Evening star., 1895-06-01
romance as the bankers wife had read in


books
But Pietro's gloom, lit by flashes of hot
anger as often as 1t was by throes Of great
grief. was better. She enjoyed 1t. 1t made
her feel most important.
1t was while she was alone with him,
after her parents and his had gone, that
he sat smoking his pipe of gloom and bad
tobacco, suffering keenly, while she smiled
and made a bed with heart as happy in
Its sensational triumph over difficulty
which she had created but to overcome,
as her fingers were deft.
For half an hour this was most delicious.
The hated lover sat and alternately cursed
and pleaded, while she, safe in the knowl-
edge Of the alderman and the mayor and
and the navy, scorned him and refused to
permit him to even so much as touch her
hand. 1t would have been a little pleas
anter II he had fiercely rushed upon her
for help. and it was a little hard to keep
the sorrowful faces Of her parents out Of
her mind, but she made the best of what
she had and enjoyed 1t all. She was eman-
cipated!
But presently Pietro changed his tone
in way which she had not calculated
upon. Majestically. he rose. and the plead
Ing in his face changed to scorn.
Very WELL" he declared. Every well.
Let what is be as 1t is. I go. There are
in the sea many good fish, of which Gre
fish Is but one fish. There are others than
you and of them I can catch. Adieu, Pip
lovely daughter, whose eyes are soft as
the depths of well, whose smile Is bright
as the skies of Naples and who has long
looked upon me out of the corners of her
eyes. Adieu! I gov's
Heavens, here was an impossibility come
true! While yet in dismayed discontinue
she was trying to contemplate it, Pietro
stalked away.
Pippette sat down, limp and nerveless.
She thought of that horrid grocer's daugh-
ter with disgust. Yet, yes, she had eyes
which some might think pretty, and she
was always smiling in order to show her
white teeth-the bold thing! But Pietro!
She had thought him to have more self
respect! He ought to be filed with shame.
| This was outrageous and incredible.
She had been sitting there five minutes,
| overwhelmed by this new turn. 1t was
not at all romantic. None of the bankers
| wfe's predictions had included such a
| contingency as this. And Pietro had look
| ed SO handsome he left the room!
She was aroused from her bitter reflec-
| tions by his return. Instantly she strug-
| gled to regain her lost ground.
''Oh, you have to me come back" she
| said promptly. well, return to your
daughter of the green grocer. 1 for you
| can find no usefulness in my heart. She
will rot have you; but go to her.
Pietro's brow was lowering. and his
height was masterful. She stopped he
| looked at her. for there was a command
| in his eye which she had never seen be-
fore
Enough! II is enough" he said slowly.
Keep silence while I speak. The gro
GERS daughter can wait. 1 speak, and l
wish to be answered and with truth. At
tendr'
This, too, was new, but 1t was interesting
and pleasant. There was tragedy in Pie
tro's tones, and Pippette was willing to
accept tragedy in lieu of romance, if only
Pietro would keep away from the grocers
daughter.
| . Il was about to leave this house." Pie
| ira continued impressively, but paused at
-dq fn aiorhI hI,nr
l was greeted with ridicule and laughter
by those who have heard the truth-the
truth that you, whom I have loved and
was to marry, had cast me from you and
called upon an alderman for protection
against me. Their sport cut me like knives,
but l said nothing, for it truth. But
then Luigi Rossi-he that lives in the tene-
n:ent In the rear-spoke up, and with leer-
ing laughter declared that he knew the
reason why, declared that it was because
you loved him, and had recently promised
to marry him, that you had cast me from
you" Piesro paused, and Pippette rejoiced
again Here was more romance after all
Oh! If Pietro and Luigi would only fight!
Would that not be glorious? What greater
distinction could come to a maiden than to
have two men fight over her. II did not
| kill him them Pietro continued, because
| l did not know whether or not he was
| lying. Now, 1 ask you if he was lying. II
| he was he shall die, or 1 shall die. We
| both have our stilettos, and they are ever
| ready. Whichever Is the worst fighter shall
| die. and that at once. But If he told the
| truth, then I shall not fight him. shall
go away and see you never any more. An
| swer. Did he lie?"
| Pippette was in her element again. This
was most delicious of all. The whole street
would talk about her. and tell about her
| beauty If these two handsome men fought
| over her. She answered quickly:
| 1T was not the truth he told. Luigi
| Rossi is a handsome man, and he is my
| friend and like him and may marry him
| But 1 have not promised to-
| Pietro's face grew darker. She had added
| venom to his rage by saying that she
| liked Luigi and might marry him. She
| made it maddening when she added:
| But would warn you not to fight him