The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-09-05

have taught me. l had never been away
from my family
He was disturbed, disarmed, on tho
point of staying at home withouta u word
But, in spite of everything, lie remained
under the impression of distrust created
by the past.
Monteforte reflected: she awaited anx
iously. He thought that it was better tc
go to the end. Could he not unite ten
derness with firmness?
First he pressed her against his chest
Eyes, said she, "that's the way. Here,
you see, near your heart, l shall under
stand without bitterness; shall accept
gayly whatever you wish"
| Then, in an affectionate and moderate
tone, beneath which could be felt an i'm
placable firmness, he said:
"Know first that l love you, and that
other women, however beautiful or de-
sirable they may be, leave me Indifferent.
You must have blind confidence in
your husband; desire no more suspi-
cions or scenes. Do not believe me capa-
ble even of a thought that could cause
| you to grieve. Jealousy, you see, is dis
agreeable and stupid. Live in security;
in the first place, calmness beauties.
| Then learn to understand the needs of
artists. Other men spend the day out
side in their business. We work at home
in the daytime; we must talk of the
ideas that are dear to us, and for that
we have only the evening. Work. read,
sing; but do not trouble me and do not
| trouble yourself with puerile imagina-
tions. From the child that you area
| devoted, sincere and good child-grow
into woman without losing the grace
of your simplicity. If you do not, shall
love you just the same, because of your
good little heart; but 1 shall suffer, and
shall esteem you less. Now, believe me,
IL woman is always the gamer by her
husbands esteem. Now, as each of us
should do something for the other, this
evening shall not go out"
| Teresa listened with serious attention,
COMPRISING her thin pale lips, and look
ing at him steadily.
On hearing her husbands last words,
the young woman kissed him, rose, took
Monteforte's hat, and said resolutely: p
&c, husband of mine; begin this even
ing. 1t was only necessary to explain"
Then lovingly, but none the less seri-
ously, she continued:
''My Orlando, you shall see of what I
am capable"
He looked at her in surprise at the
mature, pensive something with which
he was struck. AS she insisted, he went
out; but with regret at leaving her, q
feeling unknown to him before.
When he was in the street, Teresa,
resting on the balcony, followed him
with her eyes as long as she could see
him, and with her hand upon her heart
she said:
"He will have to love me as l love
| himr'
Meantime, in the midst of her happi-
ness, Teresa often thought of her father.
And the image of the old man rose up
, and filled her with remorse; this remorse
was less bitter, however, than it should
have been, less than the old man deserved.
| She would have made more serious
efforts to win his consent, had not her
mother impressed her fears upon every
body, for which reason the young woman
dared do nothing, for they did not know
how to breathe in presence of Don Agos-
tino's coldness and silence.
From day to day the icy attitude of
the old man grew more severe, that of
the two women more anxious. The
meals were eaten in sadness; they
served him with sort of careful, atten-
tive timidity, silent both as long as he
was silent
Sometimes he surprised q furtive
| glance, then he knit his brow and the
women lowered their heads.
After meals he shut himself up in his
private Office He smoked, went out, re-
turned, always in the same moral soli-
tude, aggravated by his clear vision of
the understanding between the others.
He never talked of the young couple; and
| the poor mother and plaintive aunt felt
the burden upon them of this discomfort,
full of reproaches much harder to bear
than clearly formulated griefs.
Did he vanish round the corner of the
Salita? Like mice on the watch, one of
| them put on hat and shawl, went on the
run through the little street that separated
them from the Strada Magno. Cavallo, and
breathlessly climbed to the young people S
apartments. 1t was an intense delight in
| forbidden fruit, the pleasure of school
boys on a marauding expedition.
The other remained at home, lest Don
| Agostino should return; but she awaited
the news with mad palpitations.
"What did they have to eat?"
The first question of Neapolitans.
Then:
'How is Teresa? Do they need any
thing? Did Orlando seem happy? What
did they have to say!"
And twenty times, hundred times:
'They have eaten this, that. They
said How is Mariuccia? How is NAM
ma? Does papa seem any less angry"
Did the door open? Quickly they went
about their housework.
Don Agostino scented the mystery, and
asked in curt phrases for whatever he
wanted. Then he passed on proudly,
and, as gloomy as ever, shut himself up.
Very unhappy, in short, with a poor
look of martyrdom.
Once he met Mariuccia in the street.
At first she did not see him, very much
absorbed by hot dish which she was
carrying in her outstretched hands with
infinite precautions. She came near let
ting it fall when she saw her brother.
He turned away his head disdainfully;
and Mariuccia had a fit of trembling
which lasted several days. Don Agos-
| tinO did NOT avan alluIa tO tho mattar.