, 1890-11-13
A TREACHER0US LOVER.
Translated from the Italian for the
ArgonauL

Argonaut.
Nina Camusso was the daughter
and sister of fishermen. Her poor
little home, at the farther eX Xtrcmity
of Portoflno, appeared II spot of din
gy white amid the green of the olive
and fig-leaves. 1t stood single
habitation on the craggy side OF that
high cliff against which the sea
breaks in sullen roarings night and
day. 1t was less than house-lit-
tie more than IA hut, suspended
among the rocks, between tho blue
sky that roofs the mountain top and
the green waves that forever beat
against the foundation rocks below.
In this wild solitude, deprived of
a mothers care from early infancy,
| Nina had lived with her father and
brothers, and passed from childhood
to girlhood. Other human compan-
ions she had not, except once n
week when she attended mass,
walking alone the three miles of
rough road that separated her hum
ble cabin from the historic church
of San Fruttuoso.
The father and brothers-fsher-
men and sailors-nlade long alb
sences from home. They were often
out in their boats all night, fishing.
But the sea Is poor, and sometimes,
instead of mullet, eels, and other
fish, these fishermen brought to
land bales of tobacco, cans of petrol
cum, packages of coffee, casks of
liquor. Whence drew they these
strange fish? The question is easily
answered: From certain small ships,
large fishing-boats, smuggling-crait,
that when evening came on cast an
chor near the cape as ifapprehenslve
of wind. And here when the night
grew dark our fishermen came in
their boats. The goods We're quietly
and quickly transferred, landed and
slowed away in sort of caveroom
back of the Camusso cabin. The
next night men came down through
the rocks, packed the goods on their
shoulders or on donkeys, aud carried
all away.
This thing continued for years,
and Nina grew up accustomed to it.
Her father told her never to speak
of their affairs, and she was silent.
He told her, also, to he on the look
out for the coast guards. And the
girl peered, with her phosphorescent
eyes, into the darkness of the night
watching for the CLEAN Of the
musket or the yellow tassel of the
coasl-guard's cap.
One May, the authorities, deter
mining to check the contraband
trade on this coast, increased the
number of revenue posts. One OF
these was located in the vicinity OF
the Camusso cabin. This was a
great blow to the business of the
men. The real fish, too, were be.
coming scarcer and harder to catch,
and they had little success, though
often remaining all day long Oh the
sea.
Among the men stationed at this
post was one Gigi Campello, a fine
young fellow, with blonde mustache,
keen eyes, smooth speech and in
duty three days and two nights
every week.
How did it happen? How could
it have happened otherwise? The
girl herself can not explain it; but
the truth is, that between the fish
erman's daughter and the young
ut ard
up a great sympathy. The first time
they spoke to each other was one
day when Nina went to spread the
family linen to dry on large rock
in the rear Of the post. The inti-
macy between the two progressed
When Gigi Campello knew that
Nina's father and brothers were on
the sea fishing, or gone to Camogli
or to Portofino to sell the fish they
never caught, he abandoned his du-
ties ut the post aud went to the
Camusso cabin. And ut times, when
the sea below was clear of boats and
only far of in the horizon was seen
the smoke of the steamers going to
Genoa, Gigi, with Nina on his arm,
would wander through the olive
grove that stretches up between the
rocks and, seated in the cool shade
on the mossy carpet, the lovers for
got all the world. 1t was the old
old story ever repeated.
AT night, when Gigi saw the
Camusso boat silently leaving the
shore, light at the prov, and the
elder brother standing on the deck
with the harpoon In hand, ready to
strike the fish, he left his duties at
the post and hurried to tho house,
where, at the half-open door, Nina,
trembling, welcomed him.
This continued for weeks and
months.
One dark, stormy night, the lovers
were startled by knock at the
door below the room in which they
were sitting. Terrified, the girl
sprang to the window, and in falter-
ing tones called out: "Who is
there?"
"Open the door. BE quick. All il
WELL" was the response. Below the
window stood her father and broth.
ers, with large packages on their
shoulders.
"I am coming" stammered the
girl. Then, turning, she opened
the door of q large wardrobe and
whispered hurrledly to her lover
"Hide in here; II you do not they
! will kill you-will kill U.S." As she