The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-01
PIPPETTE'S EMANCIPATION
BY EDWARD MARSHALL.
PRIZE NOVELTIES, No. o.
BY EDWARD MARSHALL.

Pietro grew to the mahood OF 21 and Pl-
ppette to the Italian womanhood of l3
without other thought. When the fami-
lies came over to America II was under
stood that the ceremony would be delayed
but for a short time after they reached
this land of gold, and both were well
content. The plan was all right, the
money was all right, even the affection
was all right. But no one had taken
into consideration the effect of Americas
independent atmosphere
Pippette would never have been affected
by it in Little Italy, But she went as
nurse for a month in the family of one of
the queer little Italian bankers who had
been in America long time, and there
she learned progressive lessons. OF
course she told of her engagement, and
how 1t had all been arranged when she
was little child. At once her mistress
hands went up in horror. Ii was wrong
that in America a girl should be forced
to marry a man her parents had selected.
That was not the way those things were
done on this side of the ocean. Here
girls selected their own sweet hearts and
parents were not consulted. They mar
ried the men they loved, not the men
with whose parents their fathers and
their mothers could make the best finan-
cial plans. II Pippette did not love Pi-
etro she ought not TO marry him.
Now, before il bad never occurred to
Pippette that she was being forced to
marry; IL had never seemed unjust that
her parents should arrange the match;
she had never for a moment doubted that
she loved Pietro. But the knowledge
gained in that short month changed the
whole aspect OF affairs to her. Plainly she
saw the injustice of il all, plainly she saw
the deep-laid plot to steal away her
brand new independent spirit, plainly she
saw the outrage offered to her woman.
hood.
Night by night when she went home
she treated Pietro less lovingly. Night by
night she grew more gloomy and more
silent in her parents presence. Her
mouth, that had i'm the past been ever
smiling, dropped and quivered She wept
at night and woke red-eyed. The merry
girl changed into a maiden of most sor-
rowful and sullen mien. Both parents
and Pietro were amazed. Not guessing
the real causes of her grievance, not
knowing that she even had a grievance,
they decided that she was Ill. They wor-
SHIPPED her, all five, and held consulta-
tion. When the months end came they
told her that she need not go out to
tend the bankers children any more,
that she need do no work at all, that III
she did not mond they would have to try
a doctor.
Pippette submitted after protest, be-
cause she assumed that 10 be cut off from
tyranny. She was double martyr for a
week, while her family and lover wor-
ried and wondered at the change in her.
When the doctor camera fussy, greasly-
haired ItaliaH--sAe teld him nothing for
her trouble, only sitting silent while he
he wisely shook his head and figured out
a pill. After he had gone away she wept
quietly for hours, refused to see Pietro,
and turned her head toward the tene-
ment's wall when her mother spoke TO
her.
The next morning, after a night which
was most miserable for every one con-
cerned, she declared her intention of go
ing to see the bankers wife. There was
some demur, but she was most deter
mined, and finally tramped sullenly away,
leaving behind her five ofthe most thor
oughly puzzled Italians in New York.
Pietro almost wept. Her mother was in
acute distress. Her father swore softly I'm
his native tongue, but not at her. Pie
tro's parents called ardently upon the
Holy Virgin to witnes that the girl had
been bewitched.
When Pippette found the bankers wife
she poured out her woe.
"But il you do not want to marry the
young man, simply do not marry him."
advised that Americanized signora.
"Oh, alas! but 1t is that they Will force
me toll" exclaimed Pippette, with de-
spair, which she had really learned to
feel as an actress felt her part. ga
thousand million tortures win they in
fiict upon me IL thwart their wills of
front" She had succeeded in bringing
herself to believe that she was terribly
abused.
"Torture you'll" remarked the progress
sive bankers wife, staccato. 'FTorture
you'll Not in America can they do that
Not here! Col Defy them! Should they
still demand your marriage to this beast"
the bankers wife, full of romance,
had coniured up in her mind a bumped
backed and squint-eyed Pietro with leer
"should they still demand your mar
riage to this beast, defy them again and
then send for me. ~
"But how can j send for your" sobbed