The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-18
miserable; she wanted to see him angry. This

| Leu US 90 10 tne vineyards. we Snali nave
| time for short walk before benediction."
| Pippa spoke with her face toward Gianni, SO
| that he must hear; and, half thinking that she
1 spoke to him. he leaped to his feet, and the
| light sparkled in his blue eyes, but the light
| faded away at the sound of her coQuettish little
laugh.
"No no. Gianni! I would not disturb you
| for the world. Sit still !; go to sleep If You
cam" and, passing her hand lightly through
| Tonino's arm, she walked away with him.
Gianni did not resume his seat, but stood
| looking after them. He saw Tonino bending
his curly head with look of devotion, and a
dark scowl settled on his face.
"Ah, ha! Gianni, my poor boy" said a
| croaking voice close beside him. $50 the
little traitress plays thee also false. knew
| how it would be. Such are women. They are
all false, they are all bad, and the best of them
are those who wear the mask longest"
"Croaking as usual, Father Giacomo," said
| Gianni, trying to laugh. ''She has not thrown
me over. Our wedding day is fixed"
But it has not dawned yet. Vial" cried
| the old man, throwing out both his hands.
"Why don't you follow them?" he cried i'm
patiently. "Ah, hal Gianni, though women
are false, men are fools. You should hold
them tight, beat them, keep them under. Break
their spirits or they will break your heart. Go
after them, tell you go after them! Bah
| why should incommode myself thus? Women
Will pt taiSc, anu iHcH Will bo
fools!" and old Giacomo took prodigious
| pinch of snuff.
Gianni walked off unwillingly enough. He
was proud man, and Pippa's conduct was
hurting him bitterly. He did not wish to lose
his dignity and sacrifice his selfesteem by
becoming jealous; it degraded him in his own
eyes. But love was stronger than will, and he
uttered a short, bitter exclamation of almost
savage disgust with himself because he could
not resist the temptation to follow Pippa and
his rival.
The sun was beginning to go down it was
very hot Tonino and Pippa found the shade
of the long rows of vines very grateful. The
leaves were luxuriant and the air was filled
with their warm, sweet smell.
Tonino bent low over Pippa and said softly:
The news have to tell you my Pippa, is that
after all, perhaps l am not going away from
Santa Chiara"
Pippa was rather taken aback She would
not have let Tonino go so far if she had not
thought that he was going away, now at once
through the big tunel that he had helped to
make, and never coming back again. 1t was
quite another thing that he was always to be
! there.
"Not going away!" she said with little
quiver in her voice. Tonino thought the little
Quiver was one of happiness.
dearest" he said it is true. Some one is
required to be always on the spot. Every night
/ must go through the tunnel to see that all is
well. This will be necessary for long months,
till we see that the work is perfect in every
part, that no unexpected dangers may arise.
And it is that have received the appoint
ment"
Tonino hit his breast with a sound of tri-
umph, then suddenly he threw his arm around
PippaS waist.
"Say, beautiful Pippa! dearest of my heart"
he cried. " Say that you rejoice as ! do. We
shall not be separated"
Pippa was too much astonished to resist,
Tonino had his arm around her, and now he
bent forward and kissed her once twice, before
she could speak, when there came sudden
shout that sounded more like the roar of
wild beast than a human voice, and Gianni
threw himself between them, his eyes flashing,
his face cOnvulsed with rage.
Pipps was terrified, and in her terror she
could think of nothing save that one Of the
two would be killed. She threw herself upon
Giapni, clinging round his arms with all her
weight, while she cried with hoarse voice that
did not sound like her own:
Fly. Tonino, fly! He will kill you. We
shall all be lost. Fly! fly ]"
TOnino was not brave; he turned and went,
gliding away among the vines with his head
turned back over his shoulder. and his eyes
glaring at Gianni with a lGOk of intense hatred.
:" He has gone," cried Pippa, sinking on her
knees, but still clinging to her betrothed.
Ihank heaven, he has gone =!
You have saved your lover this once" said
Gianni between his teeth. "But opportunities
do not lack"
"You would kill him9" cried Pippa.
Had he hundred lives / would take them
ALL" and Gianni ground his teeth with the
feroeity of jealous Italian.
But why should you kill him ?" cried Pip
pa, bursting into tears. He is nothing to me-"
"Tell that to whoever is fool enough to be-
law caid nft,llx
"Oh, Gianni, are we not betrothed2"
"That also is a thing of the past. Old Gia-
como is right-all women are false!"
Gianni strode away and left her.
Pippa stood looking after him. Giacomo is
right in everything" she said to herself
through her tears. "And all men are fools
Oh, Giannil Gianni!"
But whether he heard her piteous cry or not
he did not turn, and Pippa sat down under the
vine leaves and sobbed as if her heart would
break.
The sun went down, the church bell rang
the people poured into the last service, and
still Pippa sat sobbing. Then she heard the
voices OF the congregation as they once more
came out of church.
"Gianni is good man." she said to herself
He never misses benediction. The holy serv-
ice will have softened his heart he will for
give me. Though Tonino is going to stay here,
it will not matter for / shall be the one TO CO.
Gianni and / will be married at once and we
will 60 away in his big carriage to Sestri
After all, we may be very happy yet. l won't
put off the wedding any more; it shall be at
once. am sure that Gianni will see when he
looks at me that mean to be good now! !"
| Pippa had no tears left to shed; she dried
| her eyes and pushed back her curly hair, and
walked down to the village.
The people were all clustered together in the
| piazza, but she saw neither Gianni nor Tonno
among them, and she thought that they all
| looked at her rather strangely.
Old Giacomo came hobbling up 20 her.
"Do you want to know where your two
/ lovers are, my beauty?" he said. "Weil, well,
| you shall not be left in ignorance Tonino,
when be came out Of church, took his bag of
| tools (yOu know them y over his shoulder,
| lighted his lantern, and went off through the
tunnel on his usual inspection. He must have
got some way by this time"
"And my Gianni?" cried Pippa trembling.
evil eye has crossed him, perhaps. Who
/ knows?"
"But where is he?" she faltered.
1T is very strange" said Giacomo, but he
also took the way of the tunnel. He also must
be some way in by this time, and"
But Pippa waited TO hear no more. hOrri-
BILE dread had seized upon her; terror cold as
q hand of ice laid upon her heart. She uttered
shrill little cry and sped away toward the
mountain as fast as her feet could carry her.
| per Baccoi there will be mischief" said
| one man to another. Would it not be best
to go after them?"
'"I shall tell the Priore," said Mariuccia