The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07

They had been little goat herds togeth-
er on Sicilian hillside, Giuseppe and
Maddalena. There. where the magic of
Theocritus yet fingers, the brown children
are as beautiful as Graces among the olive
groves and vineyards. Maddalena dane
ing, with her ragged skirt held high and
her brown, bare feet twinkling in the
grass where the cicada sings, might have
made living part of an idyll. 1t was al
ways Maddalena who danced. and Beppo
who sat on the scorched hillside piping
her music, his brown eyes mysterious with
dreams.
They were both orphans. and perhaps
the loneliness was a link to draw them
closer together. For such there was the
stick If the goats strayed or they forgot to
be. home by shutdown. Maddalena had her
own share of beatings, yet she could have
borne them doubled, trebled. If Beppo
could only have gone free, for Beppo was
fragile and gentle and the stick that only
enraged her and made her obstinate, had
on the contrary. made Beppo i'll Tor days
Yet, If Mgddalena had not kept her wits
about her they would have been in trouble
much more often than they were. 1t was
Beppo who would forget on the warm
and the chill of his empty stomach, max
ing tunes for Maddalena to dance TO,
while the goats invaded the vineyard or
the dews and night found them yet far
afeld.
1t was good while the summer lasted,
and the children could forget the beatings
in the comfort of the sun on their half
clad bodies. But harder when it was win
ter. sharp and bright, and there were more
children. real children of the he use. than
the house could hold and BeppO starya
ton and nakedness told upon him, so that
he coughed and grew hollow-eyed. while
Maddalena was only exhilarated by the
clear air and the unwinking sunlight.
Maddalena was always the little mother
ready with compassion and comfort for
her Beppo when they wandered apart from
the other children who looked at them
askance because they were orphans and
had TO bear the blame and the blows.
She was very much stronger than the
boy, and their positions were quite re-
versed. she bearing the heavy burdens and
taking the rough roads: he accepting this
state Of things, as though he were the girl
and she the boy. No one but Maddalena
knew as the boy himself did the aches and
the WEAKNESS that maize him lean on his
friend as a sick child ON the bosom of its
mother.
But there was neither sickness nor chill
in the air the day Antonio came that way.
1t was brilliant day, and the Joy of the
world had got into Beppo's tiuting and
Maddalena's dancing. The little, lean.
golden-b brown girl in her ragged frock OF
brown and orange and scarlet, was gay as
humming bird. Lightly as one she pois-
ed and floated and swayed over the burnt
Beppo, with eyes of rapture, made wilder
music.
Suddenly the pipe fell from his lips, and
the dancer came to earth.
Bravo. bravissima." from the lips OF
had sufficed to break the spell.
The newcomer was bearded, dark fell
low OF middle age, with a wide mouth and
smile of extreme enjoying :. that fell on
the children with a suffusing friendliness.
He was extravagantly dressed, with a pro-
fusion Of bright colors and hat hung with
ribbons. The children thought him very
fine and gazed at him opeu-mouthed.
Il am sorry" he said. making bow TO
Maddalena, ito have interrupted the sig
norina's delicious performance. See here
he took from his breeches pocket a hand
full of small coins and scattered them
- lis tribute to beauty and genius: but
gold it should be, gold and gems, if Anto-
Mo Romano could but follow the prompt
ings OF his heart"
He seated himself on the grass by Beppo.
with the manner of one coming critically
to the theatre.
Dance now. my beauty" he said:
dance again, and let me delight myself
with your grace And you, Signor First
Violin. will you not tune up again?'
By degrees he won the confidence OF the
shy children, and Maddalena danced for
him uutiringly, and afterward went
through the acrobatic performances copied
from what she had seen at a travelling
circus.
"Ah," he cried, and again "Ah," with
deep breaths OF satisfaction. And at last.
having applauded vigorously, he begged
them to lead him 10 their mothers in the
below
"Ah!" said Maddalena. 81 have no moth
CT. nor has Beppo. None cares for US, ex-
cept the mother of God. So we love each
other and make pets Of the goats
She started suddenly, and springing up,
cooked distractedly about the hillside.
They have wandered again" she cried,
and tonight there will be teatings and no
supper for thee, Beppo, and for me. Alas,
il is my fault, and 1t is only last night
that she beat thee, and starved thee,
arc"
She ran to Beppo and caught his head TO
her breast as might a mother, quite I'M
needing the presence of the gay stranger
Who was the cause of their transgression.
But Antonio Romano swore an oath
which the recording angel might well blot
tut.
"Per Bacco," he cried. who is she,
his monster that beats and starves moth
,rless babes? And thou, Flower Of the
Air. dost thou also go hungry as well as
by flute player"
Maddalena nodded energetically.
A smile broke over the strangers ex- |
,ressiye face.
Come away, my children" he said, |
and let the goats wander home unguided |
t evening Come; we have room for both |
n the great caravan below there. We go
o Palermo. where the Signorina shall |
ance in the Square and the Signor shall |
,ipe TO her.
He spread his hands out above their
leads.
Come. little ones" he said; my good |
wife shall feed and clothe You. II Papa |
Intonio is ever harsh or cruel with you. |
nay the little ones he gave to heaven for |
et him."
He took hand of each, and the children, |
fascinated went away with him.
Down below the hillside in the shadow |
4 the woods, the oxen that drew the great |
elbow and-scarlet caravans made siesta |
or the midday.
Everywhere about the grass men attired |
Ike Antonio had flung themselves TO rest. |
iris in short skirts and spangles. with |
overs in their hair, sat in the shade and |
like the cicadas while they
titched at some tawdry fnery or played |
18th round-limbed children.
Antonio led his two goat-herds TO where,
y the door of the biggest caravan, bux-
m. kind-faced woman. with long earrings
ooked something savory over little
tove.
See, my beloved, what | have brought