Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-02-20

iAoh1Cne shde ipP6 paSoCu HILL, ollC
day after his arrival, in her dark gown,
with scarlet handkerchief knotted
round her curly black hair. with her
brown skin and red lips, and the won
derful dark eyes which flashed on him
as she turned her head and looked at
him over her shoulder with a glance, of
pleasure in his too-evident
admiration.
Pippa had many lovers. Old Pietro,
with his farm, and the well-known
hoard of money in his big gilt cassone.
Young Ceccho, who possessed nothing
but strong arms and wistful eyes.
Baldoyinetto, called il Zoppo, and
Lonzo, who had so taken her refusal to
heart that he sold his patrimony.
bought an organ and monkey, and
went away over the mountains, and
never came back again.
But after weary courtship of alter
nate hopes and despairs. waverings,
coquetteries and heartburnings, at last
Pippa agreed to marry Gianni il Bel
limo, and he thought himself the hap
piest of men. He was a Cetturin0 on
the great Corniche road, and he pre-
pared sunny little home for his bride
near Sestri. A heuse at the end of a
long avenue of acacia trees, with a
vineyard of its own, a loggta looking
over the sea, and every comfort
that the heart of a little mountain
coatadina could desire. When Pippa
should be his wife he meant to drive
her there in state, in his big voiturier
carriage, and he would establish her
there, and as he drove his travellers
backward and forward on the road.
would look out as he passed to see her
standing smiling at the door. The
vision was only too sweet. The big
carriage with the four horses Blonde,
Nero, Giallo, and the last purchased,
Pippa-were all waiting at Monte
Caetano for the happy day-and the
coupe had been refined with bright,
shiny yellow chintz, to be worthy OF
his Pippa.
But there is no rose without a thorn,
and the brighter the light the darker
the shadow it throws.
Tonino arrived with the polish of city
life in his manners. and the chic of a
city tailor in the cut of his clothes, and
ne began to make love to Pippa as no
one had ever made love to her before.
tie paid her honeyed compliments, he
threw an air of tender, rapt admiration
into the adoring gaze of his dark eye,
he offered her the commonest flower
with an air of devotion which threw
into the shade Gianni's far larger
offering.
1T is too largep she cried, pettish-
", rejecting her betrothed's great posy
of roses; and he had the modification
of seeing her fix Tonino's insignifican.
carnation into her bodice instead.
Gianni flung away his roses fiercely,
and Pippa was SO busy talking to
Tonino that not until her foot trod on
it did she perceive that he had done so.
stNow that the tunnel is done and
the way open, you will be leaving us, y
she said, softly, leaning against the
chestnut tree and playing with the fading
carnation.
Tonino answered with the soft caress-
ing sound in his voice that expressed
more devotion than the words he ut
tered.
And if / were to be called away,
would there be one heart in Santa
Chiara to mourn me; one eye to shed
tears over my departure?'
.'Can you doubt?'' said Pippa.
Friends are not so easily forgotten. .
"a fig for friendship" cried Tonino,
with snap of his fingers so loud that
all started.
'That is strange sentiment, SignoI
Reir' said Gianna, bitterly.
Tonino only stared at him, then turn.
ing toward Pippa he rose to his feet
and approached her.
.Ah, dear Pippa," he said, "will YOU
keep the secret if tell you some news
that received this morning?'
DO not whisper said Pippa, un.
easily. e'Gianna does not like it. y
'.Ah, bah! he does not care! Look
at him..
Pippa turned her head and looked
Sore, mortified and angry, Gianna was
feigning an indifference he did not feel
He sat with stolid look on his broad
eomely face, playing with the ears oi
the little Spitz dog which accompanied
him in all his journeys.
II see, it is true he does not care, >
said Pippa, trying to laugh.
Then grant me that which | ask,
| said Tonino, coaxingly. walk witt
me up the mountain among the vine
yards. You can not refuse one who
may leave you SO soon, and whose hear
is bleeding at the very idea
P.ppa thought that Gianni should bt
more demonstrative. 1t was tiresomt
to see him m serable: she wanted to Sc,
him angry. This betrothal was very
dull. very monotonous.
She stood upright and said lightly:
Let us go to the vineyards. We shall
have time for short walk before bene
diction.'
Pippa spoke with her face towars
Gianni, so that he must hear; and, hal
thinking that she spoke to him, h
leaped TO his feet, and the ligh
sparkled in his blue eyes, but the ligh
faded away at the sound of her coquet
tish little laugh.
mo, no, Gianni! I would not dis
turb you for the world. Sit still; go t,
sleep if you can, and, passing he
hand lightly through Tonino's arm
/ she walked away with him.
Gianni did not resume his seat, bu
stood looking after them. He say
Tonino bend ng his curly head with
look of devot on, and dark scowl set
/ tied on his face.
..Ah, ha! Gianni. my poor boy,'
said croaking voice close beside him
so the tie traitress plays thee ais
false. ] knew how it would be. Sue
i are women. They are all false, the
are all bad, and the best of them ar
those who wear the mask longest. 2
..Croak ng as usual, Father Giace
/ no. said G:afna, trying to laugt
s.She has not thrown me over. Gu
wedding day is fixed.