Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-04-12

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NFsasEl TN most intense
precipitating Romeo and Juliet love
climax that had long agitated two
rival families.
1t all came about from the willful
curiosity OF little Agatha Boneti, who
wanted to see the pretty lady with the
veil. The child's nurse had told her
the wonderful story of which every
Sicilian child knows, the miraculous
veil which the saint had extended
against the great wave OF lava that
WAS pouring over the valley, and how
the lava tide turned toward the sea
and the vineyards and cities were
saved from destruction. 1t was to
see the dear st. Agatha in her Easter
glory that the little namesake ran
away in her muslin and lace night
robe and her brave little lace cap.
Her naked, rosy feet battered along
the street to the big church, where
all the wonderful sights were making
ready for Easter.
1t was very early, even for devout
worshipers, but lovely penitent was
already kneeling at the altar, and
from behind pillar dark, hand
some cavalier watched and waited for
her. They were lovers by stealth,
but the girls duenua was in sympathy
with them, and was saying prayer
at distance with her back turned.
And just then the little night-clad
child came in as round and fresh and
rosy as if it had just dropped from
heaven with the kiss of creation new
on its innocent lips.
1t was to be an uncon scious agent OF
both good and evil in its own ire.
sponsible way.
The beautiful Signorina Beatrice Di
Garmo had finished her prayers and
turned just in time to suppress a
scream of apprehension at what she
saw. Too latel The mischief was
done.
There was gorgeous rug spread in
front of the chancel. 1t had been the
gift OF wealthy patrons of the church,
and was in itself marvel OF beauty
and art. 1t resembled superb piece
of tapestry, but, would you believe
it, the whole design was floral one.
There were sacred emblems of the
church wrought in the centre OF
this wonderful creation, the petals
of a thousand flowers contribut.
ing their gorgeous colors. The vel
low rose and chromatella formed {
border, with great clusters of violets,
and alternates of purple wistaria, and
the flowers of the Holy Ghost, all out
lined on fringe of Grenada grass. L
gave forth subtle perfume that wa.
almost Intoxicating, and the beauty
of it was sweet distraction of tn,
senses. And what the Signorin,
Beatrice saw WAS the figure Of thu
child as she stopped her runaway tou
at the front of the chancel, and
raising one rosy bare foot, plunged i
deep into the tapestry of flowers tina
had been wrought for an Easter offer
ing to the church.
EST. Agatha protect her." cried tn
startled signorina, Mortified at this &C
of baby sacrilege; ''ana it is--oh, b,
all the saints, Leonard, it is the chill,
of your sister--it is the little Agath
Donati!"
The cavaliers answer was hardl
suited to the sacred edifce, but h
was equal to the exigency of the mo
ment. He made rapid detour O
the altar, and snatched baby Agatha
who had dropped plump on her sma'
knees into the centre of the rug, an
swung her clear of the ENHANCEMENT
but he saw with dismay that one dc
sign of the perfect floral mosaic wa
ruined.
"Thou bad little one? How dares
thou come hither alone to do all thi
harm? Where is thy nurse, naught
, Agatha, that she should have let the
do this wicked thing?"
"Nay, chide her not, Leonardo. Sh
is only baby. See her lips tremblt
She is afraid! Come, little darling
tell thy own Beatrice"
Then the signorina stopped an
7 hung her fair. sleek head like a lii
on its stem.
She hates me, too" she said, pa.
sionately, "because of the old hatre