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

ing in her eyes.
''If the signora would like some
narrow lace Of the same pattern,
would try to make it. My eyes are
better now than when did that wide
piece repeated Crocifssa.
"Do you mean to say that you made
this lace?" said Mrs. Webster, with
suppressed rage.
Eyes, signora; why not?"
Crocifssa regarded the now infuria-
ted lady with blank amazement; she
had expected praise for her handiwork,
instead Of these flaming eyes bent an
grily upon her.
Mrs. Webster rang the bell with
sharp violence and demanded the in
slant presence of the padrone. "How
dare you" she cried, as he appeared,
''try to cheat me so outrageously"
The padrone, mystifed as was Cro-
cifssa at the lady's excitement, stared
at her in helpless silence. Presently
he found voice enough to faiter, 81 do
not understand; will the signora
please to explain?"
''You finished rascal, you know very
we'll what l mean! You showed me
this lace, letting me believe that it
was old, and now this girl-she is in
nocent enough-confesses that she
made it herself. What have you to
say for yourself, sir?"
"Dio mio! Why-I thought-but
it is old, signora- behold. it is quite
dirty. l feared the signora would de-
sire fresher piece, and my heart was
light when she seemed to wish to have
it old. The signora did not mention
how old it must be. hence this misun-
derstanding, which I regret deeply"
If occasionally tempted into false
hood, like the most of his kind, the
padrone on this occasion spoke the
truth. He was simple fellow, igno-
rant of the craze of the elegant world
for antiquities; he had not troubled
himself to inquire the history Of Cro-
cifissa's lace, but had satisfied his con-
science by asking its value of an old
woman of the village, an authority in
such matters.
But the irate Mrs. Webster was
not to be appeased. The padrone had
tried to cheat her as egregiously as any
hardened rogue in the lowest of junk
shops. Here" to Crocifssa, 'take
your lace; | have changed my mind
and will not have it!' and she tossed
the work into basket on the girls
arm.
''But, signora!" cried the poor
child, bursting into tears, and extend
ing both hands imploringly.
leave the room at once, both of
your said Mrs. Webster, callously.
Il can not have scene here The
way Of the transgressor is hard you
know and you must take the conse-
quence of your evil deeds"
Poor Crocifssa! how she retraced
her tired step to Piatico, empty hand
ed, with the unlucky lace in her bask-
ct, she never knew The situation
was really deplorable-all the neces-
saries for their humble house keeping
almost III their possession, the rooms
engaged, aud not "a franc to pay for
anything. The little community was
loud in its expressions of rage at the
inhuman woman who had so deceived
Crocifssa, but this mended matters
not at ALL
A day or two later Reno sought US
out, despair on his handsome face
Crocifssa was i'll, Of grief only, but so
low and miserable that Reno feared
the worst The poor girl was really
in pitiable state, and after our visit
to the hovel where she lived, Amy and
| declared we would not see another
sunset before we had tried to set on
foot some project that might benefit
the unhappy child.
There were crowds Of strangers at
the hotel at Abeton; why should they
not know of the sad little romance at
Piatico? With the assistance of our
kind hostess the affair was made pub
lie, and we arranged lottery by
which to dispose of Crocifssa's lace.
To our great delight tickets to the
value of nearly 800 francs were sold,
the money, of course, being poured in
to the lap of the bewildered Croci6ssa,
we'll nigh beside herself with these
sudden transitions from despair to Joy
twice repeated.
The modest trousseau and furniture
were paid for, and there was little
sum left over for a rainy day. Amy
and | delayed our stay to be present
at the wedding in October, and very
merry affair it was, thanks to the
change in public opinion, which now
regarded Reno and Crocifssa as the !
hero and heroine of the village.
The old hostler at our inn won the
lace. As he had not chick nor child to !
give it to, and one or two old sins on
his conscience, he gave his winning
to the church.
And thus it came about that the
Madonna's silken robe is so richly dec
GRATED.
Worth Knowing.
Mr.. W. H. Morgan, merchant, Lake
City, Fla, was taken with a severe