Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-10
A ROMANCE.
Chapter l..

mer day and listened to Angela Argen-
tt read to him. She lived on another
street, but she was a firm friend of old
Paulo, and there was not a day that
passed that she did not come and read
to him.
She was bright and pretty, with long
eyelashes and deep black eyes that
looked up into the old mans face, mir
roring the love she had for him in her
heart. There were times, too, when
she would tell him that it was not
necessary to read SO much, and then
she would sing some of the good, Old
fashioned tunes that he had sung when
he was boy on the farm.
Her laughter, too, used to Tighten up
the gloomy house, and old Paulo used
to say:
"Ah. my lass, you must get good
husband"
This always caused her to toss her
head, showing two rows of pearly
white teeth.
You are already married." she
would retort, and his wife would Of
ten join them in this good-natured
Joking
There is not a girl in all Italy any
prettier than YOU" old Paulo used to
tell her, "and I don't believe there is
one your equal in Milan l like you
SO we'll, my lass, that am anxious 10
have you marry some good man. The
good father was telling me just the
other day that l must look after
you"
But my own father and mother can
do that" she would answer You
don't seem to realize that they are
living and that am very happy with
them"
Il know, said Paulo, but 7 don't
think that they can think more of you
than I do. Why, I've known you
since you were a little baby lying in
your mothers arms and cooling when
ever l came near you
We are good friends" she would
say.
That we are" he would answer,
and times when you don't come when
I expect you, l realize how dear you
are to us. Neither wife nor | think
that the morning or the afternoon is
perfect if you don't come in to see US.
Your father told me the other
day that l would spoil you that
you had begun to have ideas of mar
riage, as I spoke about few minutes
ago"
There is no one l know off, she
answered. -
There are many young fellows
around here who would like to marry
you, that l know" he answered
Il don't love Them she would say,
with a shake of her head The man
I marry must have my love"
That's right. Angela he said, you
mus, marry for love and not for
wealth, but still you must be sure that
your husband can support YOU
'Oh, I WILL she replied.
Then she took up the book she was
reading aloud to him and went on,
while he lighted his pipe and sat look
ing at her. Sometimes when she read
for few minutes she would stop and
the two would sit perfectly still, look
ing up through the trees at the sky,
always the bluest in Italy.
They were occupied with their own
thoughts, and once she suddenly asked
him:
''How is Martinez"
'He is WE'LL" answered Paulo. "He
is in St. Louis in far-away America y
The two sat for several seconds. and
then he said:
Gle is good SON. Yes, he's a good
son." he repeated.
The girl looked at him and nodded
assent.
yes he is gcod-and handsome
she added, for she had seen his photo
graph, although she had never seen
him.
Then she sung a few lines of an old
love song and, as if suddenly recollect-
ing herself, stepped abruptly. She
was blushing, and an odd light was in
her eyes when she picked up the book
and resumed her reading.
The old man looked at her a NO.
ment. She was conscious of his scru.
tiny, and held book up in front Of
her face. He noticed that her little
hands trembled
Then he nodded his head and laugh.
ed and cnuckled to himself. He
thought that he had learned some
thing that perhaps even she did no
know.