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

the lid Of the great chest, to one of the
curved pilasters at its corner, was ex-
banded, in untouched filmy perfection,
venerable spiders web
No other proof was needed OF the
falsity of Nina's story, for Solomon's seal
itself could as little have been broken
and restored since yesterday morn, as
that fine, frail tissue of gossamer!
now took the farmer aside and told
him gently what had seen of his wife's
movements, proving that she alone had
planned and executed the vile plot against
the poor girl who had excited her jealousy
on behalf of her son. | do not think
Vincenzo was as much surprised as we
were; such revelations are not always
unexpected to the immediate family of
the culprit. Nina. however, persisted in
the denial and took refuge at last in
obstinate silence.
1t may be imagined that Lorenzo Giu-
lianl lost no time in fastening home, and
when Vincenzo and Andrino declared
their intention of accompanying him,
could not resist the pleasure of being of
the party. We flung ourselves headlong
down the steep descent, but the valley
seemed long and the way tedious through
the interminable chestnut woods. thou0h
it was still early when we arrived at the
Casa Inorganic on the banks Of the Lima.
Ginevra was at work hacking hemp be-
fore the door as we assembled the grass
grown steps of the gray old villa, and
her face, which seemed to have shrunk
since yesterday like waning moon, and
the large, dark rings around her eyes,
showed that she, had shed many bitter
tears since she had left the farm.
| am not sure but that she thought at
first that we had come to take her to
prison, for she looked half-scared as we
approached, and the good news, when it
was told was almost too much for her,
after all she had gone through. When
Sor Vincenzo turned to her father and
said the only compensation he could
make for the wrong she had suffered was
to ask her hand in marriage for his son,
particularly" he added with smile,
''as Andrino has made up his mind about
it long ago." she burst into tears and ran
away. She soon came back, however,
all shy smiles and sunshine, and when
Vincenzo and returned to Tereglio, we
left Andrino behind to enjoy long Holt
day of courtship in the old garden, where
Lorenzo's lemons were ripening their
fairy gold on a southern wall, and holly
hooks and asters, and fair monthly roses,
made blaze of autumn glory in the
October sun. The hard worked mother,
too, and the little brothers and sisters
had to take in all at once the wonderful
intelligence that Ginevra was not only
cleared of all suspicion, but was also
advanced to the dignity of sposa with
the future glory of farm of her own in
store for her.
If her meek little heart could feel a
thrill of pride think it must have been
when her uncle in America, on hearing of
her engagement, sent home goodly sum
of money to purchase her outfit, and she
found that she was not to go to her hus-
bands home like poor peasant girl, but
with all the appurtenances of well to do
rustic bride. Not even the miller's Ghita,
whose preparations had been the envy OF
the whole country side, went forth with
a better stocked marriage-chest, with
fuller plenishing of fine home-spun linen,
of delicate embroidered kerchiefs, of
stout wooden stuffs, red and blue, aye,
and OF solid gold clasps and circlets, too.
do not think Sora Nina profted much
by the lesson she had received, for she
seemed as hard and stiff-necked as before,
and could never be brought to see the
enormity of what she had done. She pre-
tended for long time to be ignorant of
what was going on, but had to yield to
circumstances in the end, and receive her
daughter-inlaw with as good grace as
she might.
Nevertheless, do not think Ginevra's
position was altogether comfortable one
during the first months of her married
life until her activity sense and useful
ness was recognized by Sora Nina, who,
thoroughly capable herself and proud of
her capacity, respected nothing so much
as the same quality in Others.
Rut Ginevra can never tell her chill
dren the story Of the oaken chest, for it
would ALLEVIATE them forever from their
grandmamma. = Frazer's Magazine.