The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-15

probation upon her look.
Glow that old prude displeases me.'
thought he.
And already moved by the mothers
emotion he went to Teresa's side.
1t was the first time that Orlando had
ever entered young girls chamber, and
although not at all punctilious by nature
he could not help feeling a certain tim
idise-, accompanied by sadness.
The room was light, simple and gay.
The window was furnished with long
curtains Of imitation lace, over which
fell blue damasI draperies. The brass
bedstead and its large canopy were pro-
vided with similar damask. Through
the open work embroidery Of a white
| coveilet could be seen a silk quilt of the
/ same shade of blue as the hangings. The
furniture consisted of wardrobe with
| three doors, an arm chair, two smaller
chairs, and little work table. A con-
! sole attracted the young mans attention.
| The pink lamp, Indispensable in every
| Ncapolitan's chamber, burned there day
and night in continual alteration be-
fore an image of the Madonna, accom-
panied by other accessory images and a
large palm leaf, consecrated and dried, a
souvenir of Palm Sunday.
Teresa was suifocating with happiness;
Monteforte was entirely upset. The
! young girls poor little body was vaguely
outlined beneath the soft quilt. In the
elaborately embroidered white pillow
was buried, blacker and thinner than
ever, her poor, ludicrous head. Above
the clothes and clenching them were her
astonishingly emaciated hands.
Montefortc tried to mGster up courage
and shake off the emotion that was gain
ing ascendency over him.
"What! you are as sick as this, Mile
Teresa? l knew nothing at all about it.,
else, you know, should have come to
inquire after YOU
ooh! yes, would you not?" said she,
gently.
Surely! I met Ferucci just now
"a very worthy manr' interrupted
Teresa, in a tone ofhappy conviction.
From him l learned that you were
suffering little, and 1 came straight
way"
"Ah! yes. ALI! yes. You have done
well. am-oh! I have been very sick,
you know, NJ. Monteforte."
And she fixed upon the sad Nine Car
deli supplicating look animated by an
expression Of energetic will. The mother
understood the mute prayer which it con-
tained
IN. Monteforte, was doing something
very important. I must return to my
work. VIII you be good enough to ex-
cuse me? l will come back SOON"
Excuse her? But was not that the
most natural thing to do? In the first
place, was it not Donna Teresa that he
had come to see today?
ooh! yes, certainly" said the sick
girl, with q smile.
On the young girls invitation he had
taken chair and placed himself beside
the bed without ceremony.
Like DOCTOR" observed Mme Car
dcll
ooh, no. Oh, no." quickly protested
the young man. Like q friend, rather.
Am l not right, Donna Teresa? do not
wish to seem like dispenser of pills and
disagrecable syrups."
This Monteforte He breathed deliver
ance from pain. He seemed to bring
happiness and health. The poor child
laughed and grew animated at the very
sight of him. As Nine. Cardelli, but
just now disconsolate, looked at his open
and charming countenancc, her fears
vanished; her daughter would get well
and be happy.
Il will come back directly" she re-
peated.
Alone with Teresa, he again surveyed
the little chamber, and gracefully, with
his cordial smile, lie said:
"Your room is very cheerful, mada-
moiselle. Do you stay here all day long?"
"Certainly," she answered, contented-
ly. Except when l have to help about
the meals. For know how to do many
things, NJ. NIonteforte. But not in these
days, as you see. l have been very sick!
Oh! so sick!'
Monteforte drew his chair little
nearer,
80 sick? What has been the matter
with your he inquired with tender
solicitude, and as if the illness was now
entirely over.
Teresa smiled distressingly. She an
swered with simplicity:
"Sorrow"
The reply was like the cry of a wound
ed bird. Monteforte gently took the two
thin hands and pressed them in his own.
This seemed To brighten the patient and
put new life into her veins. Her lang
uishing face lit up with the bright color
of youth; in her eyes, burning with fever,
a disconsolate tenderness shone.
Come" said Orlando, in slightly
husky voice, you are going to tell me
about this sorrow. What! You have sor-
rows, my poor little friend:'
Teresa listened to him in ecstasy; she
would have liked to prolong this hour,
this voice, this look, this pressure of the
hands, this intoXication-to live 10y it, to
breathe it.
Lie continued with a kindly smile that
she did not know in him, SO tender, sore
spectful, SO full of protection.
Nov, Donna Teresa, tell me your dear
little troubles. You shall see how well
know how to console"
"Oh! yes" she exclaimed with intense
Joy; "but l have not only little troubles.
l have been plunged in such sorrow that
| thought l should die. And l wanted
to die. | had even asked it of the Ma
donna and the saints, if
Then she quickly drew from her bosom
package of scapularies-image of all
the saints and all the chapels.