The Press., 1893-10-26
CARLOTTA'S INTENDED,
By RUTH M'BNERY STUART.

By RUTH M'ENERY STUART.
 Copyright, lsa3, by J. B. Lippincott Company, and published by special arrangement with them.l
 It was at last Carlotta's birthday. Pal | had come to town rather earlier thar
 usual, intending to take her-alone fol l the first time-out for a ride They | would go up to the Carrollton gardeI and sit on one of the little benches to
 gether under a tree, and when they came home they would tell madam" and asl her blessing.
 He knew just the funny things he
 would say as he would present the little
 bald spot on his head for her materna blessing. And then they would have to tell-or rather to asl1-the father. He scratched his head little nervously al this thought and wished the ordeal were
 over, yet he would get through some how and ''carTy it off with whatever in spiration the moment should bring. He was dressed in his very best and would have given much to wear his arti- fcial leg for the occasion. He would have liked to appear as a whole man walking at her S1de tonight.
 It was just merging into twilight l when he approached the shop, and the family sat, as usual, about the doors. "An where's Lottie?" he asked as he joined the circle.
 He had never called for her in this way before, but he was too near the edge of things tonight to care to think. L., walk weeth Giuseppe Rubino. Sid down, Meester Pad" And the signora lifted her foot from the rung of a stool and pushed it toward him.
 He sat down, but he was uneasy. After a little while, during which, the signora afterward said, he had never been more lively or more witty. he rose and left them.
 For the last three Saturday evenings Carlotta had been out with Giuseppe when he came; but he had thought noth- ing specially of it. But tonight! Had she not remembered? Did she not realize that today meant much to him-and to her? He would pass the hour until he should be sure to find her at home ill his favorite retreat on the river ban: alone There would be no demand upon him here, and he could get himself together again. for he was l-eenly hurt
 As he left the Di Carlos he could not see that two me11-Sicilians they were who stood together in the shadow of the wall across the way moved slowly after him until he stopped the car, when, quick ening their paces, they also jumped ol> l, the other passed out to the platform with the driver. Neither could he know when he crossed the wharf that these two men watched and by separate routes followed him at distance as he disappeared among the shadows between the piles of freight along the pier.
 The river was high and when he reached his accustomed seat the floating wharf, which was chained to the heavy timbers, attracted him. He had never been down here, but a pair of hanging steps invited the folly of his descent to- night, and he had soon hobbled down and seated himself on the inner edge of the raft and thus within the shadow of the pier above. It pleased his mood to get thus near the turbulent, restless wa terS for awhile.
 To st in a little black shadow while he waited for Carlotta to come home with Giuseppe suited him tonight, while the booming, swelling. restless river that lifted him upon it's bosom and seemed threatening to submerge everything was typical of his love.
 His thoughts had hardly begun to cool and shape themselves when, first vague ly, as at a distance, and now nearer, clearer, came the sound of an accordion.
 On summer evenings almost anywhere along the river bank one may expect to find a sprinkling of accordion players usually German kitchen courtships out for an airing-and there should have been nothing very startling in the sound yet it's first note made the Irishman's heart stand still. He kneH the most dis tant reach of Giuseppe's accordion. It had come out to meet him too often in the evenings for him to mistake it now. It was coming very near, and soon he be- gan to hear voices, CaTlotta's and the youths. They were sitting down on the wharf just above his head. Broken oAAclCCiCo ot GbliCo p1ONCtl GIldG was toying thoughtlessly with his instru- ment, and while he played he was ear nestly talking. Soon the music stopped altogether, the voice fell lower, more seri- ous, more indistinct. It seemed to Pat that the boy talked for an age. but he could distinguish nothing
 But presently Carlotta spoke clearly:
 No, no, Giuseppe. Hush! I can't lis'n at your
 Then again Giuseppe muttered in a tone indistinct as to words. but full of pleading.
 And now Carlotta again:
 "Hush, say, Giuseppe! 1 mustn't ism at you! wish l was dead! hate you! I hate Llyself! Ihate your musicl l hate yihing. Before you came I was satisfied. Everything was promise good, an 1 never knowed no better. Now when I I'nt my finger in my cars hear you sing-I Ee2r that music. Oh, 1 hate it all! Tonight I ought to be home, and I am hero with you-always