The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-09-18

-G~
"AHl you ARE LILA MONTH";"
made me sure Of her identity. 1 smiled
"Ah! you are Lila MonteP"
She blushed again.
Isl, signor. am Lila"
let my eyes dwell on her searchingl,
and almost sadly. Vincenzo was right
the girl was beautiful, not with the
forced hot-house beauty Of the socia
world and its artificial constraint. but
with the loneliness and fresh radiance
which nature gives to those Of he< cher
ished ones, who dwell with her In peace.
had seen many exquisite women
women Of Juno-liks form and face
women whose eyes we're bssilIsks to
draw and compel the souls OF men-but
l had never seen any 20 spiritually fair
Is this little peasant maiden, who stood
fearlessly yet modestly regarding me
with the innocent inquiry of child who
suddenly sees something new, to which
It 10 unaccustomed. She was q little
futtered By my earnest gaze, and with q
pretty courtesy turned to descend the
hill. Isaid gently
"You are going home, fanciulla mia?''
The kind protecting tone In which
spoke treasured her. She answered
readily
Isl signor. Ny mother waits for me
to help her with the EccellenEa's din
ner."
1 advanced and took the little hand
that held the rosary.
"Whatl" exclaimed playfully, ''do
you still work hard, little Lila, even
when the apple season is over?"
She laughed musically.
''Oh! love work. 1t is good for the
temper. People are 50 cross when the
hands are idle. And many are Ill for
the same reason. Yes. trulyp' and she
nodded her head with grave Importance,
lit Is often so. Old Pietro, the cobbler,
took to his bed when he had no shoes to
mend-yes; he sent for the priest and
said he would die, not for want of
money,-oh, mol he has plenty.
he is quite rich,-but because he had
nothing to do. So my mother and I
found some shoes with holes, and took
them to him; he sat up In bed to mend
them, and now he is as well as everI
And We are careful to give him some
thing always"
She laughed again, and again looked
grave.
Eyes Yes!" she said, with q wise
shake Of her little glossy head, zone
cannot live without work. My mother
says that good women are never tired, it
is only wicked persons who are lazy.
And that reminds me l must make haste
to return and prepare the Eccellenza's
coffee"
''Do you make my coffee, little one?"
asked, land does not Vincenzo help
you?"
The fsintest suspicion Of a blush
tinged her pretty cheeks.
''oh he is very good, Vincenzo," she
said demurely, with downcast eyes; she
is what we call buon AMIGO, yes indeed
But he is often glad when make coffee
for him also; he likes it 80 much. He
says do 1t so well! But perhaps the
EccellenZa will prefer Vincenzor'
I laughed. She was no naive, so abb
sorbed in her little duties,-such o child
NAY, Lila, am proud to think you
make anything for me. shall enjoy it
more now that know what kind hands
have been at work. But you must not
spoil Vincenzo-you will turn his head IL
You make his coffee too often"
She looked surprised. She did not
Evidently to her mind Vim
cenzo was nothing but . good-natured
young fellw, whose palate could be
pleased by her culinary skill; she treated
him, dare say, exactly as she would
have treated one Of her own sex. She
seemed to think over my words, as one
who considers q conundrum, then she
apparently gave It up as hopeless, and
shook her head lightly as though dis
missing the subject.
xviii the Eccellenzq visit the Punto |
fAngelo?" she said brightly, as she
turned to 60.
1 had never heard of this place. |
Ind asked her to what she alluded.
1T Is not far from here" shs ex-
olsined, SIT is the view I spoke of be.
ore. Just little further up the hill
Tou will see fat grey rock, covered
With blue gsntions No one knows how
hey grow-they are always there.
'ASShh6 "a anu WlQtoI. buL III
said that one of Gods own great an
'els comes once in every month at mid
light to bless the Monte Vergine, and
hat he stands on that rock. And of
curse wherever the angels tread are
lowers, and no storm can destroy them
mot even an avalanche. That is why
he people call 1t Punto d'Angelo. II
1ill please you TO sec It, Eccellenza, and
is but walk Of little ten minutes"
And with q smile and 0 curtesy as
retty and as light as flower might
lake to the wind, she left me, half rum
ing, half dancing down the hill, and
Ingina aloud for sheer happiness and
innocence Of heart Her pure lark-like
otes fosted upward towards me where
stood, wistfully watching her as she
lsappesred. The warm afternoon sun.
line caught lovingly at her chestnut
lir, turning 1t to golden bronze, and
'uched up the wilderness of her throat
I'D arms, and frightened the scarlet of
sr bodice, rs she descended the grassy
ope, and was At last lost to my view ,
mid the foliage Of the surrounding
ees.
tTo BE cNorrNUED)