The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-01
AN ITALIAN STORY.

Each time that Giuseppe descended from
his mountain home to Florence, the city of
flowers, he left his black mule, Cherubno,
at the Palescapa Inn, while ne directed his
steps toward the chapel Of the AnnuLziata.
where for INJURIES people have venerated
an image of the Blessed Virgin painted, it
is said. by angels.
After having lighted large wax candle
and fallen upon his knees on the marble
pavement Giuseppe was in the habit of ad-
dressing TO the Madonna this naive and fer
vent prayer:
Santa Maria, I have been very unhappy
since. under the pretext of admring our
beautiful mountains and OF painting, very
badly, our landscapes, a great Englishman
with his pockets filed with gold daily
prowls about my house. You know the
place well; 1t is yonder at the summit of
Monte Morello.
Between ourselves. bueona Virgin, l
rather think that this tourist and bad
painter admires Blanca, my wife. He is
too fond of looking into her beautiful vel
vety eyes with his own ugly steel-col0red
ones, the heretici
"Per BaccoI Santa MadFe, if l believed
it | would plant my knife in his heart. l
pray you aid me little"
These sincere litanies gave Aome con-
ISOLATION to the Jealous husband, although
Banca, laughing and coquettish as she was,
did not merit Giuseppe's suspicious. After
all. she was perhaps right in being gracious
and attractive to the Englishman, seeing
that The gold pieces left his pocket in re-
turn for the least Service-a little fruit,
glass of good milk, and with bad times and
taxes 50 high, his money was not to be dis
dained.
Blanca saw with regret however, that
Giuseppe was no longer the Giuseppe of
former days. Then, young and joyful,
strong and handsome, there had not been
his like for singing and gayety on the whole
noun tainsIde. Now, all his animal on
had gone. In the pure air that repeated the
most distant echoes the voiee OF Giuseppe
was heard no more. If Cherubn2, the
mule, troubled the silence OF the steep foot
paths and the somber meditations of his
conductor by single pray, raw! y'law!
blows ralned upon lin as if his back had
been that of the Eaglish hereto.
Is it not true that foreigners who wish to
study painting seriously in the country Of
the Medecls 90 to the piciure-galleries
They are not found, as on the return OF
Giuseppe one December evening this Eng
lishman was, in A peasants modest dwelling
tete-a-teie with Blanca, under the preteXt
that outside 1t was beginning TO rain.
Giuseppe's opportunity came three days
after that December evening. A fancy had
seized The Englishman to see the sun rise
on the highest point of the PoggiO and then
to visit two grottos, only known to the
mOuntaineers.
Giuseppe, naturally chosen as guide, re-
counted the wonders Of these caverns.
Access TO them. however, was difficult, it
being necessary to possess tlrm foot,
steady eye and a contempt for vertigo.
TheiI entrance was a. the foot OF perpen-
dicular rocks. above an abyss, and could
only be reached by using a knOtted cord
over thirty yards long. Early in the morn
ing the two men reached the solitary sum-
nit OF the POggi0, and under the paling stars
ENJOYED the grand spectacle OF dawn on the
mountains.
Very few words were exchanged till
Giuseppe arranged his cord and descended
first 10 the famous caverns. be seemed to
breathe with difficulty, to have an enormous
weight on his chest, as he watched the
other" lightly descending in his turn. 1t
would be so easy TO suppress ''the other"
the Eugiishman who was calling out
"HuTrah" in the enthusiasm inspired by
those marvellous caverns, as high as the
dome OF 4 cathedral. illumInatedDy stalac-
tites mirroring back the torches.
The blow Of knife is so sure when it is
we'll directed by a robust arm. Unfortu-
nately, however. it possesses the drawback
Of leaving traces on corpse. push at
the edge IF the precipice would be better.
1t would aid" him TO break his neck yon-
htE On tHe IOCAS. GUN ptOpIS WOuiA huOn
that he had come to the place with Giuseppe
and there would be an inquest Now
Giuseppe by reason OF certain smuggling
sins, had holy terror Of the authorities"
These considerations decided him to re-
climb the knotted cord egreifully-withOut
having the satisfaction of mounting Hone.
Suddenly, at the very moment he put his
foot to the ground, an inspiration came to
him.
lie knelt down and drew his knife.
Ill. ~fs,rF
TRANQUILITY. using hands ana feet, felt
brusque jerk which made him oscillate.
"Auh! attention." he cried roughly.
The remainder Of the words he was about
10 utter were arrested in his throat. He saw
Giuseppe glaring at him with ferocious
from the cord.
"What?"
What! poor imbecie. 1t is my turn to
laugh, cried the mountaineer. You have
laughed at me many times, have you not?
Vel. l have YOU now"
"Giuseppew
None of your 'GiusepDes.' Yves, you
laughed az my candles Tor the Madonna,
you blasphamed like a pagan-don't move
or shall cut the cord"
Terrified the poor excursionist glanced
downward, and felt his hair stand on end.
AT an incalculable depth below. as if from
lakes OF mist, black rocks lifted up their
heads.
Giuseppe" said he in voice which in
voluntarily became supplieatiug.
you are afraid. ALL you have good
cause for fear. Lookl If l cut-liKe this"
Have pity. / will pay you"
Il don't want your money"
Then, what?"
Listen"
Yes. I am listening"
GU are going TO swear to me to burn
Tomorrow. before the Madonna of the An
nunziata, the biggest candle that you can
buy"
But am not"
do you want me to cutP know well.
per Bacco, that you are al inide Don't
try TO come up"
The terrible blade fourished In the air.
"Yes, yes. | swear"
"And you will never again annoy me. nor
my wife. Blanca, neverl Do you under
stand, imbecilep
"lswear, yes"
"On your word of honor?"
ION my word of honor"
1T Is agreed. Ii you deceive me. look to
1t. | will find you again." and the Italian
made the sign of the cross with his knife.
The following CAV about in the morning
the faithful who were telling their beads in
the church of the AnuunZiata saw, with
surprise. a tall young man. dressed in a
check suit, man who had the gait and the
physiOgnomy OF an Englishman, lighting a
candle thicker than his arm before the mir
aeulous statue of the Madonna.
Not far off tall bronz-d Italian, leaning
against the wall of the moriuary chapel,
exchanged a slight salute of intelligence
and appreciation with this pious parsonage.
The following Saturday the same English
man was at Brindisi and took the steamer
for Cairo.