Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-07-22

mote corner, while the three girls and
Sora Nina, seated in a row at one side oil
the great blazing hearth, set 10 work al
their spinning, an occupation, however,
which by no means implied silence on
their part. The men had their places al
the other side, but the farmer generally
strolled out to smoke his cigar on the
threshing floor; while Andrino, after
taking a turn or two to look after the
live stock, busted himself with some me.
chanical work, such as repairing quail
nets, mendiug harness. tools, ETC., cut
ting and trimming stakes for the vines,
or other useful in door tasks.
When it was time to go to bed, the girls.
who occupied the attics, went out into
the open air to reach the external stair
case, which alone communicated with
them. Ginevra was the last to pass out.
and Andrino, who had stationed himself
near the door, half obstructing the open
ing, fixed his eyes long and earnestly
on her, as she stood opposite him for a
moment. Felice notte, Ginevra, was
all he said but she crimsoned all over
and looked down for a second or two in
indescribable confusion. Then, as if
Involuntary. under the influence of
some irresistible compulsion. her eyes
were slowly raised until they met his
with an instantaneous flash of answering
passion in their humid light. She tried
to say the commonplace goodnight,
" FelicjSsim1 n0tte, Scr ARdrinO," but
the words died away in an inarticulate
murmur, and with a movement like
flight she brushed hastily past him and
ran out into the darkness.
/ had been the sole witness of this
little unspoken drama, which l knew,
according to Italian feeling on such
matters, had the force of mutual
plighting of troth and confession of at
tachment, from the understanding it es-
tablished between the parties. Such a
mute pledge would be held no less bind
ing than a distinct verbal promise, and
Andrino, though he might defer to a
more convenient season the formal de-
mand of Gineyra's hand from her
parents, was as much pledged in his own
eyes to prosecute the courtship thus be-
gun, as if he had entered into a solemn
act of betrothal; but. | foresaw many
difficulties in the path of the young
couple before their vows could take
effect. for knew that Sora Nina was as
proud and ambitious as queeu-mother
and regarded the little contadina much
as King Cophetua's parents might have
done the beggar maid
| heard her call after Ginevra on the
stairs to be ready to go with Maddaena
TO the 5-oclock mass at Tereglio in the
morning, that she might be back to as
sist her with the homework during the
day. Knowing what knew, |
was not at all surprised that An
drino should select the same hour for his
devotions; and as | came down in the
morning, looking olt of certain stair.
case window that commanded the road
to Tereglio. I had no difficulty in identi-
flying the couple who were walking along
it with steps that Jagged, SO as to pro-
tract the way as much as possible. Mad
dalena had been in some time, and when
poor little Ginevra arrived, all flushed
and dewy with happiness, Nina turned
on her like viper. 'My faithn she
cried ironically, II hope you have not
hurried yourself How dare you trife
with me in this way, low peasant wench
that you are | will teach you your place
another time Her pale ewes glittered
venomously, and she looked as if she
could have gladly killed her on the
spot.
have said that the three girls slept
in the attics, on roomy, rambling floor,
next the roof, generally used only for
storage and lumber. In one large room,
on a cloth spread on the floor, various
fruits and vegetables were spread to dry
or ripen; there were sorb-appes, so
tempting to the eye when first gathered
in their painted beauty of carmine and
gold, but so bitter to the taste until
softened to pulpy sweetness in semi
decay; beside punches of shriveled
grapes lay al-red tomatoes wrinkling
as they dried; pale green gourds were
melowing to a ripper tinge, purple auber-
gines glowing like dark red wine, and
melon-seeds piled in little heaps here
and there. On the walls were hung all
manner of herbs-thyme and marioram
sweet basil. sage, tansy and NORWOOD,
which. with lunches of withered camo-
mile flowers, sprigs of lavender and po-
sizes of centaury, gentian and other
mountain, simples, filled the air with a
faint aromatic odor of decay. Against
the further wall of this herbarium stood
splendid heirloom, that might have sold
in Wardour street for thousands of
francs--one of those massive chests OF
carved oak in which the marriage outfit
of the bride is generally stored, and
which have remained in some Of the good
old peasant families for generations.
This was an admirable specimen of Rem
aissance workmanship, and | had often
knelt to admire the high relief OF the
Bacohanalan procession with which
it was adorned, like an antique sarcoph-
agus. II was used, knew. for storing
the spare house-linen and other supplies
not in actual use, but had never seen II
opened and, indeed from the position
in which it stood against the wall, il
would have been impossible to lift the
lid without first pushing it little aside
OF this lumber-room was the little
closet now temporarily occupied by
Gineyra, while the other two girls slept
in another large attic across the passage.
These rooms opened on a loggia. OF
covered gallery with open arches, over