Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-03
a Romance.

Ak 1lo1Ll AAkoos
Old Paulo Serati sat beneath the tree
In his front yard during the long sum-
mer day and listened to Angela Argent
read to him. She lived on another
street, but she was firm friend of old
Paulo, and there was not 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 and laugh, showing two rows of
pearly white teeth.
"You are already married" she
would retort, and his wife would often
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, land l don't believe there is
one your equal in Milan. l like you
so we'll my lass. that / am anxious to
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 do
not seem to realize that they ;s.e living
and that l am very happy with them"
Il know" said Paulo, "but l don't
think that they can think more of you
than / do. Why, I've known you since
you were a little baby lying in your
mothers arms and cooling whenever 1
came near you"
eve are good friends" she would
say.
THAT we are" he would answer,
and times when you don't come when
/ expect you, l realize how dear you
are to us. Neither wife nor | thinks
that the morning or afternoon is per-
feet If you don't come in to see us.
Your father told me the other day that
i would spoil you; that you had begun
to have ideas of marriage, as l spoke
about a few minutes ago."
There is no one l know Of she an
swered.
There are so many young fellows
around here who would like to marry
you, that l know" he answered.
81 don't love them" she would say,
with shake of her head. THE man
l marry must have my love-"
That's right, Angela" he said, "you
must marry for love and not for
wealth, but still you must be sure that
your husband can support you"
"Oh, l 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, al
ways the bluest in Italy.
They were occupied with their own
thoughts, and once she suddenly ask
ed him:
How is Martinez
"He is WE'LL" answered Paulo. "He is
In st. Louis in far-away America"
The two sat for several seconds, and
then he said:
"He is good son. Yes, he's a good
son." he. repeated.
The girl looked at him and nodded
assent.
Eyes he is good-and handsome" she
added, for she had seen his photo
graph, though she had never seen him.
Then she sang a few lines of love
song and. as II suddenly reco:iecting
herself, stopped abruptly She war
blushing and an odd light was in her
eyes when she picked Up the book and
resumed her reading.
The old man looked st her a moment.
She was conscious of his scrutiny, and
held the book up in front of her face.
He noticed that her little hands :rcm-
blod.
Then he NODDED his head and laugh
ed and chuckled to himself. ne thought
that he had learned something that
perhaps even she did not know.
MARITIME Serati had prosepered in
America. He was a poor but hard
working Italian lad when he came to
this country. His knowledge OF the
language was limited, but he started in
to learn the American ways and the
American language.
at is SLOW" he said to one of his
friends once, "but l will learn after
awhile. Others have had to learn and
so will l."
you must marry an American girl.
Then you will always have someone
to talk to you in the language" replied
his friend.
II will become native of this coun-
try" MARITIME responded, but I will
marry an Italian girl. I don't know
who IL will be-" he FASTENED to add,
"for I don't intend to marry until