The morning call., 1890-07-08
BEATRICE MOLINELI,
THE COMMUNISTS DAUGHTER
BY GRACE HIBBARD.
Written for THE MORNING CALI

No storm ragged about the house, with
wind and rain and lightning, to make the
night terrible They had not met in some
dark, damp basement or sitting attic, but
in the 1ose-covered cottage Of Signor
Molineli, an individual with communistic
ideas.
The furniture of the room in which they
were seated was very simple. a few wood
en- chairs, chintz-coyered lounge and
square table, while on the wall hung
religious picture. The white ceiling and
sides Of the room were adorned with rough
sketches in crayon of flowers cheTubS and
the faces Of saints and angels, the work OF
the artistic fingers Of Nieolini, the fourteen
year-old son Of Signor Molneli.
Upon the lounge lay Tina, the pet Of the
house, fast asleep. One glance at her
eherub-like face, framed in short, black
curls, told where the boy-artist had found
one Of his models.
In corner near Tina, in the light shed
from an antique silver lamp, their one
treasur c, brought from foreign land, sat
Beatrice. the eldest child. Her attitude
was most picturesque. as size sat on low
stool, her black braids reaching to the
floor, and her long lashes sweeping her
cheeks. She was apparently absorbed in
painting, but II the communists had no.
ticed. they would have seen the roSe-tinge
come and then fade away from her brown
cheeks, and her dark eyes flash, but they
did not heed her.
The stolid-faced and dark-bearded men
then assembled and her impetuous father
thought only Of equality by beratlng the
rich, and uplifting the poor, according TO
their ideas. They never thought Of the
beautiful listener, as they laid deep and
deadly plots.
suddenly Beatrice sprang to her feet and
cried: Tile rich do love the poor many
times. You shall not do this wickedneSs.
They make park lovely for ali-plant
flowers for US to see, place seats for the
tired ones. They make the band play
sweet music some tunes reyery one. They
make the school and the sidewalk. They
cause the street to be lighted. They send
the small boat to the quarantine line with
the doctor to see that no sickness comes to
US. They construct houses for the sick
ones, homes also for the ones so old, aud
give water TO the beasts dumb. The blue
dressed men walk about and say no one
shall harm another. Our small home no
brignd can touch. Our good President
gives land in the warm south country,
where we plant the orange and the olive,
like in our sunny home. He gives us a
paper and no one can take our trees from
us. In our country brlgands spring from
the shadow. and, with a sharp knife, kill or
sometimes carry US TO the mountains. The
SAlhuENo NOlllGSt We ulC ny AHt lCduo nut OuL
native country is bad for poor. l will run
to the street, l will tell all have this night
heard"
Her father caught her brown hands, and
with all the melting pathos of look and
tone that one Of his nationality can give,
said: " Beatrice, do you put far from you
the promise made to Ina. your mother in
heaven, to obey. Dranani, your father?
One small word Of this and to the rich you
his life give. You give also the lives of
these" and he waved his hands toward his
companions. They had gathered about
her, these men, cOnspirators that they
were. Their eyes were like tigers.
She saw the CLEAN OF q sharp knife in
the hands Of one. They pressed close to
her, listening for her answer. From her
white lips came no sound.
Promise" said her father in stern
tone.
Still no word One of them glanced at
cruciiiX that hung on the wall, and taking
it from its place, held 1t before her, and
said, You believe in thisY'
do" replied Beatrice, crossing her
self
LAY your hand on this cruci6x and
promise that nothing We have this night
said will you ever repeat"
Placing her hand upon tile cross, she
said: - l make TO the Virgin a VOW, not
anything you have this night said will l
say once again, then throwing herself be-
fore picture Of the Virgin, she prayed:
" Holy Mother keep my father from doing
this wlckedness. Blessed saints, hold his
hands tightly that they can do no harm;
Keep the sweet people that / love care
fully" Overcome by her agony she fell
upon her face upon the floor
As she lay half-unconscious, she heard
one OF the men, chemist, say to her father,
II will ill this shell with dynamite and at
O'Clock tomorrow evening place it under
your doorstep Soon after midnight you
do your part Hurl it at the millionaire
mansion"
This will be the first blow struck for
the commune" he added, as he was about
to go. - will leave two empty shells in
your little closet in the wall, where YOU
will fnd them. They will be ready when
wanted
Her father went out with the men. Bea-
trlce arose and awakened Tina and to-
geLher they sought their small dormitory.
1he next morning at sunrise the family
was astir Beatrice cooked macarOni and
made dish IN which was much garlic, for
her father. NlcOlini, the beautiful boy
with rust brown hair, dark eyes, rosy
cheeks and white teeth, was at the table
full OF fun and good cheer.
NicOliDi, who all day long would stand in
little nook in a crowded street, under a
striped canopy. where tempting fruit was
sold.
Tina also had her work to perform Ali
over the cottage grew La Marque roses, and
loneliness. Each morning Beatrice cut
flowers and arranged them in two pictur-
eSQue baskets, aud Tina, with one on each
arm, TOOK them TO a hotel and sold them.
One by one the family went to their vari-
Gus occupations, until Beatrice was left
alone. How commonplace the room looked
10 her . She almost thought the past night
dreadful dream. As she knelt before the
picture OF the Virgin. a thought came to her
which filled her with delight. She even
sang as she painted.
The darkness OF the evening came again.
Nieollni nodded il his chair Tina slept
OIL the lounge. Signor Molineli smoked his
pipe.
The clock struck s.
Signor Molineli glanced at Beatrice as
neafy step paused for moment at the
door, and then passed on. Her face was
very white, but she appeared perfectly I'M
conscious OF the sound, as she bent over
some nending
Ten minutes went by. She arose and
SAID, Il hear Nesuvius; | must let him H."
She went to the door, aud in a short time
returned with huge black cat in her arms
From his volcanic nature he had been named
Vesuvius. The children went to their rest.
Beatrice and her father were alone.
He told her in gruff tone ITO follow
theE." She threw her arms about his neck
and begged him TO foTsake his wicked
plans. Almost tenderly he said. Nothing
can ME change 1t is for you. and all chill
utoH POOI, Inal lDlS smell Snall throw.
he kissed her forehead and babe her leave
him. From a little child she had never dis
obeyed him, and silently left the room.
At l O'clock in the morning Signor Moli-
nell stood before the prineely mansion of his
victim. The moonlight shone on its tur-
rets and balconies. The sweet odor of trop-
lcal flowers filled the air The shadows of
grand trees lay across the paths. Signor
Molinelrs heart was touched by the scene.
should he throw the deadly bomb?
Only for a moment did he hesitate
Dow1 with the rich" had been his watch
word for years. He heard the sound of ap-
preaching wheels in the distance.
In his right hand he held the bomb.
be raised his arm to throw it, A wild
cry burst from his lips, "The blessed saints
are holding my hands," and his right arm.
helpless, paralyZed for life, fell by his side.
TIE excitement had proved too great for
his nervous system.
Signor Molineli was not conscious when
the master of the mansion, the man against
whom he had planned so great wrong,
drove up to the door, When the intended
victim saw the mar before his home he
called his servants and had him carried to a