The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-21

L
that as she rode along she gazed out as
proud as q queen, her eyes sparkling,
and she as joyous as If it were her very
own. Many were the young men who
were pleased with Marietta, and many
were the offers which she rejected on all
sides, for none possessed the one thing
necessary. Whether all coachmen came
| into the world married was a question
Marietta often asked herself. She dis
played great deal of tact with these
carriage drivers, for no sooner had she
taken her seat in the carriage than she
ascertained whether they were married,
and she was in great despair in not be-
ing able to find one unmarried
So time passed on. but no driver came
in Mariettas way who wanted TO make
her his wife. The much dreaded five
and-twenty years crept nearer. AT this
age Italian women begin to lose their
beauty, and Marietta thought with hor-
TOR that she could not hope to be an ex-
ception. She knew that when another
year came she could no longer stand at
the street corners without being laughed
at. The profession belonged to youth
and beauty alone, and she had no other
way by which to earn her bread. What
should she do? At a school she had
never been, and she was not rapid
enough with her hands to procure an
engagement in factory. Then, too, in
Naples there are not SO many such places
to be had, and what there were, were
filed by underpaid girls. To be water
carrier was the only thing left, and yet
in every second house could be found
many doing the same thing, and the
business was almost overrun anyway by
boys. To do as her mother did she could
not, for she knew what was right and
prided herself upon her honesty. There
came an idea to her. From friend who
had travelled she learned that in Switzer-
land there were women doctors and
women telegraph operators, and the
friend, after telling her of several other
positions held by women, ended by say
ing:
"They were employed at the railroad
stations"
Now Marietta thought in her little
head that if all these places were filed
by women, and as no coachman came
for her, why should not she offer herself
as a coachwoman? It would be per-
fectly respectable vocation, and no one
could say her nay. Then, too, one would
have the pleasure of riding all the long
day through, and all the while receive
pay for doing it. Then, as first coach
woman in Naples, she would be very
much more admired than as a street
singer, and in q short time she could
give up and live upon the interest of the
money that she had earned. This was
the conclusion to which Marietta came,
after hours spent in deep and earnest
thought. 1t was not anything strange
to her, a street singer; so, when she had
arranged it clearly in her mind, she was
very happy. She took her bank book
to the wife of the shoe mender, to reck-
on her interest for her, and she found
"a fact which Marietta well remembered)
that she had $50 Tires. that she had saved
from the money gathered on the street,
and which was held in safe keeping for
ner at the naCl0nal O2Qk-
Beside her strong, clear voice, Mari
eta had a genuine Italian ability to
make a bargain so she betook herself to
a cousin of hers who was still young and
had saved for herself some money. She
offered her the stand with table and
guitar if she would like to buy. The
cousin entered gladly into the advan-
tageous bargain, and the next morning
those who passed that corner of the
Strada San Ferdinando, found in the
place Of the stately beauty Marietta. a
very sallow young person, around whose
neck was the well worn green ribbon
upon which hung the old guitar, and
who sung to it as if she were singing out |
her very life, standing by the weather
stained table.
Marietta FASTENED to the widow Of q !
lately deceased carriage driver She was |
close, and hard to drive bargain with, |
but she succeeded in procuring from her |
a rather lean horse, carriage, painted |
but recently bright red, new rug, and |
two brilliant lanterns under the drivers |
seat. Happy was she in the possession Of |
these costly things, for which she had /
been obliged to part with 700 Tires. After
this bargain, she went to Melito, a short /
distance from Naples, whence an omni-
bus went regularly to Naples. seating
herself by the driver, who, for her ride
taught her to drive He looked !
upon the affair as fun that brought in
money, and lie was willing to aid her.
So Marietta rode extraordinarily times
the four hours route. and after that ap-
she thought herself well
taught
One day she presented herself at the
place where carriages are usually hired
in Naples 1t was strange to her, and a
Erife awkward, too. when she placed the
lacquered hat upon her curly hair and
held her whip in her hand The streets
were strange. too. with the many passers
by, as she stood or sat waiting for some
one to drive. Hardly had she been ten
minutes at her place before people began
to stop and look Soon a large crowd
collected about her. The police soon
followed. There were two sergeants
With their large hats, two officers with
heir gray NANTES, but without num-
oers, two ordinary officers with their
black coats aud numbers, and several
others whose business it was 70 keep
he peace, They laid hands upon horse
md carriage at the same time and de-
handed her license papers Marietta
lad none. She had not known the need. /