The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-27

the fatigue of the long journey. and
with agitation at the thought of the
meeting so near at hand. We fed him
with tea and sandwiches, and talked
ckeerfully to put courage into his sink
ing heart, but he was slow to respond
'Twenty-six years, signoIap' he kept
repeating. They have lived their
lives. Perhaps they will not care"
AS we drew near his destination Mic
colo looked into our faces with an APP
pool that moved us strangely. We, the
acquaintance OF a few hours, seemed
in reality nearer to him than the
dreamlike figures of wife and child.
He chung to us, dreading the thought
Of a separation and when the train
sh1ekened speed at the little country
station he bade us farewell in trem-
bling accents.
when you first spoke to me I
thought it was only right to warn you
of my past but l shall tell my wife
that after you knew l was a convict
you still spoke kindly to me-" His
voice Quivered. TT is not many pleas
ant things l have to tell her of these
twenty-six years.
A group of country people were
standing on the platform waiting the
arrival of the train, and no sooner had
ii drawn up than carriage doors were
stepped to the ground to stretch their
limbs after the long night journey. In
a moment all was hustle and confu-
sion, and Niccolo Cennini moved for
ward with uncertain footsteps, looking
anxiously to right and left.
priest in shabby black gown
marched to and fro; u group of work.
men talked and gesticulated in the fore
ground; and beside a pillar stood a
peasant woman, her arms hanging
slack by her side, a white hood fitting
closely over her head. Her back was
bent, and her face had the dried,
weather-beaten appearance of one who
has worked beneath a burning sun,
but the lips were set in lines of pa
tient sweetness, and the eyes had an
expression which Margaret and I were
quick to recognize.
During the months which we had
spent in Italy one of our favorite occu-
pations had been to watch the de-
meanor Of the peasant women in the
Virgins chapels of the dim cathedrals
They came in from street and market
laying their burdens on the ground
while they knelt In prayer before the
altar, and when their devotion was An
iShed they withdrew to "a short distance
to mediate with folded hands and eyes
cast down. The painted image of the
Virgin looked on them as they sat, and
~ 6CCAAAC0 dS IL SOIDE Ol DcT own SWEEP
serenity OF expression had passed into
the patient faces OF her worshippers
Margaret and / were good Protestants
but we felt many times that these Door
women could teach US q lesson, and
went away feeling ashamed of our sell
fish repinings.
This peasant woman cast a glance Of
kindly unconeern upon Niccolo as he
passed. and he looked at her, too, but
ONLY for q Of
tourists who had been blocking the way
moved suddenly to one side, and he
found himself standing face to facs
with young woman whose tall, finely
formed figure stood out conspicuously
among the crowd. She was a con.
tadina, but dressed In gala costume
with white bodice green skirt, and
large silver pins fastening the plaits
of her yellow hair. She carried a baby
a few months old in one arm, her head
was thrown back on her full, hand
some throat, and she scanned the win
dows Of the train with curious eyes.
She was too much engrossed in her
scrutiny to note the presence Of the
tall figure In the homespun suit, but
in our promenade along the platform
we were In full view Of Niccolo's face.
and could see that 1t was afiame with
joyful recognition. He clasped the girl
by the shoulder, calling out her name
IN trembling accents.
''Ninnai Ninnai Do you know me?
It is II have come backT'
The girl fell back a pace, and her
cheeks flushed. She stared biankly al
the gray head, the worn features, then
the dark eyes met hers, and told ths
truth to her heart.
'.PadreY' she cried loudly Padre
and her voice was full of joyful Ger.
tainty. In another moment they
would have been clasped in each others
arms, but even as she swayed toward
him the SRI checked herself with sud.