The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-29
OUILA.


Antonio Malatesta rented lodgings to
Fhlllipe Considine and his wife, Guila, down
on the east side. near Grand street, in New
York.
The Considines had not been long in this
country. and were very poor. PHILIPPE was
a fruit vendor, and was out all day with his
cart. while Guila stayed to keep house.
The young wife was very pretty. The
lines Of her graceful figure were not con-
caaled by the coarse clothing, and her
curves were such that artists rave over.
Her hair was the rich. glossy black char
acteristic of her countrywomen, and she
always wore 1t In a knot Of bright ribbon.
arranged cOQuettishly as only she knew how
to do it. Her cheeks were as rosy as an
apple on Phillipe's cart. and her tempting
lips revealed two rows Of perfect teeth
when she smiled. Her black eyes were very
bright. and she had a way OF using them
that set Antonio Malatesta's heart to beat
ing every time he saw her.
Somehow he managed to see her very
often. He had a fruit store under the
lodgings, and many times a day he left it
in care of a boy and went up stairs on some
pretext that he might chat with pretty
Guila. She could read the admiration in his
eyes, and tossed her head coluettish!y. and
her black eyes danced in a way most cap
tivating to Antonio.
She was very lonely. PHILIPPE was gone
all day-she was a stranger IN a strange
land. where the language of the people made
1t impossible for her to talk to many, and
his visits were welcome.
What harm? She could not always be
alone. she would die. So Guila firted, and
Antonio loved her to distraction. while
poor PHILIPPE went out in all sorts Of
weather to earn a livelihood.
Business with him was not very brisk.
He bought a quantity of bananas cheap, but
did not sell them fast enough and they
spoiled on his hands. In-luck seemed to pur-
sue him, and he could not make enough
to buy sufficient food. He cared not for
himself so much. but there was Guila. He
went without his dinner that she might
have a knot Of ribbon in her hair. His coat
was thin and worn ana gave very little
protection from the wind and rain, but
/ Guila must have food that she would not
lose her roses, and PHILIPPE could not buy
an oil-clOth coat for himself.
Guila did not know Of the sacrifices Phil
iipe was making for her sake-she was too
busy flirting with Antonio. She took all he
gave without inquiring how he Jared him.
self-and he gave all he could gladly, for
very love OF her.
Antonio was better off in worldly goods
than poor PHILIPPE. He owned a store that
paid him well, and had money in the bank.
| He told Guila how beautiful she was, what
eyes, what hair, what lips! You should be
clad in silks and satins, instead of these
coarse clothes that PHILIPPE gives you. Yet
| how beautiful you are! If you had the fine
robes and jewels to bedeck va .self, what
would you not be? Come, let us go to the
store, and you must put them on and see
| for yourself"
ION, no. Antonio. 1 must not. PHILIPPE
would not like it,"
Mot like to see his wife in pretty clothes?
Not like his wife to receive handsome
presents? A queer man, he! In this cOun-
try those things are done every day. and
the husbands are proud and pleased to have
their wives receive attention"
But. Antonio, he might get jealous. and
tnen he would kill YOU" This last she said
in a whisper filled with alarm.
"Anc would you carer" he asked ten
derby.
"Oh, Antonio, yes; you know I would"
How much?' he urged.
"A great DEAL"
"If 1 thought you cared. my Guila, I
would not wish to die. So, come, let us get
the finery, and we will not show it to Phil
lipe. You must dress yourself for me alone,
and let me look at YOU"
They went to the stores and Guila
reveled in the sight of silks, satins, laces
and ribbons as she never had in all her
life. She looked and admired, as if in a
dream, and when Antonio said, "We'll take
this, and this, and that" she fairly caught
her breath, for such fine things were for
her.
AZ OSOo WCIC 0AlAIlll ~
and Antonio looked at her with such I'M
disguised love that the clerks were much
amused and thought they were a bridal
couple.
She tossed her head with proud little airs
that we'll became her, and when she tried
on a hat all filled with waving plumes the
SalesWoman said:
Your wife looks lovely in that; it is very
becoming"
Guila blushed rosy red and dropped it in
1 TQn1V hlf hiS QyoS CnOko tho uynrdS.
Nothing Is too fine for YOU
When they returned home Guila's heart
was filled with delight. for Antonio's praise
had made her vain and she hastened to ar
ray herself in all the fine things he had
bought.
When he was ready to come upstairs, and
her beauty made him more in love than
ever. He looked at her with his soul in his
eyes, and, coming nearer, put his arm
around her. She dropped her long. silken
lashes, but did not shrink from him and
he grew more bold.
"Ah, Guila, give me one kiss-you are so
lovely!'
She looked up shyly at him, then i'm
pulsively threw both arms around his neck,
and kissed once. and twice. and t~hrice-yes,
twenty times-for she thought him the
best man in the world to give her such
beautiful things.
"Oh, my love!" he said, as he held her
close. you should always be thus clothed.
You were made to look beautiful, not for
work. I will give you all these things, for I
have money In the bank, and we will fly to
another country, where PHILIPPE will not find
us. He does not love you as 1 do. Come
with me where life will be one happy dream
and we will be all In all to each other. VIII
your"
For answer she pressed her lips to his
and
Twelve dollars seemed a large sum to
PHILIPPE. and that was what he owed An
tonic for rent. He wondered why his land
lord did not press him more for the money
and thought he was a very kind friend.
But one day he said:
PHILIPPE, 1 must have my money"
Wait yet a little longer. Antonio; I can
not pay today"
Then you must give me some security"
Il have nothing but my fruit-cart," sighed
PHILIPPE. take that"
IF I take that you cannot earn a living.
You have something else."
"What?" asked PHILIPPE in surprise.
"Guila."
MY wife, my Guila! Why, man. are Won
mad? 1 love her better than my life"
"You know not the law in this country
as I do. 1 have been here several years
and l know 1t well. When a man cannot
pay, his wife can be taken in trust, and 1
will take Guila and keep her until you have
the money"
PHILIPPE fumed and ragged and said he did
not believe it. He would find out If An
tonic sp Ike the truth. And he went off to
learn the law
He came back triumphant and a glad light
| ShOne in his eyes, for he knew that An