Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-06-24

quickly opened 1t. Laurella stood he
fore him Without saving a word sh,
stepped in, laid aside the little shaw
which she had thrown over her head
placed small basket on the table, ant
drew a deep breath.
lyon have come to get your hand
kerchief," he said; '.you might hsy,
spared yourself the trouble, for early
in the morning L should have asked
Giuseppe to take it to you
sit was not on account of the cloth.
she replied quickly, 81 have been OIL
the mountain, in order to gather heal
ing herbs" "Therel" and she lifted
the cover of the little basket.
Too much trouble, he said, and with
out any bitterness in his voice repeated,
"too much trouble. 1t is already better,
and if 1t should grow worse it would be-
no more than L deserved What will
you do here at this time? Should any.
one see you here you know how he
would gossip, although he did not know
what he was talking about"
81 do not trouble myself about any-
one, she answered impatiently, "but
your hand l OiH see and dress with the
herbs, for You cannot do it with only
the left one"
Il tell you it is not necessary. u
''Let me see it, then 1 will be con-
vineed." Without further ceremony
she seized his hand, which he could not
prevent and took off the bandage.
When she saw how badly it was swollen
she shuddered and cried out: "Jesus,
| Maria!"
SIT is a little swollen" :he said;
Sin day and a night it will disap-
pear"
She shook her head. For a week
you will be unable to go ont on the
| water"
81 think 1 can go the day after to-
morrow; but what does that signify?''
In the meantime she had brought n ba-
sin OF water and washed the wound; he
endured 1T as patiently as a child.
| Then she laid the healing leaves of the
herbs upon 1t, which instantly soothed
the burning pain, and bound the hand
with strips of linen cloth she had
brought with her. When 1t was fin
| ished he said to her: "I thank you but
listen moment: If you will do me a
favor, forgive me that L allowed to-day
such IA madness to overcome me, forget
| all that L have said and done. You
have never given me cause for doing
it-indeed, never. And, more you
shall never hear anything from me
which Will yex you."
81 have to beg your pardon, :"
she interrupted slowly. 81 orght
to have told you all and IN bet
ter way, and not exasperated you
by my stupid manner. And now the
wound"
1T was necessary and quite time
that my senses gained the mastery:
as L said before the wound does
not matter. DO not speak of for
giveness; yOu did me a good service,
and for that | thank you. Now go to
rest, and there is your handkerchief,
which you can take with you"
He reached 1t to her, but she stood still
and endeavoTed to overcome an inward
struggle. At last she spoke: 'You lost
your jacket on my account, and know
that the money for the oranges was in
the pocket; l first thought of 1t on the
way home. L cannot repay You now,
Tor we have not the money, and if we
had 1t would belong to mother; but [
have the silver cross which the artist
laid on the table the last time e came
to see us. | have not looked at it since
that time, and wish no longer to keep
1T in my chest. If you can sell tit
was well worth few piastres, mother
said at that time-lt might replace your
loss, and whatever is lacking 1 will try
TO earn by spinning nights while mother
sleeps"
''l will take nothing" he said alb
ruptly, and pushed back the shining
cross, which she had drawn forth from
her pocket
Ill II L
"who knows how long 1t will be be-
fore you can earn anything with this
hand? There it lies, and L will not
look at it again"
''Then throw it into the sea-" hecried,
at is not present that,I give you. it
is no more than your right and what
belongs to you"
"Rightl L have no right to anything
which belongs to you. Hereafter, when
We meet, do me the favor not to look at
member me on account of this of which
L have been guilty. Good night, and
let 1T be the last good night"
He placed her handkerchief in her
basket, the cross with it, and closed the
cover. As he looked up into her face
he was startled. Great, heavy tears
rolled down her cheeks; sh, let them
have their course.
"MarIa Sanctissimal" he cried, ''are
you ill? You tremble from head to
foot"
"I is nothing" she said; 'tI will
go home, and staggered toward the
door. Overcome by weeping, she
leaned her forehead against the door
casing and sobbed violently and loudly.
Before he could reach her, in order to
comfort her, she turned around sudden
ly, and thr, W herself upon his neck
''I cannot bear 1t, she cried, cIinging
to him as dying one clings to life.
al cannot understand how you can give
me kind words and bid me go from you
with such a harden of guilt upon nv
conscience. Strike me, trample me
under your feet, curse mel or, if it is
true that you still love me, after all the
evil | have done you, take NE and keep
me, and do with me what you will, but
40 not send me away from youi"
Renewed and violent sobs inter-
rupted her. He held her awhile speech
less in his arms. "If / still love yo =.
he or ell at last. "Holy Mother OF
Godl Do you think all my heart blood
has run out through this little wonnd?
10 you not feel IL beating In my breast
and struggling to escape to you? If you
have only said this to try me, or be-
cause you pity me, go, and l will also,
inneed, forget it. You shall not think
that you are under obligation to me,
because you know what 1 suffer on your
account"
"No," she answered firmly, and look
ed up timidly at him from his shoulder,
her eyes wet with Tears. Il love yon,
aud | say it now; | have long feared l..
and for that reason defed it | will
do differently now, for can no longer
bear it not to look at you when you
pass me on the street"
''Now 1 shall kiss you" she said, so
that you can say to yourself when you
are again in doubt: She has kissed
me, and Laurella kisses no man but
the one she will marry"