina For a
moment she stood bewiidered. Her
mother began to laugh, and Annina
covered her face with her hands and
ran away, while Allesio twiried his
mustache aud looked very handsome.
| admire audacity in a man, and adj
mired him, although there was a CLEAN
in his eyes that made me distrust him.
He OWNED that | was Simpatica, and
during his visit he poured out his heart
to me, as Annina had poured ont 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. "There
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 filed 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 at me in surprise.
"Papa's partner" she replied.
"Do YOU like him, Annina?"
"CoSi, cOSi. He is not Young: he is
fat, he is bald. but he is very amiable"
Clearly the thought of him as sutton
had never entered her head. and [ con-
cluded that Signora Comba had men
toned him only to contrast him with
Allesio. rather fell in love with the
young man, too He was always the
same, serene and smiling; perhaps a
trifle arrogant. trifle vain. but cOur-
teous and considerate. Animals mother
L dislIked, for she seemed a purse-proud
dame, and | know that she told Signora
Comba that ought to pay more for my
board. Annina stood in awe of her. and
her mother corrected her continually.
1t was sit up, Annina;" or. Turn
out your toes, Annina;" or, Take care
what you say, Annina." was glad
when the tireSome woman went, but l
missed Allesio's bright smile and melo-
dious voice. and Annina was sad-eyed
for week. She wrote more letters
than ever, and received more; mean
while the spring came up our way.
Annina grew very religious; she went