Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-11-15


there is raving beauty in your
neighborhood. Are there many such
pretty girls in your town."
Curly-head bowed and said. Your
excellency is very kind. We have in
deed some pretty girls, but 1 do not
know which of them lives near here"
Count Dietrich described the locality
and had hardly mentioned the three
children, when Don Pasquale inter-
rupted him:
''Ah, it must be Signora Novelli her
self"
But she looks like girl of six
teen"
quite true; she looks very young,
but it must be the signora, for all the
other women in the house are old
'Corpo di-Bacco!" cried the count en-
Enthusiastically, then l solemnly swear
that for kiss from that angel, will
gladly pay the thousand lire out of
my own pocket to her skinf1int of a
husband"
Your excellency must be Joking"
said Don Pasquale incredulously.
And your joke is in rather bad
taste" murmured the countess in Ger
man.
Count Dietrich pretended not to hear
her remark and insisted that his offer
was made in all seriousness. The
guest who was willing to give one
thousand lire for kiss, went up sew
eral degrees in Don Pasquale's esti-
nation, and shortly after the count
found him in close conversation at the
door with several portly old men. Don
Pasquale approached him at once ana
whispered that these dignitaries had
just returned from another interview
with the podesta, but all in vain
Ready money and nothing but ready
money could get the key out of his
pocket" Are we really to under
stand" added Don Pasquale. that
your excellency was in earnest about
the kiss?"
II give you my word of honor"
Don Pasquale's first step was to tell
the chief dignitaries of the town of the
munificent strangers offer How as
tonished they were! one thousand lire
for kiss. These foreigners must be
out-and-out fools! But then, what a
piece of good luck for their dear IA
therland, that they were such fools!
II the fair Elena would only consent.
And why not? The German was
gentleman and really a much more
agreeable person to kiss than grizzled.
unshaven. old Ettore Novelli. Was It
not her bounden duty, too, as wife of
the principal citizen, to make a little
sacrifice in honor of the most holy EN-
press Elenai so off they set for the
house of the wicked holder of the key
They broke up into parties of two,
and gained access to the gardens and
roofs of the houses near Donna Elena's $
two old men on the right, two on the
left, and the third couple-one OF
whom was Don Pasquale-at the back
of the house.
The willy Don Pasquale. with his
companions help, climbed one of the
largest trees near the garden wall
This brought him to the height of the
roof of Novellis house, but he could
not look over the parapet. He began
to call cautiously, "Pst-hello-hellow
And as he paused to listen, with out
stretched neck, all eyes and ears he
heard to the right and left, a low
'Pst-pst." His confederates We're
also at work. Then something white
appeared over the edge of the parapet.
With bold leap Don Pasquale sprang
to the ground and crouched with his
companions against the wall. He had
seen the podesta, the old gallows-bird
w udl rs lls w no y Uneret LOOK
out, you bad boys, I'll catch you!"
shrieked the old man, while the guilty
six stole cautiously away. A few min
utes later they met in the street and
scra tched their heads.
What now? They finally decided TO
apply directly to the highest clerical
authority.
The worthy Padre Sebastiano could
hardly retain from a right worldly
expression SO great was his surprise.
They had to assure him again and
again that the distinguished foreigner
was not joking.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair
crossed his legs. took a pinch of snunf,
and gave the matter his serious con-
sideration, while the worthy messen,
gers gazed anXiously at him, trying to
read his thoughts. Then Padre Sc
bastiano pushed his beretta over his
left ear, and with uplifted eyebrows
thoughtfully scratched the right side
of his head, then folded his hands
across his little round stomach and
began to twirl his thumbs. Then a
corner of his mouth began to twitch,
as he thought of the various sacrifices
made for the good of the church, by
holy women in ancient and modern
times, and at last the old gentleman
broke out in hearty laugh
"A most absurd storyw cried he,
rubbing his hands. "As you know,
my friends, the lord bishop comes to-
morrow. We must try and get bus
mess settled before he comes. | think
| will undertake 1t. The good bishop
will absolve me. Dear me. what does
the proverb say: "A kiss given In
honor harms nobody. And If 1t
should serve to liberate our holy pat
roness! Old Novelli will certainly
give in when he sees the money"
"Oh Holy Pity" cried one of the old
men, aghast. Reverend sir, you are
not thinking of making the PROPOSE
ton to the podesta himself?"
Yes, why not?" answered the priest.
He is the lord and master of Sig
nora Elena's lips"
Then all is lost" said Don Pas
quale, in distress His avarice is
great, but his jealousy is greater. /
know what I am talking about, rev.
erend father!" and the five old men
nodded assent Then Padre Sebas-
tiano became very serious.
so you want me to treat with tne