New-York tribune., 1885-03-15

will be all right. and what he says is quite true, it
is only q whim."
III.
Early the next morning before hcr mother
astir. Lucia up and busy in the yard and after
fetching the muls from bis stable and loading him
with couple of large fiat baskets full of onions,
she mounted him herself and trotted of toward
Palene.
Iucia's dress was like that OF the other peasant
women, and consisted of red sIlk kerchof tied
closely her head another OF yellow. which
covered her shoulders, was crossed over her chest
and tied behind aud green w3ollen gown Her
beautiful black hair smoothly braided in one
long thick plat which hung down her back. SO
far there was nothing remarkable about her
costume; but she also wore what was peculiar to
herself, leather belt with metal sheath aud a
large gardening knife stuck in it. She kept her
hand almost constantly upon this weapon. cir
cnmstarce which gave her rather savage Amazon
like appearance, strangely at variance with her
calm madonna face and smooth halr.
But the mule logged on through the fresh
morning air. and Lucia watched the golden sunlight
playing on the rocks above aud the fields below.
was saving to herself: "W6c would think that
human beings could be so wicked when one sees
how beautiful and peaceful and happy everything
isf They don't notice IT, for they are like mals
still; they live like wild beasts. IL Is different in
towns; 1t is better even in Palene, but how very
different it must be in Rome. or Florence. or Naples
There so ! have read. people are good and gentle
and forgiving. They don't love like wolves and
hate like tgors. | know, inst one man myself. but
then he il a foreigner and they would he certain to
kill him if / married him. Couldn't VIC escape to
Rome n pursued the maiden thonghtfulIy, bending
her head down over the mule. But no; "she went
on u they would find him out even in Rome, and
one fine day he would be found dead. and should
The mule. finding that his mistress was not
paying any heed to him, now stood quito still and
put down his head to crop few monthfus Of grass.
But this reused Lucia from her drcsihs, end taking
hold OF the rcns and uttering loud Ala y she
put hi;a 10 IA quicker pace. and in few minutes
more they had reached the end OF their journey.
The little town of Palene consists of three narrow
streets, small marKetplace. municipal building.
and tolerably large and handsome church. Facing
the market-place two houses rather superior To
the rest. whch arc painted pink and blue and have
bright green blinds Ons Of the two. at the time Of
which we writing was shop kept by man
named LugenO. who called himself general
dealer, barber. cofec-house and tavern keeper" In
while baskets Of fruit and vegetables stood about
the entrance and over tho door hung half dozen
cages containing canary birds
The owner OF this miscellaneous business, Don
Ernano Lugeno, was standing at his shOpdoor
enjoying the fine spring air. and comfortably smok-
ing short meerschanm. as Lucia came up on her
schauns so this circumstance alone was enough to
suggest the idea OF his beng u foreigner. and the
cs was snS Gny Wt sy
yellow hair. fresh complexion. golden beard and
bright deep-biue eyes. Don LugenO was the perfect
type of the northern giant in spite OF his Italian
name. In truth his real name was Hermann Lut
gems and he was a native OF POmerania, but s0ne
accident had brought him to Italy when boy. and
about thirty and for the last ten years e had been
In business at Palene; but In spite OF the numerous
strings to his how, already mentioned. hc did not
got on very well. and in fact, made but very door
living. Yet he was very industrious. and IN adlii-
ton To selling green grocery, singing birds coffee
aud VINE, hc repaired watches, mended tables and
chairs. put In window panes and painte beautl tul
sign-boards: so that he was looked upon as quite
Indispensable in all times of need and was highly
popular with everybody for his cheerful, obli gng
temper. and not less for his moderate charges.
Still. Don Lugen0 did not prosper. and the reason
was that he had one darling passion he was an
ardent sportsman, and every now and then he
would disappear for two or three days INTO the
woods quite forgetting his business and his Gus
TONERS and when ut length he came home looking
disLev He'd and half Wild he seldom brought with
him more than lean haro, small marten or u mis-
erable quail In spite of his small success. however
Don LugenO could not break himself of his love of
sport, and it this which keDt him poor man.
STILL in spite Of his poverty, all the women in the
place. whether old young had very kind feeling
for Don Ernano. as he was called all the people
tho place being usually known by their Christian
nsmcs and. II he had been so inclined. he might
scyeAI times have made such match as would
have raised him at once to position OF case and
comfort But he not inclined To give up his
liberty or 80 1t seemed. and the mon liked him all
the better for being as they believed. woman
hater. .
Whether, however he really was the inveterate
man-hater he was supposed to be might reason:
ably have boon doubted by any ono who had
CHANGED to observe how instantly his face lighted
up when Lucia and her mule turned tho corner INTO
the marketplace. They Wero coming to him. Of