The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-17

"Why, Giacinta! what does th,,
mean? My desk wide open, and All
the papers scattered about. Oh, Ma.
donna Mia! the money from the Libre
Aperto vineyard was there = fifteer
hundred francs!' The young girl few
to the desk and plunged her hand ipte
a drawer at the side. "Gone! Giacinta.
we are robbed" and she buried he,
face desparingly in the cushions of thu
nearest sofa
THE Holy Mother grant you are
mistaken, carina!'
Il am not mistaken, alas! In tina,
drawer | put the money while Paolt
waited for the receipt. I remember
doing so with painful distinctness.
Paolo' sat there on the blue ottoman. j
let him set down because of his lame
foot. He went quietly away after get
ting his receipt, and locked the money
in the drawer as usual"
Giacinta fumbled wildly about among
the papers, but all to no avail. The
money was certainly gone.
And he with face like the blessed
San Michele" she moaned. r.
mo, no; you are mistaken, amica
mia!' cried the contessa, reading the
suspicion in the old woman's eyes. u
would as soon accuse you of ro5bing
me, you faithful old granny. Our rooms
must have been entered earlier IN fl
evening. The window was open, a.
the ladder conveniently near. Maj,
rough men were abroad tonight, owi&
to the fiesta at Caiano. No, you ned
not lose faith in San Michele. as fou
call him. Something impels ne to rust
to the honesty of that young stranger
who helped us, as would trust my
brother Ugo in Heaven"
The Madonna herself put that tnst
in your pure heart, bambina mia, md
|, too, have faith in the young sino-
rino; but, ali, me! it's hard losing all
that money!"
"The worst will be telling Uncledno.
He will be furious. What nigt of
misfortune this has been"
And yet, in spite of the great mis-
fortune she had sustained, Confess
Natalia RoselIi, as she drifted into
dreamland for a few hours, felt that
this special night had been frught
with a new, rare happiness for hr.
She awakened to stormy, pCinful
scene. Ill news travels quickly. (erino
Roselli, Natalia's uncle, had herd of
the robbery, and had come for full par
ticulars.
"What is this wild story Of Gia-
cinta's?" 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; possibl,
he succumbed to the temptation"
What preposterous NONSENSE! Yol
would throw suspicion on an homes
contadt,1o, who grew old in yourfathcri
service, to screen a well-dressed, soft
spoken blackleg! Who is this fin,
gentleman, pray? Where does he live
OF course. if he is honorable he ha
told you all this?"
"He wished to give his card, bu
had none with him; he is coming thi
afternoon to present himself in dut
FORM"
"a likely story! And you. you con
fiding innocent, do you realize that tn,
loss of this money leaves you with mex
to nothing to live upon till the Rovez
zano rents are due? What do yo,
mean to do?'
"Certainly not ask charity from you
Uncle Gino. Giacinta and l hav,
already learned what sharp povert,
means, and we can bear this misfor
tune as we have borne others" !
proud fire burned in the young con
tessas eyes as she spoke.
whats this?" said Roselli. as h,
turned on his heel to leave the room
His foot had struck against a small OBJ
ject lying on the floor in the shadow o
table. 1t was Philips card-case
Roselli opened it and read on the frs
card, MIR. Philip Leighton, Via Pa
lestro, No. 30 This is probably tn,
name of your gallant rescuer," Ro
SELF added, sarcastically. Rather ;
suspicious circumstance to find hi
card-case lying so near the plunderet
desk"
81 will keep it for him till he comes,
said Natalia, holding out her hand il
quiet dignity. ..,..
"By all means, my dear, keep it til
he comes. hope your confidins
patience will not be put to too severe
strain"
Roselli took one long, searching lool
at the card, and resigned the prett
leather toy to his niece's keeping.
For Philip, also, there was rud
awakening that morning. A furiou
Italian gentleman demanded to SCI
him; asked an account of the las
nights proceedings, and accused hin
of stealing fifteen hundred francs iron