The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1903-08-14
The Old Signor
By
LAWRENCE HENRY
s,,.,r,rhs lsus. by Daily Story Pub. "a,

.vor, never saw Francesca? All, she
a dream. She was the most
.s;ful girl / had ever seen. In ,
No bsilet, too; deuced odd l should
ssr there. don't you think? She
- ;,s. coming out of a sea shell, OF
thing or other. when l discov
~ her Such insinuating grace Of
s-.rent charmed me; but I saw al
he was a novice, for there was
. .s,ry posture a modest shrinking
~. n her deep, black, lustrous eyes
ss..d the story of innocent maiden
IN. outraged sensibilities.
III what q dream of beauty! A
- 1.-THE. sinuous, dainty as a
nnh's: voluptuous in its tantalizing
IS as a Moorish sultana, an &c
s.sv in every line. Her hair, black
rayen's wing, reached almost to
a e;rdle. A poem of love was her
s the skin warm olive, soft. sooth-
II ;uyitinz, while the red coral of her
ks.Aed Inns made the white teeth with
,listen like polished ivory. 1t was,
S.e.yer. in the depths of her magnifi-
.s.ye. that everything was summed
Tfmid at the moment. but with
irored possibilities unlimited; hate
= lave. passion and tenderness, in
rsify and ianguor-I saw all there,
aLwe,l. went around behind the
rfnes.
knew the stage manager, Duval.
lacked him up, and in a casual way,
a know. sought some information
ercerning my maid of the sea shell.
She was on the pay sheet as Fran
- PAUL.; had made her first ap-
nrsnce only a few nights before;
ansessed father. swarthy, keen
,ed old chap Of rather distinguished
Iseearance. whose lowering brow sug-
essed something unpleasant. also u
rofher. Pietro. no less threatening.
nssioly more formidable: that both
e father and Pietro always most
ealously escorted Francesca to and
bon the theater.
thanked Duval. but as was leav-
= him he cried after me: Look out,
q man, / know you're dead game.
- rs dangerous, Those dagos don't
Nv lawn tennis"
After brief search found my sweet
nrAantress in q recess between some
ke trumpery. apparently trying to
he the attentions of an overgrown
- Of fellow, who. with greasy leers.
- trying to do the gallant. As /
pped up / CHANGED to hear his last
ark. and knocked him down.
%, signori" she murmured, you
pemy gratitude!" and her voice was
The chords Of harp.
~ you speak English" I eager
Nlponded.
s2k yes. Pietro and I do, but poor
not so well. All, but aren't you
~ that big brute will come back? 2"
came close to me. forgot the flesh
her bare neck and arms; as she
I'D her troubled face up to mine /
q the incense of her breath. I
hardly resist the impulse to
her in my arms and press her to
fnrt.
those women from that far-off
iand! They learn things in the
that some women never
you must not spoil it all now"
e0tiy cooed, as she shyly backed
Then she seemed to remember
1ntiness of her attire. for. glanc-
esWn at herself, a reddish glow
With the olive of her cheeks. the
nshes of her eyes fiuttered with
dng. Hesitating a moment. she
~, Ike startled fawn, glided
s and disappeared in the wings.
passed low-keyed. breathless
- quisered to my ears:
- to be here every night"
er that I managed to see Fran
etten, always at the theater,
and always with the certain
! q the last drop Of the curtain
Italian and Pietro, the son.
g appear. This was awkward,
me.
semoer an occasion. after my
pulsating little divinity and I /
eched terms of excellent under
that the signor suddenly APP
oeiore me as I was entering the
In toned vibrant with emo
= startled me with '.Ze wanta to
ny Francescae"
> moment / was nonplussed and
eaankly at him. then all at once
or Of the thing struck meme
- marry-and from the corps de
! could not repress a smile.
= out. signor!" he Kissed, "ze
axe in zissa play. lis not re !
e card, but re woman's
At me q venomous look from
g seemed to turn green like q |
lost himself in the crowd.
e cut It short. one night the
soe and the faithful Pietro /
e ne theater for their Frances
sae was gone. She was not |
more. / heard afterward of |
- row they raised. Pietro was
oody's blood, while the old
oed and tore his hair. and |
VOWS Of vengeance-but |
kezned home alone.
ht | had been loved before |