The Press., 1893-10-12
.CARLOI'TA'S INTENDED.
By RUTH M'ENERY STUART.

Copyright, lsss,. by ]. E. Lippincott Company and published by special arrangement with them.l
 k A sound of loud talking below reas- sured him, however. The father and brothers had returned from the wedding
 Carlotta heard it. and the distraction soon quieted her. With Pats aid she presently arose, and together they eau tiously approached the opening.
 In the tumult the fathers voice kl,e- vailed. He spoke in Italian.
 'sWhat am 1 that my wife lies to mel You said the child consented. You lied lied! told you you should not compel her. You are paid. I am glad. But want my daughter Where is the child? What can do? Where go to seek her spread an ugly tale-Carlotta, the pret- ty daughter of Di Carlo. is not in her fa- ther's house at night. A sweet story, that. Oh, my wife is a fine schemer- got rich husband for Toney's ugly girl with the pimply face. Ha! she is kind. yes-I am glad but only want my lit tie girl"
 In the midst of this, but not needing it, the woman was contesting her posi- tion in broken English-an appeal for sympathy to the English speaking boys. her sons.
 "Fo' who ees I lie?'' she screamed be- tween sobs. 'Wad ees-a money fo' me? Rich or DO ees-a all-a same to me. God rock-a cradle.fo' you-dthaz all! F lie, 2 fo' you, an fo' Clotta selve. An now every body ees-a blame mel Weesh me I was dead You ees-a curse me, Meester Pad ees-a sassy me to my face, an all on 'coun' O Clotta!
 "Shpr' hissed the old man. No more! Show me my child, and we speak never of this again. l am not blameless. consented, but not to force her You were tempted, and she saved you. It is well. We have not sold our first babe to feed the last But want her here-l want my little girl.
 "I'm goin, Woona,' said Carlotta. starting suddenly. She would have de- scended the stairs, but Pat held her arm.
 Mot from heer, darlint. We've kept the thrunk secret for dozen years"-
 She understood and agile as a cat had dashed by him in the other direction and was out the window on the roof before he realized her intention She would return as she had come.
 Pat hobbled after her to the window. She had just reached the corner of the low shed, where an overhanging fig tree afforded safe and private transit to the ground, when she suddenly returned and laid her hand on the Irishnan's arm.
 "Don't be mad You are good. like you, Woona-but never knowed"-
 She began to cry.
 "I never knowed my paw liked me be- fore; haf to go to him."
 Pat was choked with emotion, and be- fore he could answer her the slim shadow of the girl had fitted down and was merged into the broad shadow of the tree.
 Though the rain was over, the night was dark.
 Pats heart was humping so when he returned to his vantage ground at the head of the stairs that he had to sit down.
 Soon he heard a timid knock at the street door-Carlotta was cute one then rush of boys heavy feet, clank  through the open door, loud crying, like the heart sobs of little child. So Car lotta met her father.
 By ducking his head very low Pat saw for second only the little reticent old man with outstretched arms going to meet her, and he, sitting alone on the top step, blubbered like schoolboy. but no one heard him.
 Pat could scarcely realize that he had been home hardly three hours wher few minutes later he looked at his watch ,o find 1t but Il o'clock.
 So far as he could discover, the affair was never alluded to in the household afterward, but for Q long time between himself and the signora distinct cold ness was felt which made him uncom- fortable.
 His anger toward her had soon melted, but he wanted it forgotten. She was no worse than many rich mothers. Her methods were only little more crude.
 He had easily forgiven her since she had failed. Though she had had no con- ception of the force of his words, she realized that he had blamed and silenced
 
 was hard to forget it. And then, too, her relations were somewhat embar- rassed with all who knew of the affair.
 Il wonder" said he one evening few weeks later as he sat near her at the door, II wonder wud the madam wear a pair O shoes O my makin? I'll guar antee 1 cud make @ bully pair do ye through the next christenin, an yell be dthraggin 'en slipshod till the wan afther that ag'in."
 "Oh, you ees-a so bad, Meester Padr' she exclaimed, with hearty laugh de- lightfully like the familiar ring of old times. "How much-a price you goin-a charge me?'
 Charge vel Well, I'll be doggoned if ye're not complimentary! I'll charge ye enough, sure, whin ye do bring me yer ordher for 8 pair, but whin I do make ye presint I'll ask ye return O what do putt into the job-a free con- fession O frindly feelin jist. Whut do