The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-05-26

to turn round and look up. and then
stare at each other.
Good bye. Mammal sail Malta one
day not long after. M Y masters have
DISCHARGED me-.
Mamma did not reply. She had turned
t. her oven, and was looking at 4 saucc-
pan that contained nothing.
Mattia touched her on the arm.
Then she wheeled about. with two big
tears dropping from her eyes.
Matta was serene. He was dis
missed. and he would 90. The folks
were not satisfied with him: so let them
suit themselves elsewhere.
"Whcre do YOU intend to go?'' in
quired Mamma.
s.Homc."
That is not true.
Nor was it true. He would have
gone home, had Lcprina not been in
the way. But there she was.
'Mattia, You want to ruin yourself"
exclaimed Mamma. in strange tone Of
voice STAY here. anil II will go
away myself.
She turned again to the saucepan,
while kind of a tickle Smote Malta
in the stomach. which was bovond his
comprehension.
You shall remain alone, and be con-
tented. Leprina = She inter
rupted herself, and, suddenly turning
round with an altered countcnance,
calculated square in his face: ''Iou
piowbov.' and walked away with her
face in her apron.
Malta stood somewhat amazed, but
presently sat down once more, content
not to understand anything further.
4 breeze stole in the window and
caressed his cheeks; and, little by little,
Leprina, Mamma, frying pans, and dried
sausages began to dance in 4 circle be-
fore him, till he ended 10y playing the
bass-tiddle for the ball himself! Some
thing like two hands clasping his head
and two lips pressing close against his
forehead caused him to give 4 start,
and burst into laughter. What things
dreams are now and then. Why, lie
could have sworn that it was Mamma.
Mamma rcappeared.
Don't 90 away" she urged.
why not?''
because tell you not to go"
Mamma laughed. Mattia did like
wise, and caught her hands in his.
She let him have his way, while on her
breast sank the head that put Mattia
in mind of the tassc!s of corn.
"No, Mama must 90 III have
behaved badly to you. forgive M
She snatched her hands away, an
swering dryly: No" and walked across
the kitchen.
He was breathless with impaticnce
to be oil: Leprina was waiting for
him. She had promised to 60 with
HIM when he was free, even to the ends
of the earth.
He was satisfied with less.
"Leprina, dear Lcprina,' said he. ~
will lead you up to my home, aid we'll
live like princes of the Church. You
shall attend to the COW, and | will work
as of old You shall see how Gianna,
Venanzia, Gallctta di Memo, and Secca
di Mestolo will be eaten up with bile.
Leprina, won't You answer me?'
Leprina bent her head still further.
She was ready to burst with laughter:
she attend to the COW? She the wife of
that block of flesh? Mother Eve de-
liver hcr
They were in the Via Montcbello.
In the distance the tall acacias of the
Cascine made one open one S mouth, to
breathe with all ones lungs; while
from the Fosso Macinante rose the cX-
halations from stagnant water and sun
| fcrmcnted mud
Lcprina looked at the beautiful ear
rings that Malta had bought for her
with Il little pile of money boarded for
different and nobler purpose-wlren
he was still thinking about his old
mother.
| Mattia carried his bundle of clothes
to a mean room in the Via Nova, where
Lcprina had promised to mcct him
again.
He now awaited her there. striding
up and down, and, in fancy, fondling
the slender little figure, whose like had
never been seen at Maona among the
hills.
When he had been obliged to part
! sighed with sufficient force to have cN-
| tinguishcd Il street lamp, had one been
! lighted: and he had scratched his nod
die, and given most langnishing looks.
| The gravity of the step he was about
to take now impressed him fully. Not
Nanna's wld-cycd face, warnings, and
! threats. nor his employers orders to
return at once to Maona, nor his own
secret misglvingS, could avail to re-
strain him, for Lcprina had promised
to 90 to the ends of the earth with
, him.
Until latcl.'' lie had exclaimed;
, while Leprina had answered Good
, bye" and walked off with her eyes