The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-14

might have been. Ola Maria came out
from her kitchen just then, with q
clean dish for my grapes. and said no
more, but paid Pnollna and sent her on.
Maria was always ready TO be Cross
with her now-firBt, because Of the lost
marriage fee, though that was no fault
Of poor little Paolina-and secondly, be-
cause / would never let her beat down
Paollna's price, and bargain was al
most as good as a gossip to Maria.
After that every morning ash turned
over her fruit I chatted with little PaO-
lima, telling her the news Of our side Of
the bay, and especially by latest Inn
presslons concerning the health OF my
friend 'CenEini Of the Green Boat.
Il Is one Of my many failings 70 chat
ter OF what 10 interesting me at the mo-
ment, without any particular regard
ed that when 'Cenzinl had threatened to
have a bad night, would even stroll
around In the early morning to know
how he had Jared. Then. naturally, my
mind would tend stlll to be full Of the
matter when came back for my fruit
and my breakfast, and little Pnollna
heard what there was to hear.
The year was drifting on, and flow
eTs, never SO very plentiful In that
place, were getting scarce. But still
got some occasionally with my fruit.
and they were none the rarer when /
happened to say that a rose or two
went TO 'CenElni OF the Green Boat.
There came time just before the
breaking up Of the hot weather. when
'cenElni suddenly seemed to wonder
In feeble, falnt-hearted way what he
had been fighting for, and to drift,
weakly careless. toward the Great
Shadow. The little black-eyed doctor,
who had walked a London hospital and
loved to talk Of England with me, grew
graver than ever, and peered anxiously
at him through gold-rimmed spectacles,
without seeming to see anything very
satisfactory. and shrugged his Shout
ders dlscontentedly when we got OUT
side the room.
That night the strong tramontnna
wind arose, bringing great waves roll.
Ing into the harb0r, and tossing little
Pa6lina'S skirts about her as she came
round the corner past my door in the
short twilight.
She fingered with a pretense Of Of
Eering to SELL though there was little
in her basket, and nothing there could
"Buona sera. Paollna," said. with
q clumsy attempt at cheerfulness. This
Is q good wind, q fine wind. II Will
blow all sickness out Of the Island, this
strong wind. It Will blow fresh life
into all Of u.s."
1T is Just in time to blow It out Of
some. slgnor." said Benigno. the pilot,
passing by, with his eyes turned to the
open sea. 'CenzInl of the Green Boat
will go tonight. His anchor Is un
Dom Pedro the Jesuit has been SEEING
him, and said he would go, but that
he calls calls for something or some
one that he will not give name To-.
wind, and 'cenzlnI Is a boatman. He
viii hear. 1t and his soul will 20 out
on It before morning"
There was a gasping cry, and a
shadow fitted from my side and was
"Who was that?" asked BenIgno.
whirllng round from his survey Of the
white water.
who inows?" answered Grossly.
and, having lost my temper, turned and
entered the house. slamming the door
after me, and having no answer for old
Maria, who shuHled out OF the kitchen
to know what was the matter.
went to my bed early that night.
but could not sleep. although 1t was
80 much cooler. The wind rose and
blew straight In at the harbor-mouth.
bringing great rollers that pounded the
rocks under my window, and then flew
UP in spray to spatter upon the glass.
The sen moaned restlessly In the dark
ness and the wind shook my balcony
and made wild cries along the bastlon.
/ lay and thought of 'Cenzini. and won
dered whether the bontman's soul was
on the wing When dropped of into
a doze at last woke again with q
start, and jumped up in my bed. think
ing that heard voice at my window.
But there was nothing to be heard be-
sides the wind and the sea, and nothing
TO be seen. so fell asleep again and
did not wake up until dawn.
The light that stole In between the
bars OF my green window shutters was
enough for me to see my watch by, and
decide that / could not yet go and ask
for 'CenzIni No one would be about
yet, but It was never too early To swim.
The wind had died down. the sea SUI
called to me from below the bastion, and
l slipped down the shadOwy stairs In
answer to Its voice.
There was point Of rock that rose
almost to the level OF the bastion. sheer
from the deep water 1t waA there that
loved to take my plunge. rushing down
from the hot sun, with the air whIsting
about me. suddenly to cleave the cool-
ness and clear green depths.
There climbed now. and stood draw
Ing deep breaths that ] might be able to
float up again lazlly, and slowly. with
out movement
that would not stay more than few
minutes longer. At such times nurs-
cd the childish fancy that the water was
still given over to the night and the
creatures OF the night: and TINT !,
shooting into It Unforeseen, might
chance upon deep secrets. Now, rock
ing at the waters edge. great wrcnths
Of foam still cleaned. born OF the wind
and sea. One. far below me. took FAM
tastIc shapes and seemed to fling out
beckonlng white arm as watched It.
Then, suddenly. the sun came out to
show me what It was. ] drew q long
shuddetlng breath and swung down.
through the air, to clutch md drag
ashore the poor pale body Of little Pa
ollna.
There was a cave near, and there 1
left her, while swan with quick
strokes and short sobbing gaspS to
fetch the green boat from It's mornings.
had seen death before. and knew that
no one could bring back little PaOlinu.
My only thought was to get her across
the bay before any one else came TO
wonder and talk. SO presently, before
the world awake. the green boat stole
over the water with something lying
covered and disguised in It. from which
/ could hardly take my eyes m / row.
cd. But added to my cargo before
/ had gone far: for came across bum
die Of Godden girls clothes. In which
poor little Paollna was reverently, y