The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-15
NO. As.

HOI KNOW Inc SuoJeCC OF tnein.
Teresa looked at Monteforte long and
searchingly; then her long, black, curved
lashes concealed the flame in her eyes.
Come, coUrage!' said he, pressing
the little hands. ''Tell me this great Sc
cret, this trouble, fer which 1 offer you
consolation
Il love some one" she articulated in a
low voice.
A tear rolled slowly down her cheek.
Teresa cried the good hearted fellow.
With Il serious voice she continues:
"Some one who does not love me-"
He could not answer; his throat con-
tracted. Pity? Remorse: Love, perhaps?
lie could not have told.
Softly he whispered:
care you sure that he does not love
you?"
She shook her head.
"Well, my child, tell him, if you love
him. Men have not always time to go
down to the bottom of their hearts; per-
haps he does not know you well. Come,
Teresa, be frank with me"
Encouraged by this penetrating voice
and the sincerity of his clear eyes, she
withdrew her hands from Orlando's.
Then she sat straight up, sustained by
the pillows. Shaking off her weakness,
she resolved to tell all; and Monteforte
saw a sort Of solemnity transfgure the
young girls face. The soul had per-
meated the human clay, Illuminating the
little homely and puny creature with its
1i,-ino With ri,
began:
"Since you say that I may, NJ Monte
forte, am going to tell you everything"
''Do you remember the day when 1
first met you at the Rienzis'? | had al
ready known you for a long time, for
you passed before our window at Portici.
Who you were did not know. But l
looked at you and wanted so much to
know your name, though did not dare
to ask any one.
cat last NJ del Vecchio introduced
you. There was such a buzzing in my
ears that | could not distinguish your
family name. 1 heard only your first
name-Orlando. If you only knew how
happy 1 was to see you and be so near
you. Since then-and long beforehand
always, I love your
This confession Of the young girl was
so chaste and deep that he could not find
word worthy of her and of this pure
love. He let his head fall upon the bed,
placing his burning eyes upon Teresa's
pale hands.
She continues:
Before 1 knew you I was always
awaiting her; since then 1 have loved
you faithfully"
Monteforte raised his head, and, keep
ing Teresa's hands in his own, drew
nearer to her.
Teresa continued with cloudless candor:
GAS long as the Rienzis remained in
Italy all went well, although
"Although?" he asked, in low tone.
She, still more reassured at finding
him so near her and SO affectionate and
good, continued:
''You have given me much pain, some
times, without knowing it. And then
1 was jealous"
"Jealous, Teresa? OF whom?"
"Oh!" said she, shaking her head,
''even now 1 will not say of whom. OF
everybody, at first. And then l did all
that could; I talked to you very sweet
ly. Once even 1 stayed long time,
plucked petals from flowers; 1 believed
yes, l believed that you were on the
point of seeing my secret and all sorts
of things! But no. You began to sing
the nurses cradle song. All the way
home 1 weptr'
Orlando slipped his arm around the
shoulders of the sick girl, who found her
head resting on his chest near his heart.
"Teresa mine, l did not know; saw
nothing-stupid that amr'
With cajoling movement of inde-
scribable grace, she said:
''You could not divine it, could you?
When the Rienzis went away, asked
you to come and see us, and every day |
awaited you; every evening 1 said to
myself in despair: Perhaps he will come
tomorrow"
The poetry which in Italy even the
women of the people know how to i'm
proyise in the service of their love, for
mulas ready made perhaps, but none the
less eloquent to those who do not know
them, added Il poignant charm to the
young girls tenderness; she continued:
"The next day and all the following
days were alike. Yet in spite of my sad
ness, hope remained. ALI! Don Or
landO," she exclaimed, shaking her head,
"if could wiring my heart before your
eyes, tears would flow from it.''
"Teresa, poor dear, good little soul!"
cried the young man.
He could think of nothing else to say,
but he would have liked to make her
smile, to breathe into the child his
abundant life, and to take upon himself
the larger share of her suffering-all her
suffering.
She allowed herself to be lulled with
vague words, caressin5 infections. And
when Nine. Cardelii came back they
were still in the same position, Teresa
resting against his heart.
An impulse of generosity seized Mon
teforte. He thought only of saving her.
Whether Teresa had more money than
he Qess was impossible) he did not reflect
for moment. And in voice of emo
ton, mingled with pity, Monteforte de-
clared:
"You see, Nine. Cardelli, wish my
Teresa to be cured and get up again. We
must marry soon, since we love each
other"
"Then," said Teresa, with a sigh of de-
liverance, "then you love ME, tell me?
Do you love me:"
He was chivalric player.