Telegram-herald., 1890-06-28
A WEDDING PRESENT.

then before one or the other o. the open
windows which looked out upon spa
eious garden
The room. which was light and airy,
was not remarkable Ii any way. There
were book shelves al around, few
chairs here and there and books and pa
pers scattered about IN great disorder
that sort Of literary disorder which pre-
walls almost without exception IN the
rooms Of those who are devoted 10 intel
lectual work
IS the village church ben rang for
o'clock be turned instinctively toward
the door. then shook his head. with a
figh, and going 10 the table no began TO
unfold some manuscripts. But before
the bell had finished ringing the door
opened and a young girl Of perhaps 20
years. graceful in figure and with brown
hair and eyes. entered the room
Good morning. papa.
He who, at her appearance, could not
conceal his emotion. Kissed her ON the
forehead and exclaimed:
To-day elso?'
Today more than ever" she replied
And with shade OF sadness In her
voice she added:
lis not this the last day?"
DO you really want to:"
yes" replied the girl tenderly.
Il want 70 be your secretary today,
also OF course we cannot finish the
book, but we can get through the chap
ter we are at work upon"
Giorgio PaSseri insisted that Emilia,
as she was called, should abandon such
a strange idea. for she must indeed have
other things in her mind that day. But
she was immovable-sheh had always been
little obstinate.
Very well" concluded the father,
finally "Sit down at the table" And
after standing for a moment perplezed
he continued:
We VIII let the book go, today.
Take instead some other paper"
What are you going TO do?' she asked.
Keep still and write" he answered,
approaching her and caressing her hair
Then he began to dictate in the follow
ing way:
They two. father and daughter, had
lived alone together for many years"
"Oh." said Emilia, lifting her eyes,
''just like you and me-"
He motioned to her to keep silence, and
then continued:
They were left alone when she was
only years old. and he was not yet 80. -
But that is just our case"
If you keep on interrupting me
shall lose the thread Of my story"
And be continued:
"She, poor little thing. could not ap-
preciate her loss; but he, in addition to
his own sorrow, felt that which she
would have realized if she had been
older L. seemed 70 him that all his af-
lection could not possibly make up to
his dear little girl the lack Of a mothers
sweet and tender care. Some Of his re-
lations offered to take charge Of the
child. rs it was thought difficult for him
to bring her up alone; but he rejected
the generous offer as if it had been an
offerse. lie would not be deprived OF
his child or make her twice an orphan.
Two OF three times during this dicta-
ton Emilia had tried to put in a word
but her father. with slight movement
of command and Of entreaty. had silenced
her observations. and she finally resigned
herself 10 write in silence, as tie wished
Thus they lived together. having in
the house only two servants and a gov
erness. the latter of which. % tell the
truth. was changed quite frequently, sd
jealous was the father of any one who
had an influence over the child. And. as
she grew up. beautiful. lovely and intel
licer-. ne took PRIDE IN carrying out heI
educ ION himself
sar on her part. was not happy IN.
less 81 was with her father. he was not
only instructor. but tho chosen com
pam Of her sport. and it wac seldom
that size ever left the house with any one
but I'm
The lapse of time only served to make
this band stronger and more tender.
When she was ls years old rather
amusing scene occurred between the IA
ther and daughter. She declared one
evening. with great solemnity. that she
would live forever with her babbo. and
that she would not do like other girls
who leave their home some fine day and
e OF with the first conner. The father
then replied. smiling; oh. y0u viii dc
lust "a the others do and she rose in
great fury. and began TO cry and declare
that her father did rot wsns her any
more. II he talked in that way. She
rusaed sobmng from his presence. shut
herself NJ in her roons. ard was in a
tovcraE passion Tor two or three days.
The sigTlor -
Tins tme Emilia could not restrain
herself. and said. laughing. The Signoz
Gicrro.
No no.~ said her father-''the Sig
nor Punti1i~ And be went on debating
Tie Signor Puntini was afflicted with
81 incurable mslady"
"Oh. babbo." exclaimed Emilia, you
had an mcursbie maladvs'
Yes indeed. But so on writing and
don't interrupt me-
The malsdy of spelling paper with
writing novels rUranCes and poems.
which went so far as 60 be printed and
bound and seen IN the windows 0f the
booksellers.
Vow this daughter had a great curios-
itv to read al this trash while It was yet
in manuscript. ard she used % rumulaVs
through her fathers papers. a thing
vhich wac not without some mc0nYen-