Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-10-03
CHATTER xxIx-tContinued.,


Truly I have" she replied with a
Wtstfui sadness; sbut / have prayed,
perhaps foolishly, that she would not
1eave me yet. l love her so well; h
= always a babe to me, so small and
sweet Iput the thought Of her mar
xi1g re from me as a sorrowful thing"
II understand your feeling" i said.
still, suppose your daughter welded
= man who would be to you as q son,
end who Houid not part her from you?
Ter instance, let us say Vincenzor'
Signon Mont smiled through her
ears.
~Vincenzo. He is a good lad, q very
good lad. and j love him; but he does
not think OF Lilli-he Ia devoted to the
0ccelsenza."
II am aware of his Devotion" ! an
owared. "Still, I believe you will find
cut soon that he loves your Lila at
Dresent he says nothing; he fears to
~9end you and alarm her; but his eyes
NpAak-So do hers. You are q good
woman. q good mother; watch them
4o<h, you will soon tell whether love
- between them or no. And see,"
A0re i handed her a sealed envelope,
in his you will find notes to the
amount Of 1000 francs" She uttered
. little cry Of amazement. cit Is Liilis
d0wry whoever h marries, though I
think she will marry VincenZo. Nay,
no thanks: money In of no value TO
me; and this is the one pleasure have
q for many weary months. Think
well OF yncenzo. he is an excellent
fellow. And all / ask OF you is that
you keep this little dowry a secret till
the day al your fair child's espousais."
Before I could prevent her the en-
&htlsiastic woman had seized my hand
and kissed it. Then she lifted her
head with the proud free-born dignity
~ q Roman matron; her broad bosom
heayed and her strong voice quiyered
with suppressed emotion.
II thank you, signor." size said sim
ply, for Liilfs sakei Not that my
little one needs more than her moth
cr's hands have toiled for, thanks be
90 II blessed saints who have had us
both in their keeping. But this is a
<pecial blessing of God sent through
your hands, ard ! houid be unworthy
81 all prosperity were l not grateful.
Kccellenza, pardon me. but my eyes
are quick to see that you have suffered
SORROW. Good actions Tighten grief.
We VIII pray for your happiness. Lilli
sad |, till the last breath leaves our
Ups Believe IT the Eame OF our bene-
tactor shall be lifted to the saints
oight and morning, and who knows
hut good may come Of it"
Y smiled family.
Good win come ii IL, my excellent
-slgnora, though l am all unworthy OF
your prayers Rather pray. and I
sighec heavily. ''for the dead, that
they may he loosed from their sins"
The good woman looked at ma with
= sort Of kindly pity mingled with
awe. then murmuring once more her
thanks and blessings, she left the
room. A fzw minutes afterward Vim
-ccnzo enterca addressed him cheer
fully
V~incelzo' prepare all for our depart
rure- We shall leave AvelIino the day
after to-morrow."
dOwncast, but Vincenzo seemed salts
fiei. and l felr from their faces and
IRON h mysterious smile OF Signora
Monti that all was going well. / left
ale beautiful mountain town with re-
Eret. knowing I should see 1t no more.
1 touched Liila's fair cheek lightly ct
49, th~ aLa booh az u AhtN was III
last look into the sweet candid face.
Yet the consciousness that I had done
some little good gave my tired heart a
Gense of satisfaction aud repose-a
Geeling had not experienced since /
Iied and rose again from the dead.
On the last day of January l -eturn-
"a to Naples. after an absence Of more
than a month, and was welcomed back
by all my numerous acquaintances
With enthusiasm. The Marquis D'.Ay-
co had Informed me rightly-the
3nair OF the duel was a thing II the
Iast. an almost forgotten circum-
stance. The carnival was in full riot:
the streets were scenes OF fantastic
risrth and reydry; there was music
q song, dancing and masquerading
and feasting. But I withdrew from
the tumult of inerriment and absorbed
nlyseif In the necessary preparations
xor-my marriage.
N4E4# -----~- ""rHHw g.