Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-01-06

pict on his canvas-the one man of to-
day, who though born of the land OF
Opaque mists and rain burdened clouds
has, notwithstanding these disadvan-
tages, managed to partly endow his
brush with the exhaustless We
glow of the radiant Italian color.
watched the darce with a faint sense
of pleasure-it was full of so mucr
harmony and delcacy of rythm. The
!ad who thrummed the guitar broke
cut now ana then into sJng-a song
in dialect that fitted into the music OF
the dance as accurately as a rosebud
into its calyx. | could not distinguish
all the words he sung, but the refrain
was always the same, ana he gave il
in every possible infection and variety
OF tone, from grave to gay, from
pleading to pathetic.
i"Che bella cosa e de morire acciso,
Nnanze la porta de la nnamorata. !"
meaning literally How beautiful a
thing to die, suddenly slain at the door
of ones beloved"
There was no sense in the thing. |
thought half angrily--it was a stupid
sentiment altogether. Yet | could not
help smiling at the ragged, barefooted
rascal who sung it; he seemed to feel
such a qualification in repeating it,
and he rolled his black eyes with love-
| lorn Intensity, and breathed forth
signs that sounded through his music
wi binr
course he was only following the man
ner of all Neapolitans, namely acting
his song; they all do it, ana cannot
help themselves. But this boy had a
peculiarly rougish WY Of pausing and
crying forth plaintve "Ah!" before
he added "Che bella cosa," etc, which
gave point and pquancy to his absurd
ditty. He was evidently brimful of
mischief-his expression betokened it:
10 doubt he was one of the most thor
Cugh little scamps that ever played at
mora" but there was a charm -bout
hair, and | watched him amusedly,
glad to be distracted for few min
utes from the tired inner workings OF
my own unhappy thoughts. In time
to come, so | unused, this very boy
might learn to set his son about the
beloved to a sternSf key, and might
find it meet, not to lie slain himself,
but to Stay her! Such a thing-in
Naples-was more than probable. BY
and by the dance ceased, ana | recog-
nized in one Of the breathless, laugh
ing sailors my old Acquaintance Andrea
Luziani, 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 ana 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 ne had seen me
had not grown a beard, neither had ]
worn dark spectacles. | recalled my
name to him; his face cleared and he
smiled.
! All! buon giorno, eccellenza!" he
cried. "a thousand paTdons that | did
not at first know you! Often have |
thought of you often have | heard
your name-ah! what name Rich,
great, generous!-ah! what glad life
And on the point of marrying
Diol love makes all the troubles go
sol" and taking his cigar from his
mouth, he pulled ring of pale smoke
nto the air and laughed gayly. Then
suddenly lifting his cap from his clus-
tering black hair, he added, All JOY
be with you, eccellenza!"
smiled and thanked him. l no
ticed he looked at me curiously.
You think | have changed in ap-
pearance my friend?" / said.
The Sicilian looked embarrassed.
"Ebbene, we must all change" he
answered, lightly, evading my glance.
THE days pass on-each day takes a
little bit OF youth away with it. one
grows old without knowing it,"
laughed.
Il see" ! observed You think |
have aged somewhat since you saw
me?"
"A little, eccellenza,' he frankly
| confessed.
Il have suffered severe Illness" j
said, quietly, and my eyes are still
weak, as you perceive" and | touched
my glasses. But | shall get stronger
in time. Can you come with me for a
few moments? ! want your help in a
matter of Importance
He nodded ready assent and fol-
lowed me.
CHAPTER XXI.
f ,.a,,-,1