The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-26

knitting talked to US of her simple
uneventful life. When Reno, he
lover, was under discussion, whic
J was frequently the case, Crocifssa'
| large eyes glowed with soft, happ
, light, and she became beautiful. Blu
} the brightness vanished again quickl
. at memory of the sordid misery en-
composing them both. How W
longed to be able to give the poor gir
the paltry sum which would chang
her dull surroundings into paradise
One morning as we sat sketching ol
the brow of the hill, Crocifssa timldl.
approached US, carrying small bun
die under her arm. This she unwrap
ped, disclosing about four yards of un
usually beautiful lace, six inches o
more wide. ] was not much Of con
noisseur in such things, but I coul'
recognize the unusual merit Of thi
piece.
"Why, Crocifssar' exclaimed
where did you get such prize?"
II made it, she answered modestly
"at the Convent of La Speranza, where
| waited on the nuns for five OF si1
years. They taught me to make it
but can't see to do it any more"
"But, child, why don't you sell this
lace2 It would help you a long steE
toward buying furniture and marry.
ing Reno"
ALAS, Signora, I have often tried
but nobody will buy it. The nuns
say it is worth a great deal of money
perhaps so francs; but | shall never
find any one willing to give that
sum, and I would let it go for much
less"
She, Of course, wished us to make
some offer for the lace, but | knew it
would be great wrong to the girl to
allow her to sacrifice her work for a
trife, and | assured her Of this. Be-
| CduSS VIC COulu dOu pay AaIi EilCCi
we had no right to profit by the poor
child's ignorance.
'"The nuns would offer up special
prayers for ME if | gave it to the con-
vent, continued Crocifssa, ''but pray
ers will not buy furniture-at least
they have not so far
Don't despair of your prayers yet, :"
said Amy; then to me, in English:
''There is Mrs. Webster, the rich
American lady at San Marcello; you
know she is mad over bric-a-brac, an
tiquities and laces, specially laces.
She has heaps of money, and [ believe
she would buy this lace if she saw it. "
| thought the selection an excellent
one, and SO eager were we to try if the
sale might not be brought about that
we returned at once to call our hostess
into consultation. The result of this
interview was that the next day Gro
cifssa was dispatched to San Marcello
with her lace, and note to the land
lord of the hotel where Mrs. Webster
was staying. In three hours Croci-
fssa returned jubilant, because the
landlord had promised to show the
lace to all the guests in his house like
ly to be interested in such things.
We scarcely dared to break to Gro
cifssa the good news that came three
days later. Mrs. Webster had fallen
in love with theslace, as Amy had pre-
dicted, and at the landlords suggestion
had promised to pay $50 francs for the
piece on her departure, month later
In the meantime it might remain
upon exhibition behind the glass
doors Of the padrone's cabinet of Gu
riosities. It made one feel young and
happy again to see the bliss Of Croci-
issa and Reno. The latter was pre-
sented to US, and the good fellow
seemed ready to risk his life to serve
u.s. Amy might ride on the fruit dom
key at any hour of the day or night
she chose, and it was borne in upon
me that particularly glaring pair of
magenta stockings in process Of con-
struction by Crocifssa was for me.
The fortune of the betrothed couple
being now secured, negotiations were
entered upon for the desired outfit of
clothes and the necessary furniture.
A charming pair Of rooms, in Croci-
fissa's eyes, were bespoken, at the
back Of the carpenters house, and the
wedding day was set early in October.
All was going merry at the anticipa-
ted marriage bells, when the day ar
rived for Crocifissa to go to San Mar
cello and receive her money
On her first visit she had only seen
the padrone, and was about to be Civ
en- the price of her lace and dismissed
at once by him, when, on second
thought, he decided to detain her.
"You had better go and thank the
lady for her kindness yourself" ne
said; ''it looks more civil"
Crocifissa was shown into Mrs.
Webster room, marvel Of ornamen-
tation from all parts Of the globe and
various centuries more or less anthem
tic. Mrs. Webster had, as Amy had
maintained, an idolatrous fondness for
all things antique; hideous Jug with
crack upon its dirt-ingrained sides
was lovlier in her eyes than the most
skillfully worked vase of modern
times. She willingly paid fabulous
nricas for rnhhish Of q hunnna dau hnt