Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-05-17
IL RAcIo.
A Tragic story of Italian Love.

The tired mules dragged their heavy
burden YEARLY along the dusty road.
Perio, the driver, went whistling in
front. He only walked in front because
the dust the mules kicked up was apt to
get into his eyes and nose and annoy
him generally if he walked behind He
was whistling cheerily, despite the great
midday heat, for was he not going along
the road where old Nito's olive garden
was? Very likely Nela would be working
there this morning, and they could rest
a little and eat their frugal dinner to-
gether il she were. Nella was the beau
ty of the village and was going to marry
his cousin Lott, but that did not matter
to Perio. Lott was away in Naples,
working hard there to make the money
to furnish their little home with.
But today Pero was not quite so sat
isfied as usual. He had not the slightest
objection to Nela's flirting with him
when Lott was away, but when it came
to her bestowing soft glances on another
man, then he began to burn in righteous
anger and resentment against her treat
ment of his cousin.
just at this moment his train of thought
was disturbed by voice ringing in one
of the olive gardens a little farther up
the hill-a voice that made the mans
eyes CLEAN and his whole frame thrill
with animation-Nella's voice He stop
ped his mules a moment and. putting his
hand to his mouth so that the sound
might travel farther, cried:
"Nella, Nella, it's almost noon. Come
down, and you shall ride on one of the
mules to the trees, and we can eat to-
gether."
The door of one Of the nearer gardens
opened, and Nella came out.
mo, Perio" she said; i've eaten al
ready. It's past noon. Besides, I'm in a
hurry. I'm going to sit for the gentle
man who's painting me this afternoon.
I'm going up to the convent now"
Perio's face darkened, and his eyes
took the sharp, stealthy look Of anger so
little brings at once to an Italian face.
Does Lott know you sit for this Eng.
lish artist?"
'He knew was going to Sit" returned
the girl, but what does it matter to
your" And she cast on Perio look Of
Ill concealed contempt.
That look seemed to madden the man,
who suddenly famed into a great rage.
See, my Nella," he said, taking her
roughly by the arm. "You would never
look at me or even dance with me, though
Lott is my cousin, while he is away, and
yet you spend hours sitting with this
Englishman sitting to him half naked,
too" he added, with a sheer. "Ah, yes,
l know as Nella started Indignantly.
"The old man who takes wood to the
holy convent told me, as an Egyptian
queen, with only skirt and jewels and
n gold snake in your hair. How will Lott
like that when | tell him tonight" And
he bent forward with a coarse laugh.
"Tonight?" she started. You tell
Lott tonight?'
"Ah! didn't mean to tell you but Lott
IL coming tonight. l know he is. l
heard it in the town." and he pointed to
where the white city lay at the foot of
the hill. He will be here tonight and
shall see him. Yes, and l will tell him
how you sit to this painter. Nella, unless
unless He held out his arms and the
revenge died out of his face. "Nella, l
love-
"You spy! You cur"' she broke out.
Glow despise you! You question the
poor old man at the convent. Then you
threaten me and offer me your love. Your
love. What woman would accept the
love of a reptile?" She turned and
walked majestically down the road.
"Nella!' he screamed, beside himself
with rage. "Nella, you call me a reptile
You shall pay for this! | will tell Lott
as soon as he enters the town. | will''-
Il will tell him myself first" said the
girl, turning round scornfuly. She
walked slowly down the road, and Perio
stood watching her, rooted to the spot
and mad with rage and jealousy. Was
IL 90, - l.
could tell Lott, or had the old man told
him lies? All. what would he give to see
her face! Suddenly, as if in defiance OF
him, she broke forth into her song again.
the song she had been singing in the olive
garden: "Sulla, sulla labre, sc potessi
dolce I'm bacio un bacio"
Perio turned white with anger. 81 un.
derstand" he shouted hoarsely. "You
sing of kisses. You go to the kisses OF
your lover" But she took no notice, only
walked on steadily, a queen of women
along that dusty road. The man clinched
mis- hands and almost pushed the mules
forward. He would take them home al
once and hurry back to the town. He
would see Lott first, after all.
Nella walked on in the great summer
heat. 1t did not seem to hurt her. She
was a real child of the sun. No heat was
too great for her, not even the heat with
in, which was burning fercely just then.
"Perio spoke of love KISSES" she was
thinking. "How little he knows the
truth! Gerald, Gerald" she lisped 6
little over the hard foreign name. How
love him! If he would only kiss me
once! How easy it would be to die if hi
had once held me in his arms, If he hat
q - ID ,
tremor ran through her. "Yes, that II
the end. must die! can never belong
to Lott now. l cannot see him again
But he is coming tonight" as the though
struck her. Lott coming tonight! VIVA
shall do? Whatever shall do" Sht
walked slowly down the orange grow
tpadino 70 tho ooDvant door and fennad n