Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-12-01

would have been difncult 70 put together
the nine lire and fifty centesimi for two
tickets for the journey to Naples; they
thought for a moment Of suicide, but
found that II would not solve the diff
Guilty. Then, in the lons r'1. their love
became systematic .-s-'crr
were always the -
not go to their b.
poured forth Cpni
the fullness Of their :.
In the town nothing V,
their unshakable love and thulr torment.
they were the objects Of general inter
est; If Neapolitan arrived. the towns
folk took him to see the ruins Of the |
amphitheater, and related the case Of |
Carlo and Maria. Therefore the young |
people, fattered in their amour propre,
assumed the behavior fitting to the cir
cumstances-Maria was always pale,
with a melancholy air, never smiling,
always talking to her girl friends about
her joyless days, refusing to amuse her
self, content to resemble in all respects
one of Mastriani's heroines.
Carlo took lonely walks, was always |
deeply depressed; at balls, he never
moved out of corner, content that they |
murmured around him, poor young |
man; that unfortunate love affair sad
dens his lifeP In society, at small fes-
tivities, in visits, with the unwarying
monotony of the province, the discourse
always returned upon the subject Of the
two lovers. Carlo and Maria bore with
dignity the burden Of their popularity.
Finally, after don't know how many
years-four or five, it seems to me-of
this continual struggle, of daily weep
ing, of long, long love maintained alive
by dissensions, the aspect of things
changed. There was worthy person
there still are such-who with many ef-
forts of eloquence persuaded the parents
that by the lawsuits they were losing
property and much of it, as witness the
two advocates who had grown rich at
the expense of their clients; that those
two young people were pining and would
90 into decline because of that thwart-
ed love; the houses were side by side
and the estates contiguous; Christ for
gave, and they must forgive if they
wished to find forgiveness. He said so
much and so many other persons, moved
by the example, interposed that the
questions came to a compromise which
had as its first chapter the marriage of
Carlo and Maria.
Here, surely, every one will suppose
that the young people were greatly con-
soled, and will suppose truly-but my
obligation as sincere story teller con-
strains me to say that in their first free
colloquy reigned great embarrassment.
They were accustomed to see each other
at distance by stealth; to speak from
a first floor window down to the street
in the darkness, Disgusting or smother
ing their voices; they found themselves
quite different, perhaps little ridicu-
lous; they had no subjects Of converse
ton, they were often silent, fastening
in their thoughts the hour when they
should quit each other.
There were no more imprecations and
tears to be mingled with the ink; they
no longer wrote to each other. Every
thing was free, smooth, easy for their af
fection; they were not obliged to think
of subtleties by which to evade the vigi-
lance of their elders; they took no more
pleasure in murmuring few words in
secret; they made no more daring prof.
ects for the future. They would be
married prosaically, without obstacles,
Like so many other silly couples. The
townsfolk no longer took thought of
them; the wonder and the comments on
the marriage once over, Carlo and Maria
no longer awoke attention, were no
longer talked about; their behavior was
noted no more; they ceased to be point
ed out as an example Of fidelity. Now
all eyes were fixed on the eyes of the
pretor, who was accused of too great
partiality for the vice attorney-a seri-
GUS piece of business.
The two lovers felt themselves for
saken-a great GOODNESS arose between
them. Carlo found that the virtues Of
his fiancee, those virtues which shone in
her letters, were dimmed by the atmos-
phere of home. Maria frequently thought
that Carlo was rather commonplace in
his tastes, and to that end, with a stupid
marriage, SO tempestuous love was un-
worthy a reader of Mastriani. A few
lively remarks passed between them in
regard to "illusions contradicted by the
reality" about "mirages," "optical de-
lusions" and similar pin pricks; a quar-
rel ensued, then two, then they became
daily occurrence. One evening Maria
said with an irritated tone:
"Carlo, let us leave.it off,"
"Let u.s." he replied without hesitar
ton.
And the next day he set off on jour.
ney for tho improvement of his mind
Maria went to Naples, to the house of a
cousin, to fish for heroic husband
The families had new falling out; Ma
ria's father had an opening made for @
window which overlooked his neighbor's
courtyard; the latter, in order to annoy
him, built O dove cote Of which the
doves ran about everywhere; immedi
ately there was summons, second, 6
third, the lawsuits began again, anG
this time, the advocates said, smiling
without hope Of any compromise.
Translated from the Italian of Matildt
Serao by E. Cavazza for Short Stories
Didn't Dare Do Otherwise.
Clara--How did you come to accep
Mr.. Saphead?
Dora--I had to. He proposed to mt
in boat when out rowing, and he goi