Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-09-26
CHAPTER rvIu-,continues)

Ell
I took up my abode in a quiet almost
numbie lodging. living simply. and at
tended oniy by yineenze. l was tired
of the ostentation | had been forced
CO practice in Naples in order 10 attain
my ends, and tx was a relief TO me 10
xse for a time as though l were A poor
xuzr- The house In which i found
soosns that suited me was a rambling
" built. picturesque little place, sltu-
aUed on the outskirts of the town, and
The woman who owned il was, in her
way. a character. She was a Roman,
abe told me, with pride flashing in her
black eyes-I could guess that at once
ny her strongly marked features. her
u~saSnincently moulded figure and her
free. firm tread-that step which is
ewift without being hasty. which is
she manner born OF Rome. She told
me her story In q few words, with
such eloquent gestures. that she seem
cd 10 live through IL again as she
spoke; her husband had been n work
or In a marble quarry; one OF his fell
lows had let a huge piece Of the rock
TALL on him. and he was crushed TO
de&fh-
And well do I know" she said,
shat ne killed my Tonic ~purpcsely,
Tor ne would have loved me had he
dared. But I am a common woman,
see you, and IL seems to me one can
not lie. And when my loves poor body
wss scarce covered in the earth that
miserable one-the murderer-came to
me; he offered marriage. l accused
him of his crime: he denied II. BE
said the rock slipped from bis hands,
he know not how. l struck hin on the
mouth and babe him leave my sight
and take my curse with him. He is
dead now; and surely IL the saints
have heard me his soul is not in
Aeaven!'
Thus she spoke with flashing eyes
and purposefui energy, while with her
strong brown arms she threw open the
wide easement of the sitting room /
lad taken. and babe me view her or
.eaard. IL was a fresh, green strip OF
veriure and foliage, about eight acres
of good laud. planted entirely with
apple trees.
Eyes. truly" she said, showing her
white teeth In a pleased smile. al |
made the admiring remark she expect
ed. "Aveilino has long had a name
FOR Its apples; but thanks TO the Holy
Mother, l think in the season there is
mo fruit In all the neighborhood finer
than mine. The produce of it brings
uss almost enough TO live upon; that
ard the house, when l can ind sig
nori willing TO dwell with me, But
few strangers come hither; sometimes
an artist. sometimes a poet. Such as
these are Dor tired OF gaiety. and are
glad TO rest. To common persons l
would not open my door. Not for
pride: ah. no; but when Z has q girl
IN cannot be tco careful"
Q You have a daughter. them
Her fierce Tses softened.
-One-my lila / cab her my bless
Ing. and too good for me. Often l
fancy that it is because she tends
them that the trees bear so well. and
the apples are so sound and sweet
And when she drives the load OF fruit
20 market. and sits so smilingly be-
hind the team. IL seems 10 me that her
Tery face brings luck TO the sale"
I smiled at the mothers enthusiasm.
and sighed I had no fair faiths left;
I could not even believe in Lila. Ny
sia7dlady. Signora Monti, rs she was
called. saw that I looked fatigued. and
left me 10 myself, AID during my stay
Y saw very little of her, yincenZo con-
stituring himself my ~maior-iomo. or
rather becoming for my sake a sort OF
amiable slave. always looking 20 the
smallest details of my comfort and
studying my wishes with an anxious
xlicjtude that touched while il graft,
fed me. l had been fully three days
In my retreat before he ventured 10
enter upon any conversation with me
for he had observed thst | always
sought 60 be alone. that took loag
solitary rambles through the woods
and across the hills: and, ~ daring
TO break through nv taciturnity. hi
had contented himself hy merely AT
tending TO my material comforts in
silence. One afternoon. however, after
luncheon. he fingered in the room.
~The excelleuza has not yet SeeT
T4Aia Mentig- he asked hesitatincly.
1 looked at him In some surprise
M hds