Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-10-25

pected," so he said. "and it served Cen
ma right for encouraging these idle
painter fellows to come round the
house, illlin' girls heads with nonsense,
ard making believe they were beautiful
as angels, till they grew too vain to be
of any use or good at all"
Poor Genna felt a hot flush Of shame
scorch her brow at these words. She
remembered the painters praise of her
self-and Of her own delighted accept
ance of and belief in 1t. She felt mad
with adherence Of herself when she re-
membered her folly, she scourged her
self with bitter ~reproaches every time
II REQUIRED to her mind and Inundated
her afresh..
Poor Gennal She knew that she had
loved him ere she herself was aware Of
1t, and she dreaded lest some look or
word might have betrayed her. How
he must have Knocked at such folly-he
and Mia! That thought brought fresh
agony in its train. Both her sister and
her lover, perhaps, had made sport rel
this in secret-he binding her eyes to
his real motives by pretending rever-
ence and admiration, while all the time
She hid her face in her hands, and
shivered with the cold, sickening chill
that had come to her with the first
knowledge Of Nita's baseness and Of
his perfidy.
IF only he had never come" she
thought in her misery. But at little
while ago, l was content-now, an,
life Is all changed. 1t can never be
the same again"
Yet she went about her daily work as
uncomplainiDgly as ever, giving herself
no rest. She dared not, because idle
ness and rest brought back memories
that hurt, and thoughts that madden
ed her: and in labor, however weary,
and toll however great, she could alone
find peace from either.
Slowly the years passed on, bringing
but few changes to the quiet town and
the jewellers on the hillside beyond its
gates.
Genna was alone now. Old Maso
had died Of a cold caught by damp and
exposure in severe winter time, when
the river had overflowed its banks
and flooded the country for miles
around. The chill had settled ON his
lungs, and he had neglected 1t, In his
belief Of his w strength and hardi-
hood. So one morning when Genna
vent to his bedside she found him too
i'll to rise, and a few days after he died.
The girl sorrowed greatly. He was
her only friend, and life was lonely to
her now.
OF Mia no word had ever come-no
token Of remembrance-no sign of her
existence. She was well-nigh forgot
ten, even by those who had been her
her lovers and friends. Genna alone
remembered, Genna-with her calm, sad
face, her quiet, wistful eyes, in which
there always seemed q longing so great
a sadness so deep.
She lived on alone In the desolate
house, taking a contadino for the hard
teamwork, and toiling necessarily her.
self. The days were often long, weari-
some, monotonous; there was no one to
care for, to think Of, now, and her wo-
mans heart hungered for such things.
From her life all ministry of love SEEM
ed utterly banished; but she bore 1t
cheerfully, uncomplainingly as ever,
only She was never glad now.
One evening Teresina, the copper
smiths daughter, came to see her.
She was married now, and q sober,
careful matron, with a baby to look af-
ter. 1t vas late. and the evening had
fallen dark and chill. Genna was sit
ting by the fire, busy Plating the long
pale wisps Of straw that lay beside her.
She looked up with some surprise at
her visitor.
rs that you, Teresina?" she said.
you are welcome. 1t Is long since I
have seen you"
Yes: l have little enough time for a
gossip with a neighbor, or a run down
to the market now," said the plump.
brown-faced woman. seating herself
by the fire. "But ! have come up to-
night to tell you some news, Genna.
You lever 90 to town now-you hear
nothing, and this may interest you"
What Is it?" She spoke quietly,
but her thin cheeks turned paler, her
hands trembled a little, and the plaits
Of straw grew slightly uneven under
the movement Of those shaken fingers.
"A man has come from Rome 10
day to see my people on business, and
l heard what he was saying Of the
dolngs Of the great city yonder. They
talk of nothing else save a new artist
and his painting SO DIM says. He has
painted a woman. She Is loyely-every
one Is full Of II. They flock IN crowds
to see the picture, and some great noble
has bought 1t for the palace. Genna,
l thought suppose 1t should be Nita,
and the painter
ITO Ra C~onfipuadN