Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-02
men VIII always be fools- and old Giacomo
took a I,rodinioa,z mich Of sn,,ff


Gianni walked off unwillingly enough
He was a proud man, and Pippa's conduct
was hurting him bitterly. He did not wish
to lose his dignity and sacrifice his self
esteem by becoming jealous; it degraded
him in his own eyes But love was stronger
than will, and he uttered short, bitter ex-
ciamation Of almost savage disgust with
himself because he could not resist the
temptation to follow Pippa and his rival
The sun was beginning to go down; it was
very hot. Tonino and Pippa found the
shade OF the long rows of vines very CRATE
full The leaves were luxuriant and the
air was filled with their warm sweet smell
Tonino bent lower over Pippa and said
softly: THE news AVE to tell you, my
Pippa, is that, after 1, perhaps / am not
going away from Santa Chiara."
Pippa was rather taken aback She would
not have let Tonino go so far if she had not
thought that he was going away, now at
once through tie big tunnel that he had
helped to make, and never coming back
again 1t was quite another thing that he
was always to be there
Not going away sic said with a little
CULVER in her voice. Tonino thought the
little culver was one of happiness
Dearest he said, tits true Some one is
required to be always on the spot Every
night must go through the tunnel to see
that all Is we'll This will be necessary for
long months, till We see that the work is per-
feet in every part, that no unexpected dan
gers may arise. And it is l that have re-
ceived the appointment"
Tonino hit his breast with a sound of
triumph, then suddenly he threw his arr
round Pippa's waist.
Say, beautiful Pippal dearest of my
heart" be cried Say that you rejoice as
do. We shall not be separated"
Pippa was too much astonished to resist
Tonino had his arm round her, and now he
bent forward and kissed her once, twice be
fore she could speak, when there came a sud
den shout that sounded more like the roar OF
wild beast than human voice, ano
Gianni threw himself between them, hi
eyes flashing, his face convulsed with rage
Pippa was terrified, and in her terror she
could think of nothing save that oIfe of the
two would he killed. She threw herself upon
Gianni, clinging round his arms with all her
weight, while she cried with hoarse voice
that did not sound like her own:
Fly, Tonino fiyl He will kill you. We
shall all be lost. Fly! fly.
Tonino was not brave, he turned and
went, gliding away among the vines with
his head turned back over his shoulder, and
his eyes glaring at Gianni with look of in
tense hatred.
He has gone." cried Pippa. sinking on her
knees, but still clinging to her betrothed
THANK heaven, he is gone!'
You have saved your lover this once"
said Gianni between his teeth. But oppcr-
tunities do not lack
You would kill him. cried Pippa.
"Hai he a hundred lives l would take
them all - and Gianni ground his teeth with
the ferocity of a jealous Italian
But why should you kill himF7 cried
Pippa, bursting into tears He is nothing
to me-"
TELL that to whoever is fool enough to be.
heve you" said Gianni scornfully
ooh, Gianni, are we not betrothei!7
That also is a thing Of the past Old
Giacomo is right-all women are false.n
Gianni strobe away and left her
Pippa stood looking after him. "Giaconu
Is right in everything" she said to herself
through her tears And all men are fools
Oh Gianni. Gianni.'
But whether be heard Ter piteous little cry
or not he did not turn, and Pippa sat down
under the vine leaves and sobbed as if her
heart would break.
The sun went down, the church bell rang,
the people poured into the last service, and
still Pippa sat sobbing Then she heard the
voices OF the congregation as they once more
came out of church
"Gianni is good man. she said to her
self He never misses benediction The
holy service will have softened his heart;
he will forgive me. Though Tonino is going
to stay here, it will not matter, for
shall be the one TO go. Gianni and / will
be married ut once, and We will go away in
his big carriage to Sestri. After all, we
may be very happy yet. l won't put off the
wedding any more, it shall be at once am
sure that Gianni will see when he looks at
me that | mean to be good now.'
Pippa had no tears left to shed; she dried
her eyes and pushed back her curly hair,
and walked down to the village.
Old Giacomo came hobbling up to her.
DO you want to know where your two
lovers are. my beautyf he said. Well,
well, you shall not be left in ignorance
Tonino, when he came out of church, took
his bag of tools you know them9 over hii
shoulder, lighted his lantern, and went of
through the tunnel on his usual inspection
He must have got some way by this time'
And my Giannip cried Pippa, trem
bling
'(Iiann; had an odd look on his face II,
evil eve has crossed him perhaps Who
Inowsr
@But where is he'" she faltered.
at is very strange" said Giacomo, "but
be also took the way Of the tunnel He
llso must be some way in by this time,
and
But Pippa waited to hear no more. 4 hor-
'ib!e dread had seized upon her; terror
,old as hand of ice laid upon her heart
She uttered shrill little cry and sped away
oward the mountain as fast as her feet
could carry her.
Per Bacco, there will be mischief" saia
me man to another Would it not be best
o go after them,'
Il shall tell the priore.' said Mariuccia,
xagging her old head as she went off in
earch of the priest.
In few minutes quite crowd had gath
.red round the mouth Of the tunnel
Meanwhile Pippa ran on and reached her I
The opening looked fearfully
lark and gloomy in the fading light, and /
he had no lantern with her; but terror lent
Ter courage; she never hesitated, but quickly .
,rossing herself she darted in.
1t was quite dark now. Pippa guided 4
lerself along the walk; She was obliged TO go (
more slowly. Oh, how pitch dark it was, and /
low cold She gasped for breath Now her {
lands rapidly passing along the wall en-
ountered something cold and Shiny, and she .
ried TO fling it of, but it chung.
a slug she thought with a shudder
he got nd of it at last, never slackening her .
teps All was deadly still-she could hear .
er own PAINTING breath. Now a sort of pale
olor began through the blockness, and
breath of air: she could see again.
he big tunnel opened into little gorge not
en- foe. wide She looked up through the
ocks almost like one from the bottom Of
Tell. and saw the friendly blue sky; then TAX
~ courage, plunged on again INTO deeper
light than before.
Pippa could feel tie darkness, the cold.
reathless atmosphere: she was getting into
he longest, most unb-oken part of the tun-
ell
She gasred for breath, her brain began to
eel, her eyes thrObt ed and ached with the
train 10 see where nothing was visible
Then suddenly, quite suddenly 1t seemed
o her, in the far distance she perceived n
title moving spark; Ugh. could h. nothing
ut Tunino's lantern Her heart beat almost
, sufrocation, she rarsei or one instant Ia
am breath, then boundc- n. for it seemed
, her intensely strained sense Of hearing
nat there was some one else ahead Of her,
pIne footsteps swiftly following the lantern.
, rlrtrSJlir If II