St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-06-07
ITO speak with me? What can Won

ness TO De my wire.
Meta looked straight into Carlos
! eyes, and said, angrily: $50 you
imagine that I could take a fellow
like you for husband-one who neg
lects his work, loafs in barrooms and
does nothing all day but drink and
play the mandolin? You talk of max
ing me happy, when you make your
mother miserable. A bad son never
made good husband"
''You are doing me an injustice .
stammered Carlo.
by all the saints, mol" cried Nj
eta. "You are worse than your com.
panion. He was bad from his child.
hood up, but one who has been good
and Industrious like you to become
SO bad, so unworthy-is terrible!"
'Stop, Meta cried Carlo. SIT was
all for you"
"For me? This is an insult. Do
you think you can gain an honest girl
by becoming loafer and drunk
| ard?''
| 'Nietta, it will be otherwise. I'll
| turn over a new leaf from to-day. i
see, have been ill-advised."
eyes," said Meta, you have been
| ill-advised. You despise the counsel
of mother and pastor and all good
friends, and hearken to low compan-
ions. I will have none of you"
It'll die of thirst cried Advise,
from the other end of the ROOM"
"Never mind" replied Carlo. "We
will empty barrels tonight. "Wine,
wine, Meta, let's have wine."
For hours the two drank and
laughed together. Then they arose
and lurched, half-intoxicated, to the
inn of Mother Osteria. There they
met the same merry, drunken crowd
of the nights before.
Congratulate my friend" ex-
claimed Advise, triumphantly, to his
comrades. He will remain bachelor
like ourselves. The prettiest girl in
Venice has just Tilted him."
"Bravo! bravo" came from the
merrymakers.
A sudden anger overcame Carlo.
you are villain!'' he exclaimed
to Advise, rushing npon him. Advise,
quick as lightning, grasped his dag
ger, and before anyone could inter-
fere, he had thrust it into the breast
of the shoemaker. Carlo fell uncon-
scious on chair.
Advise ran out of the inn and van
ished. Half an hour later a mourn
full procession made its way slowly
to the cottage of Agnese, in the Rio
del RELIC. The apparently dead body
of Carlo was carried on stretcher
by four men, followed by few SYM
pathetic friends.
A neighbor had heard of the ARRAY
and ran to prepare poor Agnese.
MAY the Madonna help you. Great
bereavement is in store for you," she
said.
''Oh, holy Virgin! it is my son!"
cried Agnese, rushing to the door. At
sight of the stretcher, she fell in a
heap on the street.
An hour later the surgeon arrived.
After examining Agnese, he said, pitt
fully: "She is beyond aid-heart dis
ease. But may be able to do some
thing for the boy"
Six long months Carlo fingered in
his bed in the hospital. When he was
dismissed, his first steps were direct
ed the old curator.
The good pastor heartily grasped
the hand of his visitor, who was but
shadow of his former self.
"You must have suffered much, my
son." he said.
II did, father" replied Carlo, with
a look of despair; ''but more in soul
than in body. 1 will try to make
amends"
eff you had only followed my ad-
vice. gently reproved the pastor,
"your mother would be alive this
day"
II will enter a cloister to atone
for my sins.'
s'Ihis may DE jumping from the fry
ing pan into the fire. How do you
know you have call for such life"
Dear father, I must atone for my
sins.''
''This is not always done in clois-
ter" said the practical pastor. 'Some |
are called by Providence to atone for
evil by living a life of reform in the
sight of men. For some it is better to |
hide themselves in the cells of the |
monasteries. Well see. Well see.
Come tomorrow and We'll talk it |
over.'
"Good-by, dear father. Twill go now
to the grave Of my mother and ask
forgiveness.