St. Landry democrat., 1893-10-07
"GOOd morning. girls" called out.

:, come to help?'
# l assented and spent the next half
: hour gathering chestnuts and making ;
Y great pile for Tuccia and Vannina to pu
a into their bags, after which | went my
$ way about my own pursuits. did not re
r turn until late that evening when found
I that great cOmmOtion had occurred
f in Casa Contrucci. Gincvra was gone,
f AndrinO looked dark as thunder cloud
9 Vincenzo was pcrturbel and downcast,
s Nina, pale but triumphant. The three
r latter left the kitchen after supper and
the two girls, who were bursting with
the news, told me what had occurred.
Sora Nina's cherished gold ornaments
had been stolen out Of the great cassct-
tone in the attic and Gincvra was the
thief. Yes, might shake my head and
look incredulous, but in presence of
them all her room had been searched,
and the missing treasure found sccretcl
testedbundle. She had, OF course, pro-
tested her innocence, and would | be
Iieve it that credulOus Anlrino, who
seemed perfectly infatuated about her,
had stepped forward declaring his
mistaken faith in her aud his
determination to make her his
wife, even though his parents should re-
fuse their consent, and he compelled to
60 to America, like his brothers. But
Ginevra (still, no doubt, playing in.
ured innocence) thanked him. indeed,
for his belief in her, but resolutely re
fused his offer, and decl2rcd that nothing
would induce her to marry him while
such slur remained on her character, Of
which she doubted not Providence in its
own good time would clear her Then
her fortitude had given way, aud with
the single exclamation "Ladra." she had
covered her face with her apron and
| burst into a storm of sOJs. She had re-
| fused to let anyone accompany her home,
and started with her little bundle alone
in the twilight The last word they
heard her say was Poor Babbo. but
he will believe Ele at least
At break of day Lorenzo Giuliani ar
lived at the farm, haggard, wild, the
picture of woe. Nincenzo poured out a
tumber of wine for him, and he gulpcd |
it down before his parchcd lips could |
frame a word. "This is sad news" he |
then said, "about my little girl. She
has always been the best of little girls to
me, and as sweet and open as the day
is it likely that she should take a crooked
turn all of suddcn?'
II would give half my crops, this
year, Lorenzo, that it had not hap
pencd," said the farmer, land | would
gladly give my best wheat field this mo-
ment to see it cleared up"
'What is there t. clear up?' sail
Nina, sharply, from the fire where she
was busy cooking. "Tnerc's no use cry.
ing over split milk, Lorenzo The girl
is no worse than other girls, who never
can resist the sight of jewelry. 1t
will be lesson to me to lock my hand
some ornaments for the future when |
have coUtadimt about the house"
Gas for that, Sora Ninl," said Loren
10, "can you tell me how she could cx-
poet to Wear such thin,s without being
asked how she came by them, or Of whit
use they could be to Il girl like ner2 Aud
it is not the first time nor yet the sec
ond that she has been in houses where
gold and silver, aye, all jewels. too, i
were to be seen in plenty, anl those that :
trusted her never found cause to repent
in" Il
''There is no use in talking about it /
my more, Lorcnzo,' she said. "and Won t
nay thank your stars that it has passed
over SO quictly.' 9
"But will talk about it :" said Loren |
70, his temper now fully ron >ed by her @
manner, land hear how it $
too t
Then hear it from others, not from t
ne she said, tlouncing out Of the g
in rage; II wash my hands Of L
t and you" a
Come, Lorenzo,' said the farmer, t.
,an | will show You where it occurred.
nj y ;swer cheerGuIIy as many questions
S yGu like.'
Nina's story was according repeated to
i'm as he went upstairs; how she had
ut the ornaments Oh Sunday night into "
he great oahen chest outside Ginevra's n
com and going to it Oh n III lag morning il
ound them gone. CT
"Therc it is, sud Vinccnzo. pointing W
, the massive sarcophagu>, before which 1
he dcspairing father knclt down, while v
ne farmer, his son, the two girls and | OF
'okcd on, some in sympathy, some in fe
urosity. Suddenly we heard q raptur- a
us exclamation from him. and thought V;
he poor mans senses had given wav ac
nder his misfortune OF
"Praise be to Providence! My little N
lrl is cleared" an
Then staggering to bis feet with a sud fr
en- joy Illuminating his haggard, IN G,
haven face, he pointed his foretinger to he
he chest and turned to us all. look pc
it," he said, but do not touch it. SO
ct all the world see it, Oh, blessed lily
eature of the good Creator, not one of bu
'ur kind shall ever be harmed by me az
,ain, and swear to cherish YOU hence W,
rward as NY own kith and kin.' I'll
We looked where he pointed, and III
ere, from the overhanging coruicc Of Sit
c I'D OF the great chest, to one Of the lal
rived pilasters at its corner, was ex- gr,
nded, in untouched tilmy perfection, de
nerable spiders web!
No other proof was needed of the
lsity of Nina's story, for Solomon's seal
elf could as little have been broken
i restored since yesterday morn, as
at fine, frall tissue of gosSamcr. lc
now took the farmer aside and told rec
m gently what | had seen of his wifc's the
proving that she alone had III
aimed and executed the vile plot against wa
e poor girl who had excited her jealousy as
behalf Of her son. | do not think PEI
ncenzo was as much surprised as we pei
re; such revelations are not ALWAYS {
to the immediate family of f,,1
; culprit. Nina. however, persisted in onr
, denial, and took refuge at last in nil
stinate silence. nAl
It may be imagined that Lorenzo Giu- s snl
vi lost no time in Fastening homa and 80