The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-15

ding, 1t would have seemed a natural thing to Tista to obey. But strange in say, this insolent coolnesS, this calmlv asserted authority, awoke in him an in. stinct of rebellion, and with pride which seemed Sc acaEse the stranger not 2 lt,lr he took up the money and held it out
 am not his master" he said. Even if ! were, l should bid the signorina wal, till he dances for the people. It is hard enough work. He must not begin too early"
 He had thrust the coin back into the Englshman's hand, raised his tattered hat, and walked away ere the child O, her father had half compreheded the rapid speech and action. The man laughed, but the little girl loosed her hand and ran swiftly after the boy.
 " Do not be angry" she said in pretty broken patois. My father did not mean to be cruel. That is a beautiful dog. and SO clever. have seen you oftea. You sing, do you not?
 "Yes," said Tista, somewhat abashed by her beauty and radiance. and begin. ming to feel ashamed of his childish coz duct But was he not a Falccnieri, and had they not treated him as a began; He forgot that to all outward appear ance he was only little, ragged peasant lad-forgot 1t till the beauty, and the pretty toilet, and shining hair of this for. eign child struck on him with a sudden sense of wonder, and brought a burning blush to his cheek
 " Do you live here?" pursued the child in lt'llan, which sac had picked up from her nurse during two years soj ,urn ia the land.
 " Mo-" said Tista ;"I I live nowhere"
 :" "NoHhere! Do you mean you have no home-no parents! thought that dark man was your father"
 " Bruno my .athe: ]" and the little lad raised his head with a proud grace. "Oa no, signorina l come of a great race, though am homeless and friendless as 1 said. But mean to be great one day even as they were in years gone by"
 The child looked at him in wonder.
 !" Are they all dead ?" she asked. " Your people, mean?"
 Yes," he said, and bent his head sor- rowfuuy. "I am the last"
 And vhy do you go about with this man '" she questioned. "Do you like it?"
 "t did not at 6rst," he answered. "But there was nothing else to do. must earn my bread, and can only sing"
 He spoke simply, and yet his words told so much-quite enough to thrill the childs tender heart with pity. Her eyes looked at him with the sweetest comoas. sion that ever he had seen in human eyes.
 My father shall help you" she said. " He is rich and great. Come and tell him your story"
 But Tista shrank away
 No" he said, "I don't want charity. What l can do l will do-for myself. That is always best Others have done it. This land is full of their histories. can do the same"
 The Englishman meanwhile had grown impatient, and now called loudly to the little girl. She turned away reluctantly.
 "l shall see you again" sne said, "in Florence Do you go there soon ?"
 To-day, think" he answered, and Bruno says we will stay there all winter"
 "So do we," said the child in perfect good faith, and seeming to have no doubt as to the fact of such meeting or it's results. "So do we. shall loox out Tor you when you sing. wonder you do not sing at the church festas, though. There are so many lit;le boys, but they have not voices like you"
 like my freedom" said Tista with a smile and again took of his hat as she nodded and kissed aer li.tle hand before to her fathers summons.
 Then she ran away, and Tista put his arm around Coco's neck, and wandered ,ff under the boughs of the walnut trees.
 He thought of his old home among the Ron hills, where the bats and owls fitted through the ivy, and an old blind woman sat lonely by her stove listening or a footstep that might never echo trough those desoiate rooms while she lad life to be glad at the sound.
 Poor Maruccia !" he murmured: : poor old blind Maruccia! Perhaps ,ught not to have left her after all '"
 CHAPTER ".
 The winter days crept on, cold and lark save for some brief noon-hours of