Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23
Continued.

social world and it's artificial con
straint, but with the loneliness ant
fresh radiance which nature gives tc
those of her cherished ones who dwell
with her in peace. l had seen many
exquisite W0men-Women of Junolike
form and face-Women whose eyes
were basilisks to draw and compel the
souls of men-but I had never seen
any SO spiritually fair as this little
peasant maiden, who stood fearlessly
yet modestly regarding me with the
innocent inquiry of child who sud-
denly sees something new, to which
it is unaccustomed. She was a little
fiuttered by my earnest gaze, and with
a pretty courtesy turned to descend
the hill. | said gently:
''You are going home, fauciulla
mfa?"
The kind protecting tone in which
spoke treasured her. She answered
readily:
Isl, signor My mother waits for
me to help her with the eccellenza's
dinner"
| advanced and took the little hand
that held the rosary.
What" l exclaimed, playfully, "do
you still work hard, little Lila, even
when the apple season is over?"
She laughed unsteady.
"Oh! | love work 1t is good for the
temper. People are so cross when
their hands are idle. And many are
Ill for the same reason. Yes, truly"
and she nodded her head with grave
IMPORTANCE, sit is often so. Old Pietro,
the cobbler, took to his bed when he
had no shoes to mend-yes; he sent
for the priest and said he would die,
not for want of money--oh, no! he has
plenty, he is quite rich-but because
he had nothing to do. SO my mother
and / found some shoes with holes,
and took them to him; he sat up in
bed to mend them, and now he is as
well as ever! And we are careful
to give him something always"
She laughed again, and again looked
grave,
Eyes, yesl" she said, with a wise
shake of her little glossy head, "one
cannot live without work. My mother
says that good women are never tired,
it is only wicked persons who are
lazy. And that reminds me l must
make haste to return and prepare the
eccellenza's coffee"
DO you make my coffee, little one?"
| asked, land does not Vincenzo help
your
The faintest suspicion of blush
tfnged her pretty cheeks.
"Oh, he is very good, Vincenzo," she
said, demurely, with downcast eyes;
"he Is what we call buon' AMIGO, yes,
indeed! But he is often glad when /
make coffee for him also; he likes it
muchi He says | do it so well! But
perhaps the eccellenza will prefer
VincenZo?"
| laughed. She was so naive, so alb
sorbed in her little duties-such a child
altogether
May. Lila, am proud to think you
sake anything for me. | shall enjoy
1t more now that l know what kind
hands have been at work. But you
must not spoil Vincenzo-you will
turn his head if you make his coffee
too often"
She looked surprised. She did not
understand Evidently to her mind
Vincenzo was nothing but a good
natured young fellow, whose palate
| could be pleased by her culinary skill;
she treated him, | dare say, exactly
as she would have treated one of her
own sex. She seemed to think over
my words, as one who considers a
conundrum, then she apparently gave
it up as hopeless, and shook her head
lightly as though dismissing the sub
ject.
will the eccellenza visit the Punto
d'Angelo?" she said, brightly, as she
turned to go.
| had never heard of this place, and
asked her to what she alluded.
1T is not far from here she ex-
planned, 1T is the view | spoke of be-
fore. Just little further up the hill
You will see a fiat gray rock, covered
with blue gentians. No one knows
how they grow-they are always there
blooming in summer and winter. Bul
it is said that one OF Gods own great
angels comes once in every month a.
midnight to bless the Monte Vergine
and that he stands on that rock. Ant
0 course wherever the angels tread
there are flowers, and no storm cal
destroy them-not even an avalanche
That is why the people call it tn,
Punto dAngelo. 1t will please you t
see 1t, 'eccellenza-it is but a wall
OF little ten minutes
And with a smile, and a courtesy a
pretty and as light as flower Nigh
make to the wind, she left me. hal
running, half dancing down the hill
and singing aloud for sheer happi
neSs and innocence OF heart. He
pure lark-like notes foated upward tt
ward me where | stood, wistfull
watching her as she disappeared. TIL
warm afternoon sunshine caught 1oy
ingly at her chestnut hair turning
to a golden bronze, and touched I'D tn
Whlteness of her throat and arm
and frightened the scarlet of he
bodice, as she descended the grass
slope, and was at last lost to m
view amid the foliage of the surround
ing trees.
CHAPTER xxx.