The herald., 1897-10-24

to expect Diadamie sometime early in
July, and thereafter once, twice, or
perhaps three times a week.
Diadamie's approach to the village
was across the creek through covered
bridge, which brought her suddenly to
the foot of the main and only street
She carried a large basket upon her
head, and as she emerged from the
bridge her clear mellow voice rang out
upon the summer air,-"Old Diadanie,
-kell-berries. This call was re-
peated from door to door, until the last
of the little shining berries We're dis
posed of. Then Diadamie would make
some small purchases at the village
store, always including a stick or two
of bright red and white striped candy
after which she walked out across the
stretch of level road and disappeared
in the shadow of the mountain.
Why she called herself "Old Dada
mie" was a mystery. Her figure was
straight and slim, and she walked with
a quick, firm step which does not be-
long to age. Her eyes were blue, but
of so dark shade as to be easily mis-
taken for black. Her hair was deep
black, with strong tendency to curl
and pins in her effort to subdue it. Her
mouth was large and strong, and when
she laughed she showed that every
tooth was of amazing whiteness and
perfection. Diadamie wore a dress of
indigo blue calico, with sun bonnet
of the same material. She was always
scrupulously clean and neat.
Diadamie's house was little more
m h,,i1 of ND
had but one room; it was situated upon
the top Of the mountain, hemmed in
and sheltered by the dense forest. But
Diadamie did not live quite alone. No,
she had Tietro-Tietro, who knew her
only as Nanan. Walled in by huge
drifts of snow, the winters were drear
enough to this strange pair. When
summer came, and Diadamie was
obliged to spade and plant her garden,
and later to go on long walks gather
Ing berries, and afterwards to tramp to
the village to dispose of them, the days
were long and lonely for Tietro. 1t was
then in the silence of the mountain
that little Tietro's brain was full of
imaginings that caused him to ask
many bewildering questions Of Diada-
mie upon her return.
IleLrO SAT dill uay lOIlS just as Dld-
damie had placed him in the rudely
constructed chair, which was high
enough to enable him to look out of the
window. There was a rest for the long,
thin, useless limbs, and cushion for
the misshapen back. For hours Tietro
would sit listening to the wind in the
trees, and watching the patches of sun
light upon the soft green moss. Now
and then grey squirrel would run up
and down the trees; but no sound from
the outside would ever reach Tietro's
ears. He had never seen living being
but Diadamie. Tietro's arms were long
and thin like his lower limbs, but they
were not so limp. He could use his
hands and arms, but he had never
walked step. Diadamie always
dressed him in long loose gown, gath
cred in full about his slender little neck
so that the folds would fall over his
poor shapeless body and cover his de-
formity. Likewise she had let his yell
low hair grow long, and trained it to
fall In soft, loose curls over his shoul-
ders, reaching far down below where
he should have had waist. Tietro's
face was always white, and his eyes
were as large and blue as the speedwell
flower.
Diadamie had returned from her first
trip to the village. She stopped down
and kissed Tietros cheek, then stepped
back and with her hands behind her
bade him guess what she had brought
him.