The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-25
Rivals.


friends They shared the same garnet in
Mott street, and on Sundays they shared
| their holidays, as on week days they help
ed each other through the dirt and roar
and rattle of the Bowery.
One workday was much like the next
It was on holidays and Sundays that they
really lived. Then they put on their best
clothes, and each with a straw in his
mouth and mis- pipe in his coat pocket,
they left the city behind and got out into
the country.
Down on Staten Island a countryman
kept a little hotel where one might get
good spaghetti and chianto and a veal cut
let, Dreaded, with tomato sauce. for lit
tie or nothing. The hotel was called the
| White House. Here one might sit and
smoke his pipe and drink his wine and
watch the ships go out to sea The birds
sang in the tree tops, and the cool breezes
! danced on the waves, and Maria, the land
lords daughter. played softly on the gui-
tar and sang the old songs Of Italy.
Every Sunday in the summer time Gin
cenzo and Francisco joined the little
| colony of Italians down at the White
! House, but one day Vincenzo declared that
he could not go with his friend.
Francisco asked no questions. He went
! 10 Staten Island alone, and came back at
! night much displeased with the world in
general. Vincenzo did not come until late,
and his friend had no chance TO speak TO
him until the next afternoon.
Then it all came out. vincenzo was
young. you see, and-well. so was Tia
! Tia was girl. if you please. She had
| large black eyes, the complexion of a
| deep red rose. Her figure-Vincenzo
| threw up his hands and closed his eyes
| and drew in the corners of his mouth
| Words could not tell her charms.
| You shall see for yourself" he said to
! Francisco, and that night he took his
| comrade to call on her. The shoes were
not well shined the next day, and as for
Francisco, he ceased to pay much atten-
ton to the coats of his apples and the
cooking of his peanuts.
! Together the young men called on Tia
almost every night, and, though Vincenzo
had had the start of Francisco, the lat
| ter's heart was in a few days as tumultu-
Gus as his comrades
There could be but one ending to all of
this. Vincenzo awoke to the fact that
Francisco loved Tai, and Francisco was
shocked when he remembered that Vim
cenzo had loved her first.
Angry words were out Of the question
with Francisco and Vincenzo, but they
night that the truth dawned upon them,
and sat for a long time in silence.
We will go into the country again
on Sunday" said Francisco, land think
out some plan"
1t was agreed. and On Sunday, silently
and sorrowfully, they put on their best
clothes again, and in an hour or so sat
in front of their chianti and smoked their
pipes.
Well" said Francisco at last. what
is to be done?"
Vincenzo took his pipe out OF his mouth
and bowed his head.
There is but one thing to do he said
1--WE both love Tia. She can marry but
one of u.s."
You must ask her first. You loved her
first, my Vincenzo."
NO" cried Vincenzo, I'VE will leave it
to fate"
After awhile Francisco agreed to this
plan. So the young men found broken
threads in the tablecloth on the table in
front of them, and pulled at them until
the threads came out in their hands. Then
they measured them. Vincenzo's thread
was the longest. Fate had given him the
frs chance.
That week was the saddest six days in
the lives of the two young men. Ape
tite and sleep were out of the question for
them. Together the young men called on
Tia night after night, yet neither one
spoke of love to the girl. They had de-
cided to wait until Saturday night. Sun
day they would spend in the country, and
then-well, it would be time enough TO
decide then what to do.
Saturday night came only too soon and
Vincenzo dressed himself and prepared
-. Ia f.
young men embraced each other Then
Vincenzo went to call upon Tia, and
Francisco, in fear and trembling. remain
ed behind to wait the return Of his friend
and rival.
Vincenzo found Tia at home. and soon
he was pleading as if for life. and, as
a matter Of fact, his love, he thought then
life or death TO him.
Tia was a good-natured girl. She lis |
tened to all that the young man had to |
say; then she calmly told him that she |
could not marry him.
81 knew it," cried Vincenzo; IT was a |
fool for my pains"
you knew what?"
"Ah, never mind. But he is good man. |
I love him as 1 would my own brother. /
Farewell" and he dashed out into the /
street.
He went at once TO his garnet. and there |
he found Francisco his head bowed IN |
his hands. He touched him on the Shout
der.
Cheerful" he cried. she will marry
you"
Ne! But you?"
"She does not love me. knew It long
ago. But go. my friend. She waits for
YOU"
T-ro,o;-oo ,,,-L.5 s-.r, 49, r,.-, VII
cenzO stood irresolute for a moment
NO" he cried, after a while, II cannot
trust myself. must not be here when ne
comes back. ! VIII go now"
So he went out. and at the door Of the
house he left word with the Padrone
Angelo that he would meet Francisco in
the country the next day.
Then will be calm and viii be able
10 bear II all he sighed, and he went
to lodging house near by for the night.
The next day he felt better. He felt
quite brave as ne stepped from the train
II the station and struck out down the
road that led 70 the hotel AS he walked
along be thought Of all the happy days
hat ne and Francisco had passed together
Il the country. and he sighed when he
thought that now he would know them
10 more.
He reached the little clump Of trees that
sheltered the hotel. and suddenly his
heart stood still, for there a. the table
where they had in the old times sat so
)ften and laughed and ioked the hours
away, was Francisco HIS back was 20
lin. Vincenzo felt the hot blood IN his
brain, and for q moment he was gi5dy.
He went up 20 him and put his hand !
oadly on his shoulder. Francisco jump
d up and stood facing Eincenzo- Fran
,fs0o Toot-Ad M HAMMER than T:uceuzo