Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-24
MEA CULpAl
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what could TO conceal the state Oh a'-
fairs, the doctor one fine day peremp.
torily ordered mo home. My HUSBAND
was TO get leave the following year, ana
l had So hoped TO hold out TILL then;
but fate, doctor, and husband were
AGAINST me. and early in October
started from Bombay. My mother met
me At Biindisi, and was full OF the
fine scenery and still finer climate of
the Italian lakes, among which she had
speut several winters and springs.
was quite ready 10 60 there with her,
but / wanted to learn something OF
Italians and their ways, and entreated
her to find some place where we should
not be completely surrounded by our
own country people.
"1f that is ALL" she said thought-
fully, 81 have the address OF an itaiian
family living in very quiet village not
far from the Lsgo Maggiore' Inc
father was formerly rather Succession
doctor at Milan, and is very interest
ing old fellow, they say. He lost
good deal of money in some bank iaii.
9re. and asked a friend Of mine a.
Como to try and get him some boardersI
sInglese.' OF course. | hear the VIVA
is cbsrmingly situated by tiny lake,
and in one Of the valleys that run up
from Lsgo Maggiore.' -,
"Let us 70 there, by all means,
said. with as much animation as tne
languor Of FIVE years in Bengal had lett
me.
ut will be fearfully dull" remarked
NV mother rather mournfully; but as
YOU are ordered complete repose' my
dear, that may be an advantage ana
am certain the brscing air Of that region
will do you far more good than that OF the
Riviera. So the matter was settled. my
mother wrote at once to Signorina Mo
desta Cattaneo, who kept house for her
brother. the doctor, and in few days
we were installed at the Villa Magnolia.
OF course the rooms had stone hoors
and were carpetless, and with that
strange want of the sense OF beauty IN
their household arrangements. l nave
noticed among Italians, all in the house
was severely useful-no flowers, no
bits of color cunningly disposed Tor
effect-in short, nothing artistic 1; but
happily all was scrupulously clean and
t;dv' and the rooms were large, lofty,
and airy many had balconies, and from
every window our eyes could feast on
the most glorious views. The family
consisted of DR.. Cattaneo, a man oil
about fifty, with a noble antique
Roman face, acquiline nose, Jet-biacK
ewes. and iron. gray hair and moustaches;
lie ought to have been a very determined
sort OF person, but ! do not think he
was. With good deal of intelligence
and talent. he possessed very tender
heart. a childlike simplicity OF charac-
ter. and occasional fits of dreamlness'
when if one addressed him suddenly he
would start, and moment would
elapse before his soul came back from
the distant spheres where it had appa-
rently been roaming. His mother
known as Signora Teresa, for surnames
are usually ignored in this part Of the
world-was a most beautiful old lady,
with a gentle, saint-like face that
seemed carved in ivory. She rarely
spoke, but when she did it was always
TO the point. 1t did me good to look
at her, and ! really believe that sitting
so often opposite her calm, sweet face
soothed and strengthened my nerves as
much as the perpetual sunshine and
pure tonic air of L. Signorina Mo-
desta was bright, clever, active little
woman, pale and thin, with an enor-
nous pair of black eyes.
The doctor had three daughters, Pia,
aged twenty-one; Innocentina, Just eigh-
teen, and Marietta. fourteen. We did
not make the acquaintance OF this young
lady. as she lived with her maternal
grandmother at Milan, where she went
to school.
We soon learned that 'Centina was
considered the beauty Of the family
Marietta was the genius, and Pa,
fear, was not appreciated as she de-
served: and if they had not all been
too good and amiable for harshness'
might have been made Cinderella oil.
In point Of fact, she was to our mino
superior in everything to her sister, but
was so modest and unselfish that she
really seemed to enjoy efiacing herself
onevery possible occasion for the others
She was Signora Teresa's stall and stay
hut the dear old "Monna laid nc
heavy burdens on the willing shoulders
She was her fathers right hand, and
am sorry to say he made rather unmer
ciful use of it; but she could see nj
fault in him, being one of those womeI
Who are sure to be some mans willing
slave 10 her liie's end, and she never
dreamed that he was decidedly seltisi
on occasion, and thought far more o
his own whims and fads than OF he
health and pleasure. | grew to like tn
doctor extremely, but | never could for
give the calm and unconscious way II
which he daily accepted all Pas llttl
sacrifices. -,
Siguorina Modesto, as | have said
was supposed to keep house, and sh'
certainly was to be seen here, there, an
everywhere, with majestic countenanc'
and portentous keys; and not even tn
parmesan was grated for the " minestra'
until she gave the word of command
But saw Pia constantly in the linen
room, ironing or mending the grea'
piles of coarse, sweet linen, or in thu
kitchen, connecting some dainty dish
Milanese fashion, TO delight her father
soul withal, or when her aunt unlocked
the cellar-d door and stood looking dowi
into the darkness below, it was PA VIII,
disappeared into those awful shade
with q lantern and basket to fetch u
the days supply Of wine.
This wine was all the produce OF thei
own vineyards, and the doctor was cen
sidered very successful as q wine-pro
Queer. He made three different kinds
the ordinary wine of the country wit
On inferior quality for general use, an
another kind different to anything
have ever seen. 1t was OF clear roS
color. with slight sparkle in 1t, rathe
...o.. I'D ,srminv Ane To ones finger