The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-31
TIE WIDOW aAnrBERrI.


as the mechanical movement OF a we'll
regulated clock, the passage of the troops
is always an important event. The peas
ants even, naturally penurious, do not
complain of the slight expense and in
convenience that the military guests
bring for day into their houses; and be
it noted that it is not patriotic feeling
nor affection for the sons of others which
animates them; but it amuses them to
pass the evening in listening to the adj
venturous tales and the Jokes of the bar
racks of some soldier that is rather a
chatterbox, especially if he is from the
South. There are fine things to be heard,
you may believe mel
That day the young serving-women had
done their daily tasks in the quickest
way and with various distractions; the
workwomen busy near the windows had
often raised the curtains to see better an
officer, come to prepare the lodgings, who
since dawn had galloped up and down
through the town, satisfied, no doubt,
with attracting all the feminine glances.
1t was cold day in the beginning of
April. The winter, which all had be-
ieved to be definitely over, by malign-
ant caprice or to play bad trick on its
enemies, was come back again; and the
icy white mantle covered the earth anew,
and shone magnificent under the sun of
the first spring days.
''What a fine thing that the sun is out,
so they will be cheerful when they ar
riye!" thought the girls, while they blew
upon their Redeemed fingers to warm
them, and listened with beating hearts
whether the wind brought from afar
some sound of a trumpet or trampling of
horses.
All at once echoed fanfare, rather
confused but jovial The regiment! The
regiment!
Half an hour later the soldiers were
pouring into the village, filling it with
the clatter of their sabres and their
youthful voices in various dialects OF
Italy.
Together in the dining-room, long and
low-roofed, of the Moon Tavern, the of
ficers, in fatigue uniform, approached
their damp boots to the flames of a patri-
archal chimney, in the happy frame of
mind of those who, after tiresome day
march, finally have nothing more to do
except to rest in q comfortable house,
with the prospect of good dinner.
81 say!'' exclaimed Lieutenant Terbi-
ana, who was carelessly rolling cigar
cite and rocking himself ON chair near
the window. ''Here are two fine speci-
mems of the natives! Come and see, Des-
trelli. As for me, l never dreamed of
more charming little womenW
All the officers rushed to the window,
in haste to test the accuracy of that
opinion.
"Oh! oh! They are elegant indeedl' ~
''Look what tiny tracks those feet leave
on the snow"
Sand what graceful movementr'
"They are lovely, and no mistake"
'Look here, landlordm called Lieuten-
ant Varella, fitting his monocle into the
eye-socket, "are all the women of this
place like those?"
The innkeeper, stout man of about
fifty, smiled, stroking hisbeard, half-red
and half-grey, and declared:
mot all, signOr tenente. Our girls,
may say, are not amiss; but those who
passed are Signorina Corati of Givioso,
daughter of the master Of the villa up
there on the hill, and the other, with the
dark hair, is her sister, the Marchesa
Gamberti, young lady"
The lieutenant had opened his mouth
to ask some other question, but at that
moment a servant-maid came in great
ed in the kitchen. One of the Young men
made rather crude observation on the
plumpness of the girl, and the converse
ton changed.
'sTell me, my dear fellows" asked 6
captain recently promoted, chow are you
accommodated? Because you know thai
we shall stay here almost two days, sc
that the question is important. Are you
content?"
Each of the officers named the lodging
assigned to him, and the comments be
gan.
sThat unlucky Destrelli He is always
destined to be quartered at hairdress
er's. It is true, however, that his hail
wants cutting. See here, Destrelli! Put
yourself right into the hands of you
hairdresserl" They alllaughed heartily
"As for Bompane, he goes from villa Il
villa. He stays with the aristoc
racy, does Bompane And this time too
lookl He is to be entertained by Baror
Corati of Givioso."
"Ah! At the house of the beautiful
little blonde who just now went byp'
"Lucky fellow!" was cried on every
hand.
"And you-whose house are you for?'
asked Terbiani of the lieutenant witt
the eye-glass. They had been compan
ions at the school of Modena, and re
NAMED intimate friends in the regiment
GAS for me, dom complain, !" replied
the other with his girlish voice, drawing
the words. 1.-THE widow Gamberti is m.
hostess"
''Widow! What awidow? That i'm
beetle of landlord did not tell us tina
she was widow. :"
''But that is just the thing for me
Paola, my dear fellow, be good
let us change lodgings. 1t is
favor for which shall be grateful to yol
all my lifel" Thus did Terbiani beg auc
supplicate him.
hChange with Bompane-that is bette
so you can pay court to that blond
'sNoi mol I like brunettes best.
prefer widows, they are more piquant
Come, beg Of you'll Think that you
compliance may perhaps decide my Who'll
swell, take my lodgingl' sighed tn
young lieutenant with affected resigna
ton. SEQ and warm your heart in til
presence of the Marchesa Gamberti, an
toast your boots at the fireplace of he
parlor."
Then Terbiani rushed to hunt up hi
valise; next into one of the rooms of tn
inn, where he worked a complete met
morphosis in his apparel: changed hi
fatigue dress, frayed and discolored, fc
brand-fne-new uniform; and withor
re-entering the dining-room, went to as
some directions of the landlord as to til
place where Casa Gamberti was.
"Ahl you are quartered there? r.
cellentlf approved the fat landlord, aftC
having looked at the lieutenant frol
head to foot to make sure that he wa