Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-02
IN THE TUNNEL.
lCornhM Magazine.l

Embedded in deep Italian valley lay tn
village of Santa Chiara Mountains sur
rounded it on all sides except on the north
where the valley narrowed into a gorge witt
steep PERCEPTIONS sides, forming a natura
roadway out into the open country.
In remote, far-away times a narrow road
had been made over the mountains towarC
the south, and the more enterprising Of tn,
village drove their mules once or twice
| year over this pass-a day and half jour
ney-to the big town of Monte Caetano, Z,
sell the fruits of their industry; but thu
journey took time and money, and both wer'
too valuable 70 be spent on the road yer,
| often.
But with the energy and enterprise Of the
nineteenth century came a change.
The inhabitants of Santa Chiara wers
startled one day by the arrival of engineers
but they were destined to be yet more as
tonished In few weeks the village wa.
overrun with workmen, the valley resounded
with the blasting Of rocks, and they under
stood that great tunnel was to be made
| through their mountain.
The work turned out less difficult than
was at first anticipated The tunnel had
not far to 20 in unbroken solid mountain,
but emerged occasionally into deep, narrow
| assures, from thence making a fresh start
into the bowels of the earth.
The work was finished at last, and an en-
| CINE decorated triumphantly with flags
passed the whole way down the line u
| Monte Caetano, bearing upon it the en-
| gineers, foremen, and chief workmen, and
| one or two gentlemen whose united money
and exertions had carried the great work
through. They were received at the new
We're presented with handsome testimonials,
and made to feel themselves real heroes and
public benefactors
IL was one hot, sunny Sunday evening in
Santa Chiara, about week after the open
| ing of the great tunnel. Veslers were over,
the bell had not yet rung for benediction,
and all the inhabitants Of the little village
were strolling about the vineyards or sitting
in the churchyard. The village consisted Of
piazza or square, round which stood the
principal houses. and out of which a few ir.
regularly built, struggling streets stretched
up the sides of the hill The church stood at
the head of the piazza in the midst of the
churchyard The low wall all round it was
a favorite seat of the villagers, where they
lounged away many an idle hour. In the
angle of the wall stood large, shady, chest
nut tree. Pippa Novatelli, the prettiest girl
in the village, leaned against its trunk, with
her little brown hands demurely claspei to-
gether.
Aha. it is true that Pippa has beauty
said old Mariuccia TO another old crone yet
more wrinkled than herself
"Pippa may have beauty, but she is
little demon for all that! The holy saints
don't give everything to one person, and
they have taken too much pains in the max
ing of her face TO have given themselves time
to look after her heart! Look therei The
little viperI'
Pippa was looking her best, for her be-
trothed Gianni called the Bellino on account
of his sky blue eyes was there, sitting on
the wall, and it was amusing to make him
jealous, the foolish fellow. On the other
side, sitting on the grass with his large dark
eyes fixed on her, and an indescribable,
dainty grace in the pose Of his light active
figure, sat Tonino lei, one Of the subordin-
ates of the engineers, one Of the food of new
corners whom the great tunnel had brought
beyond the mountains to disturb the peace of
Santa Chiara
Tonino had not been long in the village
Only three weeks ago b, had come to replace
n Pieimontese who aad finished all the
skilled work and Ia. passed on II new
labors elsewhere. Tonino was but begin
her as Yet, but he was quite capable Of car
rying on his predecessors work. and his
superiors pronounced him a young fellow of
much promise.
Tonino had lost his heart. From the mo-
ment that Pippa passed him, the day after
his arrival, IN her dark gown, with a scar
let handkerchief knotted round her curly
black hair, With her brown skin and red lips,
and the wonderful dark eyes which flashed
on him as she turned her head and looked at
him over her shoulder with a glance of mis-
chievous pleasure in his too-evident admira-
ton.
But after a weary courtship of alternate
hopes and despairs, waverings, coquetteries
and hcartburnings, at last Pippa agreed TO
marry Gianna il Bellino, and he thought
himself the happiest of men. He was a vet
turino on the great Corniche road, and he
prepared a sunny little home for his bride
near Sestri- A house at the end of a
long avenue OF acacia trees, with
vineyard Of its own, loggia looking
over the sea, and every comfort
that the heart of n little mountain contadina
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 be passed TO see her stand
ing smiling at the door. The vision was only
too sweet. The big carriage with the fou
horscs-Biondo, Nero, Giallo, and the las
purchased Pippo-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.
Tonino arrived with the polish of city life
In his manners and the chic of city tailor
IN the cut of his clothes, and he began TO
make love to Pippa as no one had ever made
love TO her before. H. paid her honeyed
compliments, lie threw an air of tender.
rapt admiration into the adoring gaze of
dark eye, he offered her the commonest
flower with an air Of devotion which threw
in the shade Gianni's far larger Offering
1t Is too large" she cried pettishly, re
jecting her betrothed's great poSy of roses.
and he had the modification of seeing her
fix Tonino's insignificant carnation into her
bodice instead
Gianni flung away his roses fiercely, and
Pippa was So busy talking TO Tonino that
not till her foot trod on it did she perceive
that he had done 50.
Now that the tunnel is done and the way
open, You will be leaving u.s. she said,
softly, leaning against the chestnut tree and
playing with the fading carnation.
Tonino answered with the soft, caressing
sound in his voice that expressed more de-
votion than the words he uttered:
And if | were to be called away, would
there be one heart in Santa Chiara to mourn |
me; one eve In shed tears over my de- |
rartureF
"Csl you doubt" said Pippa Friend. |
are not 80 easily forgotten"
"A fl, for frieulship!T cried Tonino with |
n snap of his fingers so loud that all started
That Is a strange sentiment, Signor Zeir 1
said Gianni bitterly
Tonino only starci at him. then turning
toward Pippa he rose to his feet aud ap- |
preached her.
"Ah, dear Pippa, be said. will you keep
the secret if | tell you some news that | re-
ceived this morning.
"Do not whisper said Pippa uneasilv /
-GiAnni does not like it
"Ah, bah! he does not care! Look at 1
Pippa turn>l her head and looked Scrn. 4
and angry, Gianni was feigning
sn Indifference he did no, feel He sat with /
a Stold look on his broad, comely face. 1
playing with the ears Of the little Spit 4
ioS which accompanied him in all his jour
zeyS /
Il see, it is true that he does not care
said PipTa. trying to laugh.
Then grant me that which | ask said 1
ronino Coaxin-ly. walk with me UP the
mountain among the vineyards You can
40: refuss one VINO may leave You 30 soon.
md whose heart is bleeding at the very
dea