Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-24


cd and rode steadily to Domus Novas' the
mud village in which Deledda. lived
Cagliara or Casteddu, as It IS calied oy
the Sandman peasant for whom Il SUMS
I'm the oIories Of the world. was swarm
ing with people as Sara walked up the
Contrada Costa. his gun on his arm ana
SEQ francs in his pocket to buy the beads
for Bappicchia in the low leWe!er SHOPS
on either hand, the earrings ana neck
loees which she had described were pro-
fuselv displayed and. with them were eX-
hibited rows Of the big, double soid put-
tons with which the men hasten ther
shirts. and the sleeve buttons py whose
relative number the women the women
of the Campidano gauge each olher
wealth. The art of making the delicate
gold work crusted with designs OF minute
grains and called grana sarda, seems to
have been transmitted from the ancient
Pboepicians. and to be peculiar 10 Sardin-
ian jewelers..
Sairo had never been in Casteddu be-
fore. and he felt dazed by the people and
the magnifcenoe Of the steep. morrow
street but the Sard has an oriental aver
sion 10 showing any surprise or admira-
ton. so he chrred his baretta high and
stalked along as if he considered it all
dust off his shoes At the last jewelers.
he bowed his tall head and entered. The
merchant spread out his wares on the
counter and kept his assistant running
backward and forward, comparing the
size and workmanship of different beads
ard earrings. He also tried to entice
Sairo with some of the masculine buttons,
but here he found his customer supremacy
impassive. At the bare suggestion OF
ornaments for himself little Nureddu's
great. sad eyes rose before him full Of per-
picking grief.
AZ last the broad. long pearl earrings
and the twenty big gold beads were Sc
lected, bargained over. and paid for, and
Salro left the shop with his head in the
clouds and the precious parcel fastened
under his velvet waistcoat. He felt as
though it was Beppicchia's little hand on
his heart and he already tasted the de-
light of fastening the necklace arAnd
her smooth throat. The sights of &as-
teddu were nothing to him at that mo-
mont. and he passed through the city with
unseeing eyes. He burned with impa-
thence to get back to Bepplcchia and have
her for his very own. Priest Mauro
should stipulate that the marriage should
he once. When he was clear Of the
iosa lis long stride broke into run.
With yes glued on the horizon he sped
along. unheeding the ground beneath his
feet. All at once he slipped and his legs
shot from under him.
Cursed fig skin" he CALCULATED. but
the words were drowned by a loud report.
The gun went off in his fall. discharginG
itself in his side. and he sank an uncon-
scious heap. in the middle Of the dusty,
deserted road.
Antonio Sairo came to HIS senses in the
accident ward of the Cagliari hospital.
He was all bandaged and swathed, and
by the side of his narrow iron bed, sat
a plain. gentle-faced nun.
Where is my parcel?" asked he short
y.
The young nun drew the soiled blood
stained box from the sleeves of her habit.
and laid it by his side. With trembling
fingers he pulled it open; the treasure
within lay there shining and safe. The
Sard looked up with gratitude TO the wo-
man bending over him. The care Of his
wound was little. but the safety of Bep-
piccha's jewels was much.
when can l go?" he asked more gent
".
THE doctor says Il win he three weeks
before you will be well enough to leave
the hospital"
His eyelids quivered. and then closed
over his fevered eyes. He was too weak
10 protest.
Antonio Sairo's first thought in the
morning and last thought at night was:
How Beppicchia will smile when | give
her the gold things" lie kept them jeal-
ously under his own hand caressirig the
little box or feasting his eyes on their
richness.
To spare Mari Luisa anxiety. Antonio
let Sister Orsola write her of his acct
dent but he begged with feverish inten-
sity that the earrings and necklace should
not be named.
1T is to he a surprise for little Beppei-
CHA" he said, over and over to himself.
and i'm spite Of his pain he was almost
happy. on the twentieth night. as he
pressed his hot brow to the fresh linen
pillow. he dreamed of Beppicchia, and he
awoke the next morning with a smile on
his lips.
Though late in November. the air was
still balmy. and Sister Orsola had thrown
open the windows to let in a food Of
early sunshine. one bright ray fell on
the stand al his side and there lay let
ter directed to him in Priest Mauro's hand.
He broke It open eagerly. lie knew it was
written at Mari Luisa's dictation. but
surely there would be a little message
from Beppicchia. Slowly he spelled IL
out, being better horseman than clerk:
Brother of Mine-MadOnna be praised.
thou ddst not kill myself / have put
two candles on the shrine Of st. Gavino.
They come out OF the pack thou hadst be-
hind the wheat mill Priest Mauro writes
this and salutes theeI also salute thee
and likewise Mari Angela does the same.
l salute that good soul Of Sister Orsola
who wrote the letter. Why dldst thou
sell Nureddu? Deledda took the poor beast
up to the Nebida mine, and at the turn
of the road the poor thing slipped over
the cliff. Deledda was caught by the
bushes and scrambled up again. but Nj
reddu went down into the sea. Deledda
has made the demanda for Beppicchia Pin
tus. and they are TO be married as soon as
the publications are made Mari Angela
says he has inherited a lot of money, but
one hears so many things.
Mari Angela sends her salutations and
so do mine
Il declare myself your obedient sister.
MARIA LUISA SAIRO."
by the hand Of Priest Mauro."
a bitter cry of keen agony rang through
the ward.