The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-15

 S,reets. He was so weak that he stag oered. and the sunshine seemed swim. ming in rings of light around him. But he struggled hravely on through the cold, deserted thoroug He felt that he must see his child friend again.
 He reached the church a. last. Its dark, solema porch stood open, like a grave. Within, lights eleamed on the high altar, and the voices of the priests, who were saying mass, echoed duly under the great vauhed root. He stag gered forward and sat down on a char. 1t was all very dark and cold, and the lights seemed long way of, and the great tomb of Dante loomed like pom derous shadow from under the marble walls.
 Presently hand touched him, voice whispered in his ear:
 "So you have come am glad. But tell me, have you been ill2"
 He looked up. He saw the pretty hg- ure. and sunny face, and golden head of his little Eoglisa friend.
 "I have been ill-yes," he answered almost stupidlY. " But l thought must come, since you asked me-"
 ''Nita is over there saying her prayers" said the child, nodding her head in the direction of one of the chapels. We will sit here and talk-you and l. Papa does not know have come"
 But is not that wrong to deceive him '" asked Tista, gazing still in rapt admiration at her as she scared herself on one of the rush. bottomed chairs be hind the shelter of great pillar.
 anA tNiJ h;,1 hA ,,,,r,S r0& let me come" said the little lady wisely |" If l tell him afterward, he cannot help il. D,d you aiS ays tell your father every thing?
 - do not remember my father at all" said Tista sadly, tor my mother either Only my grandfather, and he died of the lever this summer that has gone"
 And why did you run away?" asked the child anxiously.
 Tista hung his head.
 Sometimes think it was foolish" he said. But the priests wanted me to enter their order, and did not wish to become one ot them, and thought they would force me, and so I ran away"
 D.d no one know?"
 "No the two old servants had died within that week. The fever was every where-they said it was scourge. There was only MaTuccia left, and 1. But know the priests will be good to her, and perhaps some day l shall be rich and able to ge pack, and need not fear the priests any more, but can build up the old broken walls, and restore the rooms that are all deserted now, and try to be happy as my people were, hundreds of years ago."
 ca, oeauti ;ul faith of childhood, to which nothing seems impossible! The little sickly, nalf-starved lad, with not copper coip in his possession, talked of being iich, and great, and famous, as though such things were the easiest possi- ble of achievement
 But," said the little girl presently, 7" if you have to wait so long, Maruccia may be dead too. You said she was very old "
 rrue," said Tista sadly. "I forgot that"
 II am going 10 Rome soon," said the little girl, |" tor the carnival Papa says it is better there. will make him take me to your house, and if see Maruccia l will tell her that have met you, and that you are with that cruel man. l am sure he is cruel l saw him beat the dog and you-you look so i'll and thin, and your clothes are all ragged. Does he beat you too? wish you would run away from him and come with us
 "No," said Tista, flushing hotly; "l cannot do that. And you must not tell Maruccia what will make her sad, for that is cruel and can do no good If you see her, you must say am well and happy, for indeed, sIgnorina, am. One cannot help being poor, but as long as one is honest, and does what is best, and has the beautiful earth to look at, and the good God to love one, it is not hard to be happy"
 The little girl looked at him earnestly.
 You are easily pleased" she said. But, all the same. wish you would come. have no brother or sister only my father. l should like to have you to talk to and play with. Bu. see-there is Nlta coming She has said her prayers You will walk back with us, will you mott"
 Tista looked at his ragged clothes and his old worn shoes, and coiored faintly.
 think not he said. Your father would not like it. am only a little street singer, you know, 10 him"
 les,' said the ch,ld. He does not believe me he laughed when said you were Alconieri, and that your people were once counts of Falconierl. He sad all Italians were nobes if one took their word for 1t. But will take him 10 your home when we are in Rome, and then, perhaps he will believe me-"
 The signorina Is always troubling herself about other people whispered the woman, who had heari that las, speech. She wants to make the whole world rich and happy, thlnk, like her selt. Come" she went on, tuning to the child, |" 1t is time we went home II sig- nore papa will mss you, and shall get scolded."
 Good by, then" said the little girl 10 Tista. .' shall not forget you, and will tell Maruccia what you sad"
 She put her little face up to his, ani Tista, coloriug sayly, stopped and kissed