The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-08-17
IN the old woman's eyes.

. suspicion IN the old woman's eyes. %
{ would as soon accuse you OF robbinf
( me, you faithful old granny. Our room
must have been entered earlier in thu
0 evening. The window was open, ant
' the ladder conveniently near. Many
0 rough men were abroad tonight, owing
. to the fiesta at Cajano. No, you neet
t not lose faith in San Michele, as you
r call him. Something impels me to trust
to the honesty of that young stranger
: who helped us, as l would trust my
| brother Ugo in Heaven"
I 1.-The Madonna herself put that trust
: in your pure heart, bambina mia, and
/, too, have faith in the young signo.
, rino; but, ah, me! it's hard losing all
that money!"
"The worst will be telling Uncle Gino.
He will be furious. What a night OF
misfortune this has BEEN"
And yet, in spite of the great mis-
fortune she had sustained, Countess
Natalia Roselli, as she drifted into
dreamland for few hours, felt that
this special night had been fraught
with new, rare happiness for her.
She awakened to stormy, painful
scene. Ill news travels quickly. Gerino
Roselli, Natalia's uncle, had heard of
the robbery, and had come for full par
ticulars.
What is this wild story of Gia-
cinta'sP" he began, angrily. "You
have had the colossal folly to let a
street-vagrant loose in your rooms. OF
course he improved his opportunity
and took your money"
Uncle, I'm fully convinced the
money was stolen before this gentle
man came to our assistance. The
window was open the ladder carelessly
left near by the workmen. Paolo saw
me put the money in the desk; possibly
he succumbed to the temptation"
What preposterous nonsense! You
would throw suspicion on an honest
contadino, who grew old in your fathers
service, to screen a well-dressed, soft
spoken blackleg! Who is this fine
gentleman, prayP Where does he livep
Of course, if he is honorable he has
told you all thisP"
"He wished to give his card, but
had none with him; he is coming this
afternoon to present himself in due
form"
"a likely story! And you, you con-
fiding innocent, do you realize that the
loss of this money leaves you with next
to fx
zano rents are due? What do you
mean to doP"
Certainly not ask charity from you,
Uncle Gino. Giacinta and l have
already learned what sharp poverty
means, and we can bear this misfor-
tune as we have borne others" A
proud& fire burned in the young con-
tessa's.eyes as she spoke.
What's thisp" said Roselli, as he
turned on his heel to leave the room.
His foot had struck against small OBJ
ject lying on the floor in the shadow of
a table. 1t was Philips card-case.
Roselli opened it and read on the first
card, "'Mr. Philip Leighton, Via Pa
lestro. No. 23.' This is probably the
name of your gallant rescuer," Ro-
selli added, sarcastically. ''Rather a
suspicious circumstance to find his
card-case lying SO near the plundered
desk"
81 will keep it for him till he comes"
said Natalia, holding out her hand in
quiet dignity.
by all means, my dear, keep it till
he comes. hope your confiding
patience will not be put to too severe
strain"
Roselli took one long, searching look
at the card, and resigned the pretty
leather toy to his niece's keeping.
For Philip, also, there was a rude
awakening that morning. A furious
Italian gentleman demanded to see
him; asked an account of the last
nights proceedings, and accused him
OF stealing fifteen hundred francs from
the Countess Roselli. A policeman
and cab were at the door, and before
he fairly realized what was occurring,
the bewildered Philip found himself .
lodged in "a cell at the Bargello. A
sad contrast to his dreams of imbibing ,
draughts of tea and enchantment with ,
his fair inam0rdta. He had no friends :
in Florence of whom he cared to bor- =,
row money, and he was not in funds to ~,
bail himself out to keep his appoint ,
ment for four o'clock.
Count Roselli kept his own counsel =
as to the summary measures he had i
aiken. and withdrew for few days to 7
MS podere at Feltro. .
As the day wore away with no signs I
Of Philip, Natalia said to her hand q
maiden:
"Giacinta, I'm haunted with the fear
hat Uncle Gino has done something n
desperate about this miserable money. II
wish you would go to the Via Pales- O
,ro and ask for Mr.. Leighton" Il
Giacinta went, and returned in floods f
'f tears. Mr. Leighton had been az Il
'ested that morning. The padrona fl
said he was such u nice, open handed
gentlemen; there must be some mon q
'trous mistake about it all a
Natalia seized pen and paper, and n
tent Giacinta to the Bargello with s
note declaring her belief A
n his. Philips, entire innocence, and liz
Ter shame at her uncle's conduct. b
Philip. in durance vile, poured out as 50