The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-07-17
WIDOW GAMBERTI.

100000
sven as the mechanical movement of
we'll regulated clock, the passage of tn
troops is always an important event
The peasants even, naturally penuri
Gus, do not complain of the slight ex
pense and inconvenience that the mill
tary guests bring for a day into thei
houses, and be it noted that it is not
patriotic feeling nor affection for tn
sons of others which animates them
but it amuse them to pass the evening
in listening to the adventurous tales ant
the jokes of the barracks of some sol
der that is rather a chatterbox, espe
cially if he is from the south. Their
are fine things to be heard, you may be
lieve me.
That daythe young serving women hat
done their daily tasks in the quickes
way and with various distractions. TIL
workwomen busy near the windows hat
often raised the curtains to see bette
an officer come to prepare the lodging
who since dawn had gallOped up ant
down through the town satisfied II,
doubt with attracting all the feminin,
glances.
1t was a cold day in the beginning
of April. The winter, which all had be
lieved to be definitely over, by a malig
nant caprice or to play a bad trick OIL
its enemies was come back again, ant
the icy white mantle covered the eartl
anew and shone magnificent under tn,
sun of the first spring days.
"What a fine thing that the SUI is out
SO they will be cheerful when they ar
rive" thought the girls while they blew
upon their redeemed fingers to war;
them and listened with beating heart
whether the wind brought from afa
some sound of a trumpet or tramplin.
of horses.
All at once echoed a fanfare rathe
confused, but joviaL The regimentl TIL,
regimentl
Half an hour later the soldiers wer,
pouring into the village, filling it witt
the chatter of their sabers and thei
youthful voices in various dialects o
Italy.
4OSCbuCL III tllO QAl1iiS IOOlug lOhS al
low rooted, of the Moon tavern the Off
GERS in fatigue uniform approaches
their damp boots to the flames of a pa
triarchal chimney in the happy franz
of mind of those who after a tiresom
days march finally have nothing NOR
to do except to rest in a comfortabl
house, with the prospect of a good din
ner.
ST sayl' exclaimed Lieutenant Ter
biani, who was carelessly rolling a Gig
arctic and rocking himself ON a chat
near the window. Here are two fin
specimens of the natives. Come and see
Destrelli. AS for me, l never dreamet
of more charming little women"
All the officers rushed to the window
in haste to test the accuracy of that opin
ion.
ooh, obi They are elegant indeed.
Look what tiny tracks those fee
leave ON the snow"
"And what graceful movements.
"They are lovely and no mistake"
"Look here, landlord" called Lieu
tenant Varella, fitting his monocle int
the eye socket, ''are all the women o
this place like those?'
The innkeeper, a stout man of abou
so, smiled, stroking his beard, half re'
and half gray, and declared:
"Not all, signor tenente. Our girls
l may say, are not amiss, but those VIII
passed are Signorina Corati Of Givi
oso, daughter of the master of the will
up there on the hill, and the other wit
the dark hair is her sister, the Marches
Gamberti, a young LADY,"
The lieutenant had opened his moutl
to ask some other question, but at tina
moment a servant maid came in grea
haste to the master, because he wa
wanted in the kitchen. One of the youni
men made a rather crude observation
on the plumpness of the girl, and tn
conversation changed.
"Tell me, my dear fellows, aske'
a captain recently promoted, chow ar
you accommodated? Because you know
that we shall stay here almost two days
so that the question is important. Ar
you c~ontent?"
Each of the officers named the lodg
ing assigned to him, and the comment
began.
'"That unlucky Destrellil He is al
ways destined to be quartered at a hair
dresser's. 1t is true, however, that hi
hair wants cutting. See here, Destrelli
Put yourself right into the hands of you
hairdresserI" They all laughed heartily
"As for Bompane, he goes from viii
to villa. He stays with the aristocracy
does Bompanel And this time, too
lookl He is to be entertained by Barol
Corati of Givioso.
"Ahl At the house of the beautiful
little blond who just now went byt"
LUCKY fellowr' was cried on ever
hand.
"And you-whose house are you for2'
asked Terbiani of the lieutenant witt
the eyeglass. They had been compan
ions Nj the school of Modena and re
manned intimate friends in the regi
ment.
GAS for me, 1 don't complain, - re
piled the other with his girlish voice
drawing the words. 1.-THE widow Gam
berti is my hostess"
"Widowl What, a widow? That i'm
beetle of a landlord did not tell us tina
she was a widow.
But that is just the thing for me
Paolo, my dear fellow, be good. Let u
change lodgings. 1t is a favor fo
which / shall be grateful TO you all m
life" Thus did Terbiani beg and SUI
plicate him.
"Change with Bompane-that is bel
ter-so you can pay court to that blon
young lady"
"No, mol like brunettes best. l pre-
fer widows. They are more piquant
Come, / beg Of you. Think that You
compliance may perhaps decide m
whole life.
well, take my lodging, " sighed th
young lieutenant, with affected resignt
ton. "Go and warm your heart in I'll
presence of the Marohesa Gamberti, an
toast your boots at the fireplace of he
parlor.
Then Terbiani rushed TO hunt up HI
valise; next into one Of the room {
the inn, where he worked a oomplet
metamorphosis in his apparel; change
his fatigue dress, frayed and discoloret
for a brand fine new uniform, and will
out re-entering the dining room wei
to ask some directions Of the landlord
TO the pace where Casa Gamberti was.
"Ah, you are quartered there2 ID
c~elleptl'' approved the fat landlor