The Van Buren press., 1903-09-12
AN ITALIAN
REPRISAL
By HELEN NJ. GIVINS
Copyright. 1908, by Daily Story Pub. CO..

WHEN Willis ran into St Peters
w to escape one of the sudden
downpours so prevalent in Rome dur
ing the summer months, he was still
possessed by the sense Of injury that
had been his ever since he had hur-
ried down the slope Of the Janiculum
an hour before, and had failed to see
little Rosetta leaning over the wall
near Tasso's oat.
At their last meeting, as she told
him, between the bursts of weeping,
of her fathers determination to have
her wedding take place within
month Willis had understood the ne
cessity of putting an end to the ro-
nance an idle. spring day and peas
ants fete had been responsible for.
1t had all been idylic and innocent
enough. Being a good fellow in the
main, and moreover, not wildly In
love, Willis was capable of a sharp
twinge of conscience when he realized
the child's distaste for a marriage
about which she had at first prattled
happily enough. But Rosetta was so
pretty so full of distress! Who could
resist the temptation of seeing her
once more? Besides, had he not prom
ised himself TO speak wisely and firm
ly, as became mature 30 when advis-
ing inexperienced II?
Such. however, is mans inconslst-
ency, that when the trysting-place APP
peared, void of the trusting maiden,
he experienced none of the satisfac-
ton popularly supposed to reward the
virtuous. 1t is one thing to confront
a pair of beseeching black eyes, in the
role of stern representative of duty,
and quite another to be anticipated;
TO find the play played out and the
curtain rung down. without any OF the
plaudits so dear to self-sacrifice.
Now, avoiding procession of damp
pilgrims, in whom the odor of hu-
manity predominated over that OF
sanctity, the young man strolled down
the great nave with lowered head and
thoughts bitterly intent upon the in
constancy Of woman. Thus he did not
notice a bucket dangling from the end
o. rope until he struck sharply
against il. As he recoied IL rose in
the air and he saw II was a rude de-
vice for carrying water to some work
men who were repairing the mosaics
ornamenting the dome. Wills lip
curled with English intolerance Of
such methods-his glance following
the unwieldy contriyance until It
reached a haven under board
stretched from side to side OF the rail
ing surrounding the dome,
THE signore might perhaps Ike to
see the work nearer II Is very inter-
esting," said a low-toned voice at his
elbow. in Italian.
rhe young man turned quickly, en-
countering a pair Of brilliant, shlfty
eyes, set In a handsome face Of the
better type Of peasant
1T Is forbidden to enter the dome
during repairs" he replied curtly in
the same tongue
But | have q brother among the
workmon See, | am taking him the
macaroni" holding up a small basket,
as he spoke. Then, as willis shook
his head impatlently, he added THE
old sacristan is also my uncle, so, If
the sgnore pleases, will gladly con-
dupt him to the dome"
willis looked at the speaker with
more interest Rosetta had once point
ed out the saerlstan, speaking of his
great age aud of his relationship 20
her Could this young man be the
cousin lover against whom the girl re-
belled2 His good looks deserved n
stronger hold upon her fancy,
"liow did you know | undcratood
Italian" Willis demanded abruptly
II heard the signore speak 10 a beg
gar at the door"
Evidently tho fellow had been fol-
lowing him That he should wish TO
conduct him to the dome was sIngu-
lar concidcnce but ho dismissed as
improbable the idea Of any stronger
motive than The hope of n pos
slblo fee. and, moved by an uneyplaln-
able impulse, he determined TO nc
cept the ofror he had been on the point
~ declining
Ten minutes later stepping lSrough
the doorway opening upon The mar
row platform surrounding Tho dome,
no heard sharp click behind hOn,
and turned To sec his companion cUoly
pocket the hoy he had lual rypuyod
from the lock-
"rhe slgnore appears surpriacd,' ho
said, repafdng willis with smile of
triumphant malice "lle has perhapH
never seen a rat caught In a trap Td
understand, he must first regard the
scafroldIng closing the platform on the
left"
The other had mechanically turned
20 tho point Indicated, Certainly the
leg, was completely blocked by tho
scaffoldIng but no mattcr-thoy could
pass 10 the right
sull that smile Of lriumphan, NAL.
leo willis made n step forward, bht
recognizing rather late the value of
discretion paused before tho steely
CLINT Of n atletto Nevertheless he re-
turned the Italians gaze without
ninehing. leaning against the wall, and