The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-07-02
How Dalfino
Said Adieu e-
BY GABRIELLE D'ANNUNzIo.
Copyright, 1908, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

A LONG the coast he was known sim
~ ply as Dalfno. and the name was
appropriate. In the water he looked
or all the world like q dolphin, his
,ack bent by years of hard labor as a
seaman, his body Drowned by the sun
and sea breezes, and his head covered
With coarse bristly hair. 1t was
Grand sight to see him throw himself
rom the rocky ledge at Forrini, and,
tarting through the air, plunge into
he sea like seahawk with broken
wing, and, as he came TO the surface
gain, his large, clear fishlike eyes
parked in the sunlight. Perhaps it
was still more interesting sight to
zee him clinging to the ropes at the
nast's top, when the wind whistled
through the rigging filling the sails
llmost to bursting, and the angry
waves beneath him ragged like infuri-
,ted beasts anxious to deyour him.
Dalfino was both fatherless and
notherless. His mother had been dead
or some 20 years, and his father
lad fallen victim to Sle sea on an
swful night when the sky was dark
ned by tempest breeding clouds and
he winds came like raging demons
rom the deserts Of Lydia. From that
moment the wide expanse of the sea
relongsd to him and his life seemed to
)e bound up with ii. He listened TO the
oaring waves as if they had something
wonderful to tell him, and spoke to
hsm as he would speak to human
,eing. He confidsd everything to the
ea and often dispeled the gloomy
lours by singing to himself little
matches of song.
Father sleeps there" he said to
;arra one day, "and wish to go and
DIN him. He is waiting for me, 1
now, for l saw him yesterday"
"You have seen him?" asked Zarra,
aisiug her large black eyes to his.
"Yes, there-yonder on the point of
hose rocks. The sea was smooth as
lass. l saw him plainly and he looked
ms"
A shudder passed through the girls
'ody. What a beautiful creature this
ARA was! Straight and slender as a
nast nimble in her movements as a
'anther, with set of regular, pearly
White teeth, and bosom that rose
nd fell like field of golden grain be-
ore a gentle breeze.
She and Dalfino had always been
ind to one another. They had played
ogether in the sand, captured the un-
vary crabs along the shore, and waded
9ut into the shallow water. The sur
md the sea had witnessed them
housand times kiss each other, had
card them shout in joyful glee, and
,in in singing the sweet little songs
hey knew. o. tender youth, how soon
innot the sea change such tenderness
the hardness of steel!
Zarra always sat and waited for him
L the evening when the setting sun
sould tint the western sky with rosy
olor, and reflected from the clouds
Iouh overspread the surface of the
ca with violet hue as if wine had
oeen poured into the water. Soon the
ails of the fisher boats would appear
n the distance like a flock of white
'ringsd birds. Dalfno's boat was in
arisbly in advance of the others, and
With its orange red sails swelling in
he breeze, would approach the shore
18th the speed of an arrow. Dnlfino
1sde fine appearance as he stood at
he rudder, firm as a granite statue.
"O!" Zarra would cry: Good catch
o-day?"
He shouted her an answer. The sea
mlls at the approach of the boats
.ould rise from the rocks with com
laiRng shrieks, because they were
isturbed, and take fight to more
eserted place. In a little while the
cast became animated again and all
stir at the return of the fishermen
rom their days labor.
But the sea air made them both sick
With what fascination they regarded
ne another-she standing on the edge
q the boat he reclining on the deck al
her feet, the sea the while making mel
ow music as the waves broke upon the
-oeks on the shore.
what thought is there in youl
'ook this evening, Xarra?" asked Dal
'lno, softly. Listen, declare you ar,
ne OF those mythical beings with
hody half human, half fish. who liv
tar, far, out in the sea, and who, whel
hey sing, sit upon the rocks, theil
,ong glossy hair floating in the wind
Some day you will be such being ant