Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-06-23
WIDOW GAMBERTI.

| tNNLl ~ tl4N' movement Vi "a
| we'll regulated clock, the passage of the
troops Is always an important event
| The peasants even, naturally penuri-
ou<, do not complain of the slight ex-
pcnSc and Inconvenience that the mill
| tarv guests bring for a day into their
| houses, and be it noted that it is not a
patriotic feeling nor affection for the
sons of others which animates them,
but it amuses them 10 pass the evening
in listening 10 the adventurous tales and
the jokes of the barracks of some SOL
der that Is rather chatterbox, espe-
cially if he is from the south. There
are fine things to be heard, you may be-
heve me.
That daythe young serving women had
done their daily tasks in the quickest
way and with various distractions. The
| workwomen busy near tho windows had
often raised tho curtains to see better
an officer come to prepare the lodgings
who since dawn had galloped up and
down through the town satisfied no
doubt with attracting all tho feminine
chances.
1t was 4 cold day in the beginning
of April. The winter, which all had be-
heved to be definitely over, by malig-
nant caprice or to play q bad trick on
its enemies was come back again, and
the icy white mantle covered the earth
anew and shone magnificent under the
sun of the first spring days.
What fine thing that the sun is ont,
so they will be cheerful when they ar
rive" thought the girls while they blew
20
them and listened with beating hearts
whether tho wind brought from affair
some sound of a trumpet or trampling
of horses.
All at once echoed fanfare rather
confused, but jovial. The regiment The
regiment!
Half an hour later the soldiers were
pouring into the village, filling it with
the chatter of their sahcrs and their
youthful voices i'll various dialects of
Italy.
Together i'll tho dining room, long and
low rooted, of the Moon tavern the Off
GERS i'll fatigue uniform approached
their damp boots TO the flames of n pa
triarchal chimney in the happy frame
of mind Of those who after 4 tirpSome
days march finally have nothing more
TO do except to rest in comfortable
house, with the prospect of good din
uyr.
Il sayr' exclaimed Lieutenant Ter
biani, who was careleSsly rolling Gig
arctic and rocking himself ON n chair
near the window. Here are two fine
| specimens of the natives. Come and see,
DeStrcli As for me, l never dreamed
of more charming little women
All the officers rushed to the window
in haste to test the accuracy of that opin-
ion.
"Oh, OIL They are elegant indeed. "
Look what tiny tracks those feet
leave ON the SNOW"
And what graceful movements"
They are lovely and no mistake"
Look here, landlord" called Lieu
tenant Narella, fitting his monocle into
the eve socket. are all the women of
this place like thoSe?''
The innkeepcr, stout man of about
80. smiled, stroking his beard, half red
and half gray, and declared:
Not all, signor tenentS Our girls,
| may say, are not amiss, but those who
passed are Signorina Corati of Civil
oso, daughter of the master of the villa
up there ON the hill. and the other with
| the dark hair is her sister, the Marchesa
Gambcrti, young Lady,
The lieutenant had opened his mouth
TO ask some other question, but at that
moment a servant maid came in great
haste 10 the master, because he was
wanted in the kitchen. One of the young
men made n rather crude observation
on the plumpness of the girl, and the
/ conversation changed.
Tell me. my dear fellows, - asked
captain recently promoted, ''how are
you accommodated? Because you know
that We shall stay here almost two days,
so that the question is important. Are
| You content?'
Each of the officers named the lodg-
! ing assigned to him, and the comments
began.
THAT unlucky Destrelil He is al
ways destined to be quartered at a hair
dresser's. 1t is true, however, that his
hair wants cutting. See here, Destrelh
| Put yourself right into the hands of your
! hairdresSerr' They all laughed heartily.
LAS for Bompane, he goes from villa
| TO villa He stays with the aristocracy,
does BOmpane! And this time, too,
look! He is to be entertained by Baron
| COrati of Givioso.
"Ah! At the house of the beautiful
little blond who just now went byl"
Lucky fellowp' was cried ON every
hand
And you-whose house are you for?'
asked Tcrbiani of the lieutenant with
the eyeglass. They had been compan-
ions at the school of Modena and 70
manned intimate friends in the regi-
ment
"As for me, don't complain, re-
piled the other with his girlish voice,
| drawing the words The widow Gam
berti is my hostess "
Widow What, a widow That i'm
beetle of a landlord did not tell US that
she was a widow"
but that is just the thing for me.
Paolo, my dear fellow. be good Let MS
change lodgings 1t Is a favor fo1
which shall be grateful to you all my
| life'' Thus did Terbiani beg and sup
plicate him
"Change with Bompane-that is bet
ter-so you can pay court to that blond
young lady"
mo, mol like brunettes best pre-
fer widows. They are more piquant.
Come, beg of you Think that youl
compliance may perhaps decide my
| whole life.
well, take my lodging, " sighed the
young lieutenant, with affected resiena-
ton go and warm your heart In tha
ureaenoe OF the Marohesa Gamberki and