Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-01-15
THE POOR ROSINA.


frugal first breakfast of the Italian nation
(when they get any breakfast at alD and
deposited it upon the table at my bedside
swell, Sofia, what's the matter with the
poor Rosinaf'' / responded only hall
awake.
''Ah, poor child, she is dead. she is muir
deredl"
'Impossible!' exclaimed. 81 saw her
only last night in the theater."
sPardon, Signora; the night before she
walked from there out of the city; the last
seen of her was near the brick fields, poor
Rosina." "They threw her into one of the
furnaces, and nothing remains but her lit
tie flower basket, which was found quite
near"
HOh, Sofia, this is too horrible; it cannot
bel"
Nevertheless that is what happened
Signora," and with what seemed under
the circumstances an ironical wish she de-
parted, wishing me ''good appetite"
l was staying in small city midway be-
tween Genoa and Turin, city famous for
it's ruined bastions said to have been built
by the Romans, and for its having been
the field of one of the first Napoleon S
great battles, and where fell one of his
bravest and most celebrated generals; in
fact, monument recording the victory
proclaims it as having been very bloody
and unfortunate one.
The city is likewise famous for its silk
manufactures, mysterious places jealousy
guarded by the proprietors lest one should
discover from another the secrets of the
intricate machinery which produces the
beautiful goods, employees being bound to
a secrecy as profound as that Of Freema-
sorry.
In nearly every house were signs of this
industry, for many families kept silk
worms during the proper season, and the
storerooms were often filled with bales
and bales of the beautiful cocoons-white,
pale green and pale straw color.
This city supported an opera company
for few weeks yearly, the management
being the city government, as is usual in
Italy. The performers were treated in the
kindest manner Their advent was an
event and was hailed with joy, and during
the season the city was in fiesta. was
fortunate enough one season to be the
prima donna, and found the management
most paternal one, for even my health
government, and certain food prescribed
by them which felt obliged to eat (though
it was very nice), and my landlord was
charged to see that took daily walks of a
certain length, he to accompany me, which
the solemn old gentleman punctiliously
did
1t was at the theater that first saw RO
sina. One night the door of box near the
n
woman walked in. She had the true Ital-
ian face and eyes, and was dressed in the
costume of the province, only in rich ma
terials. A white lace veil over her head ar
ranged with exquisite taste and coquetry,
and on her arm she carried a dainty basket
filled with boutonnieres. Some one on the
stage said in an undertone, "Rosina has
come back again." and I noticed stir in
the theater and eyes turned to the box
she fastened a flower in the gentleman's
button hole, and without waiting for re-
enumeration left at once, proceeding to
other boxes, and finally saw her watch
ing the performance from the floor. Then
she disappeared.
There was something so striking about
her, SO different from the other flower
girls, so free. buoyant debonair Il hardl y
know how to express her unusual style)
withal so self contained and restrained
for she held no conversation with any she
met-handed out her flowers, asked no re-
enumeration, though what was thrown
into her basket she allowed to remain
seemingly not noticing it, Altogether she
excited my interest to such an extent that
questioned my landlady regarding her
one day.
"Rosina9 Oh, yes. She has been here
for years, walked into town one morning
barefooted; now look at her! Yes, she's q
good girl, took care of her mother and q
sick sister until both died; minds her bust
ness, flower shop in the Via-keeps to
herself and some say has taught herself tc
read and write She is very ambitious and
said, years ago when she first came, she
would some day marry gentleman. Fl
nally the Count Torrani did fall in love
with her and promise to make her the
Countess Torrani, and they ran away to-
gether.
She was disappointed, for he deserted her
after he had run through her money; he
hadn't any of his own, and he didn't marry
her after all, SO here she is again, but dear
| me, cara mia signora, she isn't the same
Rosina: she used to jest and chat with all;
who SO bright and welcome as she passed
through a cafe tossing her flowers to those
she favored, as Rosina? Now she looks
like thundercloud oh, yes, she's very
handsome, but dull now, not word for ii
soul, my husband says. and because young
Ettore Jerli pnt OBTAINING hand on her
arm at the cafe last night she suddenly
whipped out small blade from her dress
Such scene The proprietor had to be
sent for to make peace"
So Kosina came and went, always
gloomy, handsome and defiant, I'M
touched by all. Since the cafe episode
the men were afraid of her-the wom-
en- she seldom noticed, though occasion
ally she made an exception of me,
perhaps from a caprice or aware of my in
terest in her, or because was foreigner
One night she even came to my dressing
room, bringing me flower. She had
heard that it was a favorite of NINE
Wear it for me tonight" she said, and
did, and still have it, pressed between
the leaves of the score of the opera was
then singing.
One night l saw her weeping at the close
OF the last act of the opera, which was par
ticularly tragic and narrowing; she had
entered the box at the last moment, and
finding The occupants gone had seated her
self and Watched the scene; the intensity of
her gaze had attracted my attention, and
even in my simulated dying agonies could
still see her face with tile tears coursing
down her cheeks. "She must be very i'm
questionable" was my thought.
The next day she came to my apartment
with some flowers; her personality was so
strong that seemed for moment taken
possession of by her, and l was not sur
prised when, unlimited, she entered my
room, declining, however, with an i'm
patient gesture, my request to her to be
seated.
"Signora, you saw me weep last night?"
II did, Rosina. Are you in trouble?"
81, Signora? am ever In trouble. am
burning up here" She struck her hand
heavily upon her heart. you sing the
story of my life when see you in the last
act there. know shall do the same as
you do in the end"
mo, no, Rosina; she dies, you will not,
and vengeance is Il poor thing"
ut is not" she said fiercely. at is
blessed! it is beautiful! 1t is the only thing
that will stop the ache here" again strik
ing her heart. "Why do come and tell
you this? Because feel when You move
me SO that we share for the time the one
heart All signora YOU sympathize with