Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-19
CHAPTER V.
FLED.

doubtless, Ceccos daughter had persuaded her; she was fond of keeping the pretty, merry maiden with her."
 No thought of i'll or harm crossed her mind. Nita was thoughtless. and had taken 1t into her head to stop away-It was not the first time she had done so, in spite of her sisters grave rebukes. She would be home by noon, no doubt. Nooni That thought brought smile to her Hps-a light 10 her eyes that made her face radiant. Noon would bring Rufo hero once more. She blushed with de- light. Would he remember what he had said, she wondered, and, so wondering, went busily about the house, singing for very glad ness.
 The sun grew hotter and brighter, the noon hour came and passed; then, for the first time dim sense of uneasiness crept into Genna's heart.
 Neither Rufo nor Nita had come. As hour after hour passed her fears increased. "Could the child be ill2" she thought.
 Suspense grow unbearable. She set the meal ready for Maso against his return, and then went forth with the resolve to seek for Nita in the town. Such conduct as this she had never been guilty of-from the.noon of one day to the sunset of the next she had ab- 66Qtou WILL uO WOEO OA cApluuutAOu whatever. Genna could not understand 1t. She went swiftly down the hillside. and over the rough stony road. She hurried on with swift, impatient feet, crossing the bridge and river with never a glance, and so on through the old gateway and up to the deserted market-place. and then stopped at Cecco's house.
 The coppersmith and his family were at supper, and looked up in surprise as she en. tered. Her eyes glanced quickly round. then her face paled. "Is not Nita here?" she asked.
 "Nitaw cried chorus of voices. "No, certainly not. We have not seen her for days"
 Genna staggered, as If a blow had struck her. "Not here9" she cried. "Was she not here last night2 Oh. where can she be7" 1 Teresina looked at the girls frightened | face with widc-open eyes of astonishment. | "Was she not at homo last night then7" she asked.
 | Would I be here asking for her had she | been at homer" cried Genna flercely. "I tell you have not seen her since noon yester- day"
 | A clamor of voices and eIclamations rose at these words. Where could she be? Whittier had she gone9 No one could sug- gest anything, though all were ready to | wonder and conjecture. Genna alone stood there quiet, motionless and pale, a great ter TOT in her heart an agonized dread in her eyes.
 "It is very strange" said old Cecco, "but I always said Nita would como to harm with her idle ways and her vanity and foolish- ness."
 "Do not reproach her." said Genna, in a strange. wistful voice. "I-I cannot bear ii"
 Let me come with you to see if she is with any other of our neighbors." said Tere- sina, rising from her place at the table. Maybe she Is only passing day with a friend. though 1t Is odd she should never l have said so."
 1enna looked at her gratefully. "Yes, let | us go," she said.
 But when they were without, in the quiet dusky" streets. Teresina suddenly paused "Genna." she said. "have you seen aught of Rufo the painter, today"
 The girl trembled In every limb. "Why do you ask2" she faltered. "You do not sup. pose"
 'I suppose nothing. Only it Is odd that he and Nita, who were always so much together, should have disappeared at the same time. Rufo left here this morning with all his chat tels." Did you not knowp
 Gonna looked at her. The light of the new | risen moon shone on her face which was l ghsstly as death-her great pathetic eyes had in them look of agony. of appeal, ths t touched even the careless, vain nature of the l girl who had been Nita's friend-it was like the look of comin death in the eyes of a