Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-13
WATERBURY EVENING DEMoCRAT FRIDAY, l3 l8ss

S0COn0S Co 06C106 Gn0 O6Sb1uY or the MreSOluG8 Giletta- She questioned her heart once more No, it beat no faster than usual-that same regular tick-tack, tick-tack all day long. She loved neither the one nor the other. She would have welded one as readily as the other. The accident made her Countess Mo ronti; the decree of destiny be fulfilledl The count was noble minded, of unsullied charac- ter, of stately bearing. Yes, but he was a counti Pride again stirred in her heart If people should think she married because she coveted countess coronet. From distance Bertino's equipage was again approaching This time he occupied it alone, and papa remarked that since the receipt of the last basket he seems suddenly changed, much gayer, brighter, more joyous, evi- dently making little account of his mishap Certainly a charming young mani A flush flew into Giletta's face. Was it not possible to change the fiat of the accidenta She looked for another bouquet. The basket was empty; only the little bunch of resedas with the flaming flower lay therein A little in- significant thing to come up by chance out of the great wealth of flowers. Upon her brace let hung a costly jewel. a heart shaped precious stone She tore it of, fastened it to the bouquet of resedas and threw it with true aim at the passing Bertino.
 The daughter of Gabbadio Is out again ac- L4t0 dAI3Olk u5T uOW0TA. 1O8 OSCLO Qe1 nOT6 is over, yet 8 new fiesta like that of yester- day, recalling the Floralia and Rosalia of the old Romans, is appointed for today Upon the Piazza del Popolo the so called battle of roses is to take place, and for this there is fresh necessity for heaping up the fragrant artillery. The battle of the roses is a com bat between the young maidens of rank and the noble youths of the city, Upon the piazza is erected of silken bales an art castle, the walls of which are coated with costly carpets. The maidens defend the fortress, while the youths are to invest it. From the castle there Is 6 fire of almonds, apples and nutmegs, while the return fire must be made with flowers o1n, Full many a youth has in this conflict won his bride. Bertino and the count are fast friends. They have talked over the occur rences of yesterdays Corso, and discovered that they are just as wise as before. One possesses the ring and the other the heart set with rubies and emeralds. Who is the chosena They have represented the matter frankly to the old Lamberto, and he has in his fashion decided that the one who brings his Giletta out of the castle shall be his son in-law without fail Now comes the neces- sity for providing himself with ammunition .Bertino knows where the best is to be found outside the Porto Salara, at the pretty Re- sedass, who, in truth, is lovelier than all the finely dressed balcony beauties, though by fortune only 8 gardeners daughter. The maiden utters cry as Bertino enters her flower workshop. Bertino wears the little reseda bouquet with the flaming flower in his coat, upon the left side close to the heart Thus have the flowers found her husband Certainly not Resedns hand was 1t that winged them to him. With quick interest Bertino inquired the reason of her sudden alarm. It Is nothing; she has only pricked her finger with the wire But how the agitation becomes her and adds to her charnsI Her cheeks color, her bosom heaves, and all her Vaccinations are doubled. Bertino cannot drink in enough of the beautiful picture. His thoughts are In whirl. The colors mount to his head. The blossoms buzz and hum around him. "Bertino, stupid Bertino, canst waste thy love upon marble statue, cold, ,soulless, and hast no eyes for our beautiful queen, where alone true love dwellsa Her heart Is not made of l'ubies and emeralds, but is a well spring of warm, living, fragrant, breathing love!' With difficulty can the young man make known his errand. He wants POO little bouquets for the flower battle Are they to be of resedasfn asks the maiden, 'reseda with red blossom, like that of yours which made yesterday7" 'What, you made itT' cried Bertino. and he murmured something about making 2,OO0 and as he con- tinued talking with the girl the more hugely swelled the order. As he prepared to leave he was near the fifteenth thousand. 'What a spendthrift!" cried the old flower veteran, who had been listening to the conversation Quite early, papar' answered the little Re seda, quite as absent minded And then through the flowers goes strange hissng and tittering; they shake their cups and tiny heads and whisper from calyx to calyx. "Hal quite ready, indeed, but the great thing yet remains to be done, and that is our affair.""
 The missiles whiz from above and below The gentle maidens have some force in their, gentle arms, and many youth gets his eye closed and his ear tingling when well di- rected apple lands upon the side of his head, but he revenges himself as be hurls bouquet after bouquet in the combat The scene is almost obscured by the flying veil of roses, carnations, lilies and narcissus. Steadily. nearer moves the army of besiegers. The garrison defends itself desperately, and has armed itself with enormous syringes, and re-! ceives the stormers with whole salvos of rosewater. All in vain The ladders are placed against the walls, and now up, in the teeth of storm of apples, nutmegs and scented waters. Suddenly above the tumult Is heard a terrible cry, "She Is dying, she is dying Reseda, Reseda!" The beautiful maiden was we'll known to all, @ beautiful apparition. She had been called to take a post at the castle, behind heap of earth, to collect in @ mass the flowers thrown in Here in a damp, dingy place, enveloped in a dense, stifing cloud of odors, she had lost consciousness. One of the first to hear the cry for help Is Bertino. With few leaps he is over the wall, down in the flower case ment, back again with her into the open, fresh air. He sprinkles the sleeper with water, speaks some loving words into her ear, breathes his own breath between her pale lips At last she revives. A carriage is at hand. Carefully and anxiously, as if he were watching over his own life, he bears her home.
 Giletta Is standing upon the wall, and has witnessed the whole scene. She has become thoughtful, her pride Is touched, unbends, and she reflects that when we find our obsti-, nate purpose costing us painful struggle we may not very wisely perhaps be striving against destiny. From the battle, which has meanwhile been resumed, she has gained