Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-18
IN THE TUNNEL.
fCornhin Magazins.l

Embedded in a deep italian valley lay the
village of Santa Chiara. Mountains sur
rounded 1t on all sides except on tho north,
where the valley narrowed into a gorge with
steep precipitous sides, forming q natural
roadway out into the open country.
In remote, far-away times a narrow road
had been made over the mountains toward
the south, and the more enterprising of the
village drove their mules once or twice Q
year over this pass-a day and half jour
ney-to the big town of Monte Caetano, to
sell the fruits of their industry; but the
Journey took time and money, and both were
too valuable to be spent on the road very
often.
But with the energy and enterprise Of the
nineteenth century came a change.
The inhabitants Of Santa Chiara were
startled one day by the arrival Of engineers,
but they were destined to be yet more as
tonished In q few weeks the village was
overrun with workmen, the valley rssounded
with the blasting Of rocks, and they under
stood that a 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 go 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, ard an en-
gine decorated triumphantly with flags,
Iassed the whole way down the line to
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
station at Monte Caetano with enthusiasm,
were presented with handsome testimonials,
and made to feel themselves real heroes and
public benefactors.
1t was one hot, sunny Sunday evening in
Santa Chiara, about week after the open
ing Of the great tunnel Vespers 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
a 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 al
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 clasped 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 a
| 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 heartl Look thsrei The
little viperI"
Pippa was looking her best for her be
Z trothed Gianni called the Bellino on account
| Of his sky-blue eyes, was there, sitting on
the wall, and it was SO 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
atss of the engineers, one Of the flood of new
comers whom the great tunnel had brought
| beyond the mountains to disturb the peace o.
Santa Chiara
Tonino had not been long In the village
Only three weeks ago he had come to replac.
Piedmontese who had finished all ths
skilled work and had passed on to new
labors elsewhere Tonino was but begin
ner as yet but he was quite capable of car
rying on his predecessors work, and hi
superiors pronounced him . young fellow o.
much promise.
Tonino had lost his heart From the mo
mont that Pippa passed him, the day afte
his arrival, In her dark gown, with scar
let handkerchief knotted round her curl,
black hair, with her brown skin and red lips
and the wonderful dark eyes which aashst
ON hun ss she turnad her head and looked Q