Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-07-22

at seeing me. "Scusi, Siguor Pittore,
this was my usual title in the household
except from Vineenzo, who, with ,
Renaissance of his American travel
always addressed me as .'Mister, " ''scui:
if / have interrupted you, but thought
you had gone out / had to bring uT
some of Ginevra's clothes, which she
had left strewed about downstairs.
Now, this was a manifest falsehOod, fol
| had seen Ginevra with my own eyes
bring I'D her little bundle without open
ing it; but as it seemed matter of little
consequence, | kept my own counsel
| Nv way that morning led me through
the chestnut woods When | reached Sor
Vincenzos woods, the gathering was &C
lively going on; Ginevra and Andrino
were within sight of each other, but
holding no communication. while Tuccia
and Vannina, on higher ledge just be-
low the path, were chattering as usual.
Il am wondering all this time" the lat
ter was saying as came by, chow Sora
Nina will pay off the score she owes La
Ginevrina. Sooner or later she will find
way, for La Nina has tongue which
cuts and sews (che taglia cuco)."
''You may trust her for that" said
Tuccia; 'and I, for one, shall not grudge
the sly little upstart what she gets. Here
she broke of, seeing me on the path
above.
"Good morning, girls" l called out.
Chow goes the harvest?"
"Bravely, Signore Pittore. Are you
come to help?"
| assented and spent the next half
hour gathering chestnuts and making a
great pile for Tuccia and Vannina to put
into their bags, after which | went my
way about my own pursuits. | did not re-
turn until late that evening when | found
that great commotion had occurred
| in Casa Contrucci. Ginevra was gone,
Andrino looked dark as thundercloud
Vincenzo was perturbed and downcast,
Nina, pale but triumphant. The three
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 casset-
tone in the attic and Ginevra 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 secreted
testedbundle. She had, of course, pro-
tested her innocence, and would l be-
leve it that credulous Andrino, who
seemed perfectly infatuated about her,
had stepped forward declaring his
mistaken faith in her and his
determination to make her his
wife, even though his parents should re-
fuse their consent, and he compelled to
90 to America, like his brothers. But
Ginevra (still, no doubt, playing in
iured innocence) thanked him, indeed,
for his belief in her. but resolutely re-
fused his offer, and declered 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, and with
the single exclamation 'Ladra!' she had
covered her face with her apron and
burst into storm of sobs. 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 me at least"
At break of day Lorenzo Giuliani ar
rived at the farm. haggard, wild, the
picture of woe. Vincenzo poured out a
tumbler of wine for him, and he gulped
it down before his parched 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 crooked
turn all of a sudden?'
II would give half my crops, this
year, Lorenzo, that it had not hap
pened," said the farmer, land | would
gladly give my best wheat field this mo-
ment to see it cleared up"
''What is there to clear upW said
Nina, sharply, from the fire where she
was busy cooking. There'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 a contddina about the house"
GAS for that, Sora Nina" said Loren
70, "can you tell me how she could ex-
pect to wear such things without being
asked how she came by them, or of what
use they could be to a girl like herr And
it is not the first time, nor yet the sec.
ond, that she has been in houses where
gold and silver, aye, ald jewels, too,
were to be seen in plenty, and those that
trusted her never found cause to repent
in"
''There is no use in talking about il
any more, Lorenzo" she said, Fang you
may thank your stars that it has passed
over so quietly"
"But will talk about it ~ said Loren
20, his temper now fully reused By her
contemptuous manner, land hear hGw i
happened, too"
"Then hear it from others, not from
me-" she said, founcing out of tn,
kitchen in a rage; 81 wash my hands o
it and you"
"Come, Lorenzo" said the farmer,
IAN u | will show you where il occurred
amt lswer cheerfully as many question
as you like"
Nina's story was according repeated &
him as he went upstairs: how she ha,
put the ornaments on sunday night int
the great oaxen chest outside Ginevra'