The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-13

should never spend the evening out at the
same time; and it goes without saying that
Pia almost invariably gave up the coveted
pleasure to her sister. The Doctor, as
usual, went himself to fetch home his
daughter, starting early in order to come
in for any fun that mi ght be going, which
he enjoyed as much as a schoolboy out for
a holiday, especially when away from Sig
norma Modesta's disappearing glances,
which always succeeded in quelling his
spirits when they ran too high. There
was evidently same extra excitement over
this particular soirfe. The Doctor walked
up and down like Gagged lion until the
hour came when he could decently start;
and as soon as the door had closed on him
Signora Teresa and her daughter began to
chatter eagerly in the "dirletto" or Italian
of the lakes, very different matter to the
'slingua toscana, in bocco romano, and
quite beyond my comprehension but l
noticed that 'Centina's name came very
frequently into the conversation. Pia was
preoccupied, and did not take her usual
interest in her book, for this was the only
hour when she had leisure to read She
knew French well, and during the winter
5ssAad taught her sufficient English to ena-
I'ble her to enjoy the various magazines and
periodicals with which kept her supplied.
At about halfpast 10 a sound of merry
voices and laughter announced the return
of the Doctor and Innocentina. The latter
was dimpling and sparkling with pleasure
as she entered, followed by an adoring
guard of honor; there was old DR.. Ruspini,
couple of the open -collared, frizzed-headed
Young habitues OF the afternoon dances,
and wonderful improvement on the gilded
youth of lin stranger who was pres
emily introduced to us as DR.. Ruspini's son,
young DIR. Carlo Ruspini. DR.. Cattaneo
insisted on the gentlemen stopping to taste
his famous wine, and | noticed that on
this occasion DIR. Carlo was evidently the
honored guest
There L found the Doctor in animated
conversation with-Signor Cesare Villas
pini; and we were forwith introduced.
Was disappointed? Had expected too
much? Not altogether. He was distinctly
a gentleman, dressed like gentleman, and
his hands were perfect; but-well, he was
slightly, very slightly, inclined to ennbon-
point, and am afraid he was little bald;
both of which triAing details rather spoiled
the poetry of my little secret romance.
But by and by, when "Il Siguor Cesare"
drew chair near mine and rather laid
himself out to be agreeable, he quite sue
ceeded, as far as my mother and | were
concerned. We were quite charmed with
him, and my mother said his smile was
delightful 1 don't know if he was deeply
learned, but he seemed at home on every
possible subject, from German transcen-
dentalism and '-Die neuere Philosophie" to
the aesthetic craze in England, from Theos-
ophy and the Himalayan Mahatmas to the
Oxford revival of 1880 and the Catholic
movement in the Church of England. He
was devoted to poetry, and Shakespeare,
Goethe, and Byron were the idols he had
set up to worship in his private walhalla,
and he had lately written an essay compar-
ing Hamlet, Faust, and Manfred, and their
respective authors But the Doctor was
getting fdgety; he felt himself left out in
the cold, for we were speaking English
so, with word of explanation to my new
acquaintance, turned the conversation, in
nv Indifferent Italian, to a subject more
interesting to our host.
After dinner, when we went out into the
garden, and the usual set had dropped in
Lucia and Maria and Blanca, Giulia and
Carolina, and the young men, and DIR.
Carlo, and all the mothers, cousins and
aunts- -Siguor Cesarc again Joined moth
er and me, and asked many questions
about L, the natives generally, and the
Doctors family in particular. He was
amused at my enthusiastic admiration for
everything, and when l cautiously spoke of
the natural refinement and good looks of
the two young girls, he put up his glass
and looked critically at 'Centina, who was
standing near, and, indeed, was at her best
to-day, little subdued too at the presence
of her s:fidanzatu," as we all now considered
the Young doctor. Signor Cesare dropped
his glass.
"She is very pretty" he said; "bellissima,
truly" but he did not appear greatly
charmed.
"What do you think of Pia?' I asked,
with hypocritical assumption of indiffer-
euce.
s'Tm afraid l can't give an oppinion,
he said comically. "Don't think me ungal-
liant; am only excessively nearsighted. !"
And where was Pia? Not among the
dancers, and my new friend had apparently
driven her from her favorite place at my
side
What perpetual sunshine we had through
April! what balmy breezes and how we
lived out in the open air, enjoying the
mere fact of existence, and thankful for
the perfection which surrounded us! can
particularly recall one charming day, when
we drove in the cool of the morning.
right merry party to Losone, where we left
my rattletrap and Signor Cesare's comfor-
table landau "a strange pair to run In cou-
ples. but somehow he had fallen into the
habit of roaming about the country with
us, and put his carriage at the disposal of
the ladies'. Our destination was Romeo,
and to reach it we proposed crossing lower
slope of Monte Ghiridone. 1t was hot
day, but our road led through the woods,
and we had plenty of shade all the way.
Nv mother and Signorina Modesto never
1 Joined us in these excursions, and many
were the injunctions the latter gave the
Doctor to be sure and chaperon the young
folk efficiently. She would ask me to aid
him in his task, but / could see it was out
of mere politeness, for she had an idea that
there were no chaperons in the land from
which hailed, and that naturally l could
know nothing of the duties of those useful
members of society. As for the Doctor
good man, he promised everything she
wanted, and for the rest of the day only
troubled himself with amusing himself as
heartily as he could and as 'Centina and
her young man were always in the midst
of half-a-dozen others, laughing, romping
a little, clambering, and gathering flowers
there was really no necessity for duennas
with Argus eyes to spoil their harmless
fun.
But-and here feel rather guilty, and
had better make my confession at once
since that memorable Sunday Signor Cesart