The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-03
RISING SUM- CECIL COUNTY, MD. FRIDAY MAY g. 1889.

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 gate way 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. SIS not Nita here?" she
asked.
"NitaT cried o chorus Of voices. "No,
certainly not. We have not seen her for
days."
Genna staggered, as II blow had struck
her. "Not here?" she cried. "Was she not
here last night? Oh, where can she be2"
Teresina looked at the girls frightened
"Was she not ut homo last night then2" she
asked. M
Would be here asking for her had she
been ut homer" cried Genna fiercely. 81 tell
you I have not seen her since noon yester.
day."
clamor Of voices and exclamations rose
ut these words. "Where could she be?
Whittier had she gone? No ono could sug-
gest anything, though all were ready to
wonder and conjecture. Genna alone stood
there quiet, motionless and pale, great ter.
ror in her heart an agonized dread In her
eyes.
"It is very strange" said old Cecco, "but I
always said Nita would come 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 it,"
"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 it is odd she should never
have said so,"
Genna looked at her gratefully. eyes, let
US CO." 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"
81 suppose nothing. Only it IL odd that he
and Mia, who were always so much together,
should hnye disappeared at the same time.
Rufo left here this morning with all his chat
lels." Did you not knowp
Genna looked at her. The light of the new
isen moon shone on her face, which was
hastily as death-her great pathetic eyes
had in them a look OF agony. Of appeal, thst
touched even the careless, vain nature of the
girl who hRd been Nita's friend-it was like
the lAok oil comm death In tho eyes of a
dumb animal. "0h, no, 1t cannot bel /
cannot be u she moaned.
"We will hope not. Let US hasten and in
quire OF the neighbors."
Genna did not speak. She moved mechani-
cally from house to house, from street TO
street, while Teresina made all the necessary
inquiries, and to all OF them received but one
answer. "Let us GO to his house." said
Genna, at last, In o hoarse. cold voice that
startled her companion,
SIT will be useless" the girl answered but,
they went.
The painters room was In total darkness.
The woman who let 1t brought them light,
and answered Teresina's questions volubly
enough. Eyes, it was true-the signore had
left that morning very early. Mono one
had come there before or since his departure
He had given no explanation; he had paid
her generously, and said sudden business
called him back to Rome"
"To Romep denna started-here was.a
elew at all events.
Then sickening, weary Feeling stole into
her heart; she remembered Nita's words
few days before-her longing to see Cities
her weariness Of the dull, monotonous homa-
life. But yet she strove to banish these
doubts bravely, staunchly. Nita was nure,
good. honest. She woUld aot surely listen
to any teupting that would bring ruin.
shame, misery. on her own head and on
those who loved her.
She stood there in the silent, empty room
that for her had SO terrible an eloquanoe.
Was he, too, false she wandered.
Fsfasina's voice roussd her at last
IS Come" she said," Eve can do no good
now. She must have gone with him."
The wo rds reused Genna.
She flashed one burning indignant glance
at the girl. "Yop are her friend. yet you are
the frst to speak i'll of her." she said: and
then waiting for no reply, turned swiftly
away, and took herself homeward with blind.
miserable eyes that saw nothing, and steps
that found their way by sheer instiDct to the
deserted, lonely hlems.
'Aha hRa Roae with him She has gone
with him i-those words alone echoed and
ra-echoed In her brain. and her great, brown
eyes grew black and heavy with wrath and
desperate fear. "They have decelyed me=s
both," she thought, In har agony. and no
longaE could any belief in her sisters inno-
cence bring comfort or ease to the pain
which racked and tortured her.
"And can I do nothingl" sbe moapad, as
she crossed the thresheld apd looked round
the familiar place, " Nothing-only watt
Hes eyes fell on the picture on the wail-the
picture OF the bright, laughing lovsln' IS
that had been to her SO beloved and cher
ished a thing.
strange laugh fell iyam Der lips-a laugh
more tery,hia than ahy Sob SOB Of anguish. than
any tears Ot pain. "Is this my recompense
after all |" she said.
Then she fell down on the cold, brick Soor
like fslled log. For spass all v Was s. dark,
ness 2 ~ she remembered E n nothing more.
CHAPTER VI.
aENNA AaoEn.