San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-29

Teresa arrived, alone!
She put her arms around her fathers
neck.
"A hundred of these fine days, very
dear father of mine!'
Thank you, Teresa" said he, kissing
her on the forehead.
Growing more nervous, he looked a
the door, then he gave a sigh.
OF relief, without any doubt, and per.
haps of anger.
Another ring of the bell was heard.
There! that was Orlando! His wife
had come first: he followed, having beer
detained by MazuCciO, whom he bad met
Donna Bettina dropped upon chair
Supporting herself against the table
Donna Mariuccia, who had just seen hel
brother give a start, clasped her hand;
in fervent prayer. As for Teresa, she
maintained an aggressive attitude, ready
to leave at once if any one should offend
her husband.
That lasted two minutes-long enough
for the servant to go TO the door and
open it.
The two wild animals were about to
meet.
Orlando's strong and joyous voice rang
out in the silence, full of terror and
solemnity:
"A hundred of these fine days, Don
Agostino!'
Thanks from my heart, Orlando" re.
spOnded the father, feebly.
And the mother, the aunt and the
young wife, with eyes and mouth wide
open, looked on with inexpressible amaze.
ment as Don AgOstino opened his arms
and OrlanGo kissed him, in accordance
with the custom of the country; after
which the poor father slipped his arm
under that of his SOn-in-law, and said in
"a voice vibrating with emotion:
And you know, Orlando, we have
very good dinner. have chosen myself
a muscatel wine-oh, such wine! You
will see"
Then, with an engaging air. he led him
to the table and placed him beside him.
The choicest bits were given to Orlando,
If any stranger had found himself
there by chance he would have supposed
Monteforte to be the prodigal son, the
loved one returned, for whom they had
killed the fatted calf.
This fish chowder, do you like it,
Orlando? Don't eat those chicken livers;
here is some calamajO IAN Italian dishl.
This fried mixture is very good, isn't it,"
The establishment of the women made
the dinner silent one, though it was
none the less gay on that account.
Teresa triumphed. The aunt and the
mother occasionally looked at each other
with moist eyes. They said not a word,
fearing that the charm might vanish.
But it was not an empty dream; its
reality became apparent after dinner.
When they rose to make the coffee
themselves in the parlor, and while
Maria was preparing the liqueurs, Don
AgOstinO started for the library. He came
back with some cigars, which he laid be.
fore Orlando.
Here" said he, smoke some of these;
they are HavanaS.'
Obi! murmured Donna Bettina, trans
lating the thought OF the others, che ex-
pected him.
While smoking, Don Ago5tinO led his
oon-in-law to his private room. Perhaps
he wanted sole possession Of him.
Had he not been long held apart like
castaway? The others had enjoyed the
children, their happiness, their intimacy,
giving many things which he had seen
carried away, as if it were necessary to
hide everything from him, as if, indeed,
he We're an avariciOus villain.
Had not his poor heart needed as much
as theirs the joy Of the young people?
The old man did not know how to lead
up to the expression of his feeling; for
lie wished too to go to that top story"
in the Strada Magno- Cavallo, where
perched the pretty pair of birds so dear
to his misunderstood heart.
But Orlando did not understand, did
not divine what his agitated father-in-
law was driving at.
Then, Don AgostinO saw that he must
do the whole thing himself; so, summon
ing all his diplomatic skill. he delivered
himself of this naive utterance:
"And up there, at that height, you
must be very uncomfortable
How so? Why uncomfortable" ex-
claimed Monteforte, with a satisfied
laugh. "But3n is paradise, Don Agos-
tho, really. l need light for my
studio; it is roomy, and not expensive;
the chambers are fine: we can step
out upon a pretty roof. Wouldn't you
like to walk over there, just to stretch
orr larSp'