Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-16


shouted, Long live the pair.'' with the
others. and Donna Isabella turned upon
him a smile that appeared to him like
the morning star when it shone upon
the gloomy pond ut dawn. That was
i great lady! Although Cirillo had had
little education, except that which
came in his blood because he was the
son of the baron, and the good princi-
pies taught him by mamma Bibiana,
and a little Il, b, C that he learned of
he parish prieSt-still he comprehended
how rude was Baron Corradino: Il real
peasant like his father the carrier
But the beautiful baroness appeared
to notice nothing, not even when her
husband stumbled in the train of her
rich gOWn-nO more than the morning
star thinks of the tree-tops which seem
to tear the clouds below it, That was
truly a great lady. AS she passed
through the doorway, with the servants
in line on each side, Cirillo heard her
say, Who is that poor fellow" and
her husband answered, 1T is Cirillo.
the frOg-seller.' Cirillo struck his leg
a smart blow in order not to cry out,
Il am the baron" Then he thought Of
mamma Bbibiana, and also how useless
it would be to make a noise, and get
himself driven away with sticks. About
this, too, he had patience, and went
away through the village, crying ''Pesci
cantantir' to sell his frogs to those
who wished to make broth for the old
or the sick. Afterward, when he
brought fish to the great house, the
baroness, with ner maid or her house
keeper, who was twice as grand as
Donna Sabina Mosca in her time, came
sometimes into the courtyard. Donna
Isabella would have paid Cirill0 more
than his price, so much she pitied him;
but he would not take more than was
due. She talked to him with her sweet
voice, while he had q mad wish to
throw himself on the ground and kiss
the hem of her gown, as to the Ma
donna del Carmine; and when she sent
the maid to bring a tray of refresh
ments, Cirillo would take only little
glass of wine and mouthful Of bread,
that seemed to him like a sacrament.
'"This signora baroness" he thought,
must be like that other who died to
bring me into the world; she was an
ngel-but my true mother was mamma
Bibiana."
The fact is, the angels are well off in
heaven; but here on earth one must
have Il little bit of the demon in ones
body, in order not to get tie worst of
it. And that little bit the baroness
hn1 +hn+ 81.
heard many times with Don Corradino
He had the consciousness of being like
a rude peasant, despite the eScutcheon
over the great door, and the gallery of
ancestors, and the silver plate with the
barOnial cipher. Isabella was so beau
tiful so white, he was in awe of her;
he perceived that she avoided his
coarse, stubby hands with the bitten
nails. He knew how to talk of nothing
but the crops, or hunting, or the the
alters Of Paris of Franc where, instead
Of the holy mysteries or the deeds of
the Reali or of GuerinO il Meschino,
they represent things worse than the
dance of the witches around the nut
tree of BeneventO. She, instead, had
instruction; if the king himself had
come, she would have talked with him
as with any person whatever.
One day, in Cirillo'S presence, the
baron and baroness were discussing
some trifie upon the steps of the house;
and at q blunder Of his she turned
upon him her great eyes, full Of con-
tempt so that he raised his hand, just
like MaSO, the carrier, when he quar-
relied with Bibiana, and would have
given her a box on the ear, only that
CIrillo threw himself between them and
cried, Door, do not touch herr
At that word the baron lost his COM
pass; he saw everything red before
his eyes; he took Cirillo by the neck
and threw him backward down the
steps, like sack of rags. The instant
OF fury past, the baron leaped down
into the courtyard, full of remorse;
while -1onna Isabella ran to call some
servants to take Cirillo on their arms
baron, t1inging open the door of the
great room where his father died.
Garry him in here, my poor foster
brother Cirillo!'
Then they saddled a horse to go for
the doctor. Cirillo recognized the sound
Of the hoofs of old Sultano, the roam.
Goodbye and good luck, Sultano," he
into the house Here, here" cried the
said. But it is 1 who am going away
this time" Then he begged Donna
Isabella not to weep, for the baron
had not meant to harm him, and be-
tween foster-brothers it is easy to for
give.
When Don Luca WHALE, now very
old, came, he looked through his glasses
and took snuff and shook his head,
just as when, so long ago. he visited
the baron. 1t was a question Of some
broken bones, and strength consumed
by the malaria Of the VALID, and Don
Luca said certain Latin big words that
nobody understood, but they must mean
something very grave. Cirillo would
hardly last through the night.
When Don Luca WHALE felt the right
leg, broken a little above the knee,
ClrilIo looked fiXedly at him. Now,
at last, the truth might have been
made plain, and by no act of Cirino
But the old doctor had forgotten the
birthmark of the son of the baron.
Better so, mamma Bibiana," he NUT
tered; and Don Luca, who was little
deaf, believed that he was complain
ing of the pain of the leg.
Now that it was too late, Don Cor
radino would have given his own blood
to cure the poor fellow, but Cirillo en-
IL,