Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-07-16
The0ld Signor
Copyright, 1900. By Daily story Pub. Co.,
LAWRENCE HENRY

XTOU never saw Francesca? All, she
was a dream. She was the most
beautiful girl 1 had ever seen. In
Kiralfy ballet, too; deuced odd i should
find her there, don't you think? Shs
was lust coming out of a sea shell, oI
something or other, when / discov
cred her. Such insinuating grace OF
movement charmed me; but ! saw al
once she was a novice, for there was
in every posture a modest shrinking
while in her deep, black. lustrous eyes
burned the story of innocent maiden
hoods outraged sensibilities.
But what dream of beauty!
form 1.-THE, sinuous, dainty as 9
nymph's; voluptuous in its tantalizinf
curves as a Moorish sultana, an &c
stasy in every line. Her hair, blaci
as a ravens wing, reached almost tt
her girdle A poem of love was hei
face, the skin warm olive, soft, sooth
ing, inviting, while the red coral of heI
arched lips made the white teeth with
In glisten like polished ivory. 1t was
however, in the depths of her magnifi'
cent eyesthat everything was summed
up. Timid at the moment, but with
mirrored possibilities unlimited; hate
and love, passion and tenderness, in
tensity and languor-I saw all there
and well, went around behind the
scenes.
/ knew the stage manager, Duval
Looked him up, and in casual way
you know, sought some information
concerning my maid of the sea she'll
She was on the pay sheet as Fran
cesca PAUL.; had made her first ap
pearance only a few nights before;
possessed father, swarthy, keen
eyed old chap of rather distinguished
appearance, whose lowering brow sug
gested something unpleasant, also q
brother. Pietro, no less threatening
possibly more formidable; that botf
the father and Pietro always mos'
zealously escorted Francesca to an6
from the theater.
l thanked Duval, but as / was leav'
ing him he cried after me: Look out
old man, l know you're dead game
but it's dangerous! Those dagos don't
play lawn Tennis
After brief search l found my sweet
enchantress in recess between some
stage trumpery, apparently trying to
evade the attentions of an overgrowr
lout of fellow, who. with greasy leers
was trying to do the gallant. AS
stepped up l chanced to hear his last
remark, and l knocked him down.
"0h, signor!" she murmured, "yol
have my gratitude!" and her voice was
like the chords of harp.
"Ah. you speak English" I eager
ly responded.
"Oh, yes. Pietro and do, but poo
papa not SO well. All, but aren't yo,
afraid that big brute will come back?'
She came close to me, forgot the flesh
ings, her bare neck and arms; as sh,
turned her troubled face up TO mine
caught the incense of her breath.
could hardly resist the impulse tc
grasp her in my arms and press her tt
my heart.
All, those women from that far-of
sunny land! They learn things in thu
nursery that some women nevel
know.
''0h, you must not spoil it all now.
she gently cooed. as she shyly backed
away. Then she seemed to remembe
the scantiness of her attire, for, glanc
ing down at herself, a reddish glow
mixed with the olive OF her cheeks, tn,
long lashes of her eyes fiuttered with
out lifting. Hesitating a moment, sh'
suddenly. like startled fawn, glidet
by me and disappeared In the wings
AS she passed low-keyed, breathles!
sentence quivered TO my ears:'
81 am to be here every night"
After that I managed to see Fran
cesca often. always at the theater
however, and always with the certain
ty that at the last drop of the curtain
the old Italian and Pietro, the son
were TO appear. This was awkward
of course.
l remember an occasion, after my
sweet, pulsating little divinity and
had reached terms of excellent under
standing, that the signor suddenly ap
peared before me as was entering tn,
theater. In tones vibrant with emo
tion he startled me with "Ze wanta t.
maree my Francesca"
For a moment was nonplussed ant
stared blankly at him then all at once
the humor of the thing struck mem,
want to maryland from the corps d.
ballet! l could not repress smile
"Looka out. signor!" he hissed, ~,
life at stake in zisss play. Zis not z,
heart of re card, but re woman'i
heart!"
Darling at me venomous look from
eyes that seemed to turn green like q
cats. he lost himself in the crowd
Well, TO cut it short. one night tn,
old signor and the faithful Pietrs
came to the theater for their Frances
ca. and she was gone. She was not
theirs any more. heard afterward OF
the awful row they raised. Pietro was
for everybody's blood, while the ole
man sobbed and tore his hair, an6
muttered vows of vengeance-but
they returned home alone.
1 thought I had been loved before
met Francesca. Bah! One dom
know how deuced fiat claret is unit
he sips champagne! Love once bios
somed 10 her was the breath of life; Il
mixed with her blood, tingled in the
caress of her fingers, burned in tn,
touch of her lips.
1t was not many weeks after W,
were established that l became aware
when. down town was being shad
owed. Once / caught a glimpse oi
Pietro's menacing face as / suddenl,
redoubled my tracks.