Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-06

was always the same, ana he gave il
/ IN every possible infection and variety
OF tone, from grave to gay. from
pleading to pathetic
che bella cosa e de morire acciso.
Nnanze Ia porta de la nnamorata!'
meaning literally How beautiful q
thing to die, suddenly slain at the door
Of ones beloved"
lhere was no sense in the thing. |
thought hall angrily-it was a stupid
sentiment altogether. Yet I could not
help smiling at the ragged. barefooted
rascal who sung it; he seemed to feel
such a gratlfcatlon in repeating it.
and he rolled his black eyes with love-
lorn Intensity, and breathed forth
signs that sounded through his music
with quite touching earnestness. Of
course he was only following the man
ner of all Neapolitans, namely. acting
! his song; they all do it, and cannot
help themselves. But this boy had a
peculiarly rougish wry of pausing and
crying forth plaintive "Ah!" before
he added "Che bella cosa," etc.. which
gave point and piquancy to his absurd
dltty. He was evidently brimful of
| mischief-his expression betokened il;
no doubt he was one of the most thor
cugh little scamps that ever played at
'mOrra," but there was a charm about
his handsome dirty face and unkempt
hair, and | watched him amusedIv,
glad to be distracted for a few min
utes from the tired inner workings OF
my own unhappy thoughts. In time
to come, so I unused, this very boy
might learn to set his son about the
beloved to a stern6f- key, and might
lind it meet, not to be slain himself,
but to Stay her! Such a thing-in
Naples-Was more than probable. By
and by the dance ceased, ana [ recog-
n1zed in one Of the breathless, laugh
ing sailors my old acquaintance Andrea
Luzlanl, with whom | had sailed to
Palermo. The sight Of him relieved
me from a difficulty which had puzzled
ME for some days, and as soon as the
little groups Of men and women had
partially dispersed, [ walked up to him |!
and touched him on the shoulder. He
started, looked round surprised, and |
did not appear to recognize me- | re-
membered that when he had seen me |
had not grown a beard, neither had I !
worn dark spectacles. I recalled my
name to him; his face cleared and he !
smiled.
"Ah! buon giorno, ecce1lenza!" he |
cried. ga thousand pardons that I did |
not at first know you! Often have I |
thought Of you! often have I heard |
your name-ah! what a name! Rich, |
great, generOus!-ah! what glad life! |
And on the point of marrying-ah, |
Dioi love makes all the troubles go
sol" and taking his cigar from his |
mouth, he putfed a ring of pale smoke !
nto the air and laughed gayly. Then
suddenly lifting his cap from his clus-
tering black hair, he added, Cali joy
be with you, eccellenza!"
| smiled and thanked him. I no. |
t.ced he looked at me curiously.
You think l have changed in ap-
pe2rance, my friend?' | said.
The Sicilian looked embarrassed.
"Ebbene! we must all change" he !
answered, lightly, evaning my glance. !
L
little bit of youth away with it. One
grows old without knowing it,"
| laughed.
Il see," [ observed. You think 1
have aged somewhat since you saw
me?"
"A little, eccellenza," he frankly !
confessed.
L have suffered severe Illness" i |
said, quietly, land my eyes are still !
weak, as you perceive" and l touched
my glasses. But l shall get stronger
in time. Can you come with me for a
few moments? l want your help in a
matter of Importance"
He nodded a READY assent and fol-
lowed me.