New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-17
PAOLO SANTI.
A TRUE TALE.
-(Caroline A. White.

all he could for me, but, with the best of wills
was utterly unable to shut out the noise moder-
ate the confusion of hotel traffic. And the Pen
sion was in those days, much frequented, Via
Carlo Alberto being gay street, the Ministries
close at hand, and Turin the Capital.
The continued roll of carriages, the importing
and outpouring of guests and their visitors were
too much for me. II reminded me of Brook
Street and Clardges in miniature.
i determined TO go into private lodgings
Signor Gargani professed himself tres fache'
at my intention of leaving, and promised to look
out for something that would meet my require
ments of air and quiet.
Days passed. however, and things remaining in
the state of promise only, thought had better
set to work and look ont for myself But. at
last, fate tired Of making me play the Wandering
Jew and one afternoon led me into Via Barba-
roux one Of the streets of the old, old town, tort
uous narrow, and with massive ancient palazzi
on either hand rich in wonderfully wrought iron
balconies and stately pOrte-cocheres with battered
coats Of arms above them.
bill at NO. 20 caught my eye: Two furnished
rooms TO let Apply to Madame Gernslnetti,
second floor, door to the left"
Nothing could be clearer; so plunged into the
huge entry and mounted the broad stone stairs.
They must have been magnificent in days gone
by, with hghborn danes in hoop, powder and
patches, and with cavaliers in hose and doublet.
ascending and descending with courtly grace and
greeting. Perhaps the beautiful PrincesSc
de Lambaile had once set her dainty feet upon the
broad steps up which was now toiling, and shaken
her golden curls beneath the richly succeed cell
ing now arching over my close-cropped head-who
could tell
broad landing with four doors opening upon
it. To one of these was nailed discolored card.
To- l.ar
Inhabited within.
With sigh of relief--for I was very tired-I
gave tug at the frayed green cotton cord, which.
passing through hole bored in the massive. sculpt
ured panel dangled down with its well-worn
tassel for the convenience Of callers
A shrill tnkle from within. minutes silence.
Tho shuttle of slippered feet Then the door
opened and Elisa Germanetti stood before me.
OF course could only guess ii was She Yet
was sure of it. Widow and Germanetti were TO
be read in every feature. Her dress had but little
10 do with it, for she gOwness and appeared
TO have nothing on bat white dimty jacket, and
q petticoat Of black stuff The weather was sti-
fling the hour the hottest in the day, and not one
in which visits official or otherwise, are usually
paid. Madame Germanetti had every right TO
make her toilette as airy as she pleased.
"See the rooms? oh, certainly. VIII the sig
more step in? Will he also kindly excuse the
temporary confusion?7 She tripped on before
turning round TO smile as she tripped. She struck
me as being one of the incest women / had ever
SEEN
Great brown eyes, scanty gray hair-she was
capless-slight in make and with skin IKE
withered pomegranate.
She nice? hear you exclalm YES she was
indeed for the goodness of her heart could DC
read upon every feature and her smile was MOI
q fha line
out clear and kind, from her friendly eyes
She looked as if she had seen better days. Ana
so she had. as later learned. She was doctors
widow. left early and without means TO provide
for herself and her daughter. You would have
so,d sbe was fifty at the least. but, in TRUTH she
,yas much below il. Cares and struggling had
AGED her Her daughter was not qulte hlIe'ee"
Az for her house-well the portion OF 1t That s'e
inhabited gave you the idea that 1t must nave peen
standing untouched thus for ages. Inc Ioohi'
abe let and which / took, were modern ana lux
urious in comparison. Yet there was barely nor,
than the needful in them. They were nice aho
clean. however, large and lofty and, when hao
sadod an easy-char or two, writing table and
a few plants and established therein my person.
belongings. they looked almost comfortable.
II is true that they never entirely lost then
obostlv ASPECT; but that was one of thelr charms
md was well in character with what was engaged
mon Nothing worse than the writing OF novel
be it understood; - a.,,,h,or entorcd A
delicate pleasing looking girl, the picture Ol WA
hsr mother must have been at the same age; in'
same soft brown eyes, aquiline nose nheH cu
mouth of infinite sweetness, resu ap and or mas
~ dark hair coiled around her shapeiy heao:
The next day took possession OF my Ioog Wer
ct No 90 Via Bar6arouM one hsn G' nD6er et III,
came roof with Others very long without geJtihl
Initiated into something relative TO 'helr coirs'
ADJ pstore much more than a week lad passed,
sd become aware Of two circumstances, VIZ: tina
~ hostess had hard time of 1T 10 make end
meet, and that her daus,er ,au xsvs tbe Latte
.as distinctly visible in the stalwart person OF
handsome Artillery Corporal, who, at tunes; use
10 LETT tho house Of an evening, and whom onc'
svrnrised in tender conversation with Lulsa up0l
the Seieve the contretemps proved infinitely NOR
embarrassing to me than it did TO the yonnl
00d IN due time was informed that they wcr'
thst no was n native of Pisa, and that they wcr
10 be married as as the term OF his ser ,y
was up. 1t had but short tune in 10 run; Mi
Srevinc upon her mind: some secret uneaslnes
that never left her. and that rendered her aeSea
sod She kept % oSk p3tT %md t9
md ceased to leave the house. The errands
hitherto done by her, were now executed by on
paolo. too appeared less often and his visit
raw shorter and shorter. Something was evi
IDENTIFY wrong; .u..o. o,.o,. ,o
Going out and coming in; ] more than once
.ame across a handsome Artillery Iicutenan
iounging at the door once. too. | fancied ha'
hoard the catter of his sabre upon the stairs.
He YVES handsome enough, YES; but he wa
a>cidedly unpleasant-lookng. There was cruelty
=, his dark eyes and in the CLEAN Of his whit
seetl, something that reminded one-me. at least
~ n beast Of prey.
" He never took the slightest notice Of me as
vassed only once or twice. stepped politely aside