The evening times., 1896-07-23


weaithiest fruit and preserve dealers or
Little Italy, appeared at the clerks Office
In the City HalltOday and asked for mar
riage license, the hardship to Foreigners
under the new marriage law was again IL
lustrated. Franzoni has NOT yet been
naturaIized, and consequently. in the lan-
guage. OF The street gamins, he was .'trun
down.
He did not come alone for the license.
As he walked quickly up the terrace steps
infront of the city hall he was four or live
steps In advance OF a gfrt Whose face and
dress showed that She, too, was subject
OF Italy's king.
Behind the girl BUSTED and wheezed her
mother, who found 1t hard to Keep even
with her 80 years and almost 200 pounds
or flesh when 1T came to walking with a
maiden who was just about to get married.
Where lisa da man that giva da license
to marry" asked Franzoni or tie faithful
negro who guards the door to the office OF
the clerk OF the court. The negro pointed
the way inside as Franzoni moved on with
his financec at his heels. The mother came
painting along an instant later and wabbled
after her daughter.
HIS REQUEST.
Rosa and me wanta a license to geta
married." said FraDzoni, as Assistant Clerk
Smith reached for the license book.
Rosa, that was apparently her name,
moved close TO the left side OF her intended.
He was rather tail and had the stoop III his
shoulders, like all his neighbors down in
the Italian quarter. He was thirty years
old IL lie was day. He was not ugly, he
was not handsome. He wore good clothes,
but they fitted lily and We're not OF the
latest cut.
Rosa was small. The top of her head
would have no more than touched issieeve
had Franzoni stretched his left arm out as
they stood there. In face she was pretty.
Her eyes danced and sparkled, and she
showed pretty set Of teeth through d
smile, as she watched Mr.. Smith get the
license book. In stature she was ugly.
She had the slouchy-languid air Of SO
many OF her couDtryw omen.
Her mother moved to FranZoDi's right
as the three iised up. She wiped the
perspira ton from her forehead with red
handkerchief. and watched proceedings with
u halfanxious look.
~ sbu "hut "A ItthSST w sou. aShCo
Mr.. Smith, kindly. The three figures be-
fore him griuned.
How old is the young lady" be Con-
tinued.
1t took second for Franzoni to translate
the question and form an answer.
THE BRIDES AGE.
"she isa da fifteen years." he replied.
The girl looked no older
THAT is rigbta," interpos ed Rosa's
mother, and followed up with a semi
English jabbering about her birth in Sicily
and irer coming to America five years ago.
You are naturalized, SUPPOSE" said
Mr.. Smith. -........-
Franzoni looked puzzled. Rosa saw this
look and the smile faded from her face.
She moved closer to him, Her mother
looked attentive.
You have citizenship papers, repeated
Mr.. Smith
..ob, mona, mona; / gotta none. I want
to geta married." replied the Italian, fret
fully.
AIR. Smith then went on to explain to him
that under the new law foreigners could
not secure a license unless they were sup
ported by affidavits from the consul OF their
land. Franzoni looked half dazed. He, too,
had a red handkerchief. and he pulled it
out and wiped his brow. He could not under
stand it. and yet it must be true.
Something gave way in Rosa's throat
and a lump had TO be swallowed. A tear
watered either, eye to keep from rolling
down the cheek. She could not understand
it either. but she also knew something was
the matter.
What cana we do?'' asked her intended
as he turned dejectedly toward the clerk
again.
You must get an affidavit from your
consul" replied Mr.. Smith. ''or you might
go over to Baltimore o. Alexandria"
"Oh, we goa to Alexandria, to Alexan-
dria," calculated Franzonf. as light re-
turned to his face. The mother of the girl
talked very rapidly for bit in her native
language. and the trio started FOR the ferry
wharf