The National tribune., 1892-09-15

Camilla and him pretty
much alone. In fact, there was no one else left
In the family except the kitten-or rather the
cat For although the animal was but few
months old, it had never been kitten.
There are no kittens in Mulberry Bend.
One day a gentleman friend OF the family
Pasquale, Camilla, and the cat-bought new
hand organ. That night ali of the ladies and
gentlemen who were honorcd by his acquaint-
ance sat about upon doorsteps and curbstones
and admired its melody.
1t was a new organ, but il did not disdain
old tunes. Gradually the discordant noises
and CHATTER Of feet subsidized, and the Bend
grew sober under the spell of organ music,
while every cobble of its length reeked with
some story, and the glare of smoky oil lamps
welded the stenches of deeaying melons and
FISH.
Pasqaale sat upon the curb with a swarm Of
Other humans and listened.
His garments were entirely appropriate to
the sultry Midsummer night. His ragged
little shirt was supplemented by trousers once
worn by Uncle Dominica. who kept the fish
Stall at the corner. Their legs shortened by
the scissors, and worn By Pasquale, they had
really quite the grand air. In one skinny arm
he clutched close TO his breast the sickly, sore
eyed kitten, which was already a cat
She had already met her mouse
So she chung closely TO Pasquale with her
little sharp claws and eyed askance the other
gamins Of this gutter Of Mulberry Bend.
Digging her brown toes into the debris Of
the stones and laughing, her white teeth
cleaning In the dust, stood Camilla. Pasquaie
was ill-shaped his uglinezs asserted itself; hut
Camilla was cursed with a certain amount of
beauty. She was a w8nton-looking young
animal already IA Her eyes held little,
lurking devil. born there before they ever saw
the light Her shining, purple black hair
rioted in its wild locks, and her walk was that
OF a feminine gamin. Like the other girls OF
her age she wore a calico skirt, gaudy cotton
waist, and kerchief while about her slim neck
was a string OF beads.
Suddenly the organ groaned, hesitated, and
broke into another tune.
AN sure what is it," asked a little Irish
girl Of Pasquale.
But ne shook his dark head, while from the
other side OF him boy piped an answer.
Love not" said the boy.
"LoYe-a not" repeated Pasquale, slowly, and
then looked at his kitten. He listened mo-
ment, then shook his head, and softly kissed it.
An hour later, after searching in vain for
Camilla, he and the kitten went fast asleep be-
hind some empty beer kegs. little later
another child crawled in beside them. Il was
Camilla, and she wore some new and gittering
beads of colored glass.
AND in the Bend was still the hoarse noise of
voices singing, grinding of organs, and catter
OF feet. Thugs, pickpockets. and women of the
pavement IN their most oepraved type Shout
dered the children of Italy All night the
soiled stream Of life flowed on, beating, beating,
beating and surging into the arteries Of the
place called Keg Alley, Nanny goat Alley, and
IS Fifty nine" And through the narrow riffs
between the tops Of the grim tenements blue
strip Of star-spangled sky looked down.
No wonder the stars are pale.
And the kitten stretched Itself lazily, licked
induslTioDsly for a moment at the dirt upon
odd IL
incly up at the midnight sky. Aud Pasquale
slept with the quiet Of death. though Camilla
grew restless and Diuttcred in her dreams
while two scarlet spots glowed upon her checks
like windfowers upon Tuscan slope.
AID around tho corner in low dive a
drunken soddeu creature, whom nature had
crowned with the royalty of motherhood sang
with some iipsv sailors
Nature is fBe satirist. and enjoys well a
bit OF . joke. That her Jokes are cruel is our
misfortune.
And SO the children slept
A few days later PasCuale lost his kitten.
Steslthy, cunning of eye, he sought her every
where and said nothing. There was strange
weight in lis breast and a night when he lay
81 his corner behind tbe kegs he was lonely ;
for Camilla was late now always. Oace ii was
well on in The gray of the morning before she
came. She threw herself heavily beside Pas
quale and fell asleep at once breathing heav.
fy-
Pasquale raised himself softly and leaned
over her for minute There was an oior about
her breath which made him think of bis
mother. And lie noticed that she wore very
gay neckerchici Of silk which was altogether
new. Then lie thong Il: again of his kitten aud
his heart grew ike lead, while locking UP he
saw that the stars had gone and that ii was
already day.
That day he wandered around the corner into
keg Alley. lie felt strange desire to find his
mother. he bad heard-he had seen--tlG
mother Of the little Irish girl fold her arri;
about her and press her to her breast with q
sort Of animal mother instinct. She had bsai
her an hour later, bat she had kissed her first
and would ISIS her again. And Pasquale had
lost his kitten ;sad wanted his mother.
Down in the alley be paused hesta;ingly