Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-09-20
A FAIR DIVISION.

y
general, and but for Pietro Gozzolli
the keeper of the wineshop might have
lowered his blinds and pulled his door
to.
The fishing along the Naples coast
had been bad for many weeks, and in
Basnio every man is fisherman and
every woman a fisherman wife OF
daughter. And SO the poverty was
great, and Pietro was the only man
who still smoked daily handful OF
cigarettes and still sat regularly in the
wineshop.
He had been to England, and had
come back with fortune, and was in
dependent of the vagaries of the fish and
the weather. "Ah," sighed the vii
layers, as they placed their hands in
their empty pockets, "what lucky man
is Pietro, and what rich place that
England must be!''
One day in the early spring, the news
went about that this man Of fortune was
grown Unsuitable, and was going away
again to make more music for the for
eigners and to get yet more francesconl.
And every fisherman was sick with envy
that he, too, could not leave the barren
harbor and go to the northern Ell Do
RADIO. But Pietro Gozzolli alone was
possessed Of the great sum that was
wanted to pay the steamboat people and
to hire the organ.
And who would he take with him
Which of the dark eyed village beauties
would he invite to be his companion
and to share his gains? Many were the
longing looks thrown to him and many
the prayers whispered to the saints by
pretty ones whose fancy saw countless
bright ribbons and sashes, the posses
sions of her who should be chosen.
a day or two more, and it was known
that Tessa Puncia was the happy girl
destined to be raised to opulence; and,
early one morning, she and Pietro left
Basnio for the long, dusty walk to
Naples. And the next day they were
standing Oh the deck of the steamer,
watching the shore line die out as the
sea grew deeper and bluer.
During the voyage he taught her the
words of English he remembered and
talked to her about the life in London
how that they were to work very hard
and spend very little, that they might
have much to take home with them. An6
she. still glad that she had found grace
in his sight, smiled agreement to every
thing.
A week after they had walked out o.
Basino, beautiful even in its poverty
they were citizens Of the Italian colony
in London, making music about the
streets during the days and passing the
nights in a garnet in an evil smelling
court at the back of Saffron Hill.
Pietro was the musician, and houl
after hour for many hours he toiled a
the organ handle, now with left hand
and now with right. Tessa carried thu
tray for the offerings of the passersby
and as she was pretty and begged with
charming smile, her apron pockets
were usually heavy with copper coil
when the evening and the time to re
turn home came.
Then Pietro relieved her Of thu
weight, and counted out the pence ant
took them to some shop near by an(
changed them for silver. When ther,
was enough of silver, it was parted witt
for gold, and something WAS added t.
the little pile of savings.
These savings were kept in a tin box
hidden under a loose board in the cor
ner of the room. Not a very good treas
ure chest, but Pietro did not understand
the English banking system, and Their
was no one i'll Basnio rich enough Il
send money to for safe keeping.
Three years went by, and the yellow
hoard was SO increased that Tessa S eye
shone and her fancy wandered as Pietr
counted and recounted it in the even
ings.
"Sha1l we not go home to Basni'
now?" she said as once she watched
him. "Have we not enoHgh'''
"No, not quite enough. We will stay
this summer and go back when the
foggy days come. %
iOf course this was spoken in musica
italian, but have brought it into Eng
lish for the benefit of the one Or TIVE
stand.
Tessa pouted a little at the reply
and consoled herself by going out tx
talk to Fillipo.
Fillipo was native of Sardinia w,ls
had lately come to London to enter tn
profession of ice cream merchant. Blu
although it was early summer, the day
were rather cold than hot, and Their
was no demand for ices, either lemon
or raspberry, and f'illipo was driftin:
toward bankruptcy.
His rent was owing and his barrow
mortgaged, and he wept as he told Tess;
of another unsuccessful day. And sh,
wept too. An exceedingly foolish thing
for she had known Fillipo only month
and Pietro, whom she had known TO
years, had told her that he did not ik'
the young adventurer in ice cream ane
that she ME- not talk with him.
Nevertheless she syspt, and told him
how sorry she was. And as the pity
grew in her, she thought how mucf
Better looking he was than Pietro, ant
how tired she syas Of the streets, aut
how she longed to see the blue sea anG
SKY again. Wonld Pietro give her {
share Of the savings and let her go?
But no, that would not be enough foi
two. Oh, why was not Pietro Fillipo
and Fillipo Pietro?
How handsome he was, and he was
but boy, and Pistro was more than 40.
She spoke her thoughts, and hope
game to Fillipo's face, and he took hel
hand and began long, eager whisper
ing. And at that moment Pietro CHANGED
to pass, and saw them, and hesitated
for a step or two, and scowled and
went on. They were earnest III their
whisperings and did not see his coming
and his going.
iHEomorrow then, Tessa, " said Fill
20, "Hand together to my people, He
will not know, and cannot follow
F'Yes, tomorrow" And she returned
his kiss and went back to Pietro.
The next morning Pietro was nnssgsell.
Nothing serious, he said; his head
ached little, and he was tired and
needed rest. He would stay at home
Hntil the evening, and would then go to
Cazzio's and play dominoas as usual,
and be all right again in the morning.
So 4J,at dow Toee,o 7,,7cl,o1 tho r,,r,,,