The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-01-11

/ HER FINAL DECISION. !
Z BY MARGUERITE sTABLER. !;

BY MARGUERITE srABLER.

MOW fiERE, perhaps, in this cOSmO-
IN politan country is the nation
within a nation, the city within city,
the wheel within wheel, SO complete
as in the little Italy of San Francisco
Here not only are the people, the Ian
guage, the religion, the manners and
customs, but even the trades, with the
tricks thereof, as essentially Italian as
II the intervening seas were but a
dream. A wall might be built around
this quarter and the denizens of the
district be no more effectively cut off
from their neighbors than they now
are by their interests and sympa-
th1es. In this far-away country there
seems to exist among them sort of
climatic kinship amounting almost to
the strength OF a blood-tie, so that they
live among themselves and to them
selves. 1t is probably for this reason
that the Italian girls seldom marry
out of their class or even out of their
district, for she who would marry
foreigner, especially an American,
would run the risk of losing caste and
being edged out of the quarter.
The one invasion that cannot be
beaten back by racial prejudice is the
effect of the new-world climate and
civilization upon the Italian type OF
beauty. The Californian winds and
suns add to the dangerous eye a bril-
liancy, the languid grace an energy,
that while the dreamy beauty of the
Raphel Madonna type is lost, the glow
ing grace of Botticelli Singing Angel
is gained in it's stead.
When the Signore Alvaradi was sent
to this coast to represent his country,
he did not count on the effect of the
American influence upon his own
household. So when his little Ma
Italia grew from a shy Italian child in
to a lovely Latin-American girlhood,
he ascribed her divergence from the
accepted type to every cause but the
right one, nature. The mother of Ma
Italia detected still more insidious
change in her daughters character,
certain Impotence of parental control,
which was always climatic, because of
the energy the bracing winds put into
her spirit. Neither parent, however,
realized the dangerous charm of their
daughter until duel was narrowly
averted in their own house.
Then, collapsing into a fit of hys-
terics, the signora charged up the
whole matter to Providence, and be-
walled the injustice of it's workings.
why, oh, why" she walled, Should
Providence have afflicted me with such
wicked, willful, undutiful daughter?"
And the sympathizing friends, who
stood around with fans and restora-
tives, echoed, ''Why, indeed?" Then
seeing her distress made her the CEN
ter Of attraction, the afflicted mother
went off again into sobs and shrieks
ILL the nerves of the bystanders were
wrought up to almost as high a state
as her own
It's wonder the shock did not kill
you," purred one of the comforters;
fright in your own house, a duel
Santa Maria!" Whereupon the whole
sisterhood of comforters fell to Weep
ing with sympathy.
When the heavy step of the signore
crunched the gravel walk, the women
ran out breathlessly to hear the result
of his interference. But pushing
brusquely past the gossiping group
ne made his way into the darkened
room. and guided by the sound of
painting sobs, went straight to the
couch.
Its all right" he said. Eat least I'M
til this evening. Caspar is under
guard with two men sitting on his
chest, and the American is cooling off
in his own quarters. have pledged
them my word that Natalia shall set
tie the affair tonight. Where is she?"
On the instant chorus of eager
voices called, ooh Natalia, Natalia,
your father wants you!" while rush
was made to the hall to see how she
would take it.
Are they dead?" a shaken voice
faltered from the landing. No one
had thought Of following the girl when,
at the shot, the mother had tainted.
mo, they are not dead" came the
reluctant answer, "but your mother is
almost"
Upon reaching the library the girl
stood like prisoner at the bar of her
fathers wrath and her mothers de-
spair.
DO you realize, my daughter, that
you narrowly escaped being the cause
of the death of both these men?" be-
gan the signore in laundering tones.
"If 1 had not been here to come be-
tween them, and thereby imperil my
own life, their blood would have been
upon your head"
"And all because of your wicked dis
obedience in wasting your time on that
terrible American when you knew Cas-.
par was in love with you," interposed
the mother, tearfully.
And encouraging both of them at
the same time" interrupted the father,
while the mother stopped to take a
long breath.
and engaging yourself to them
both, as l am led to believe" the sig
nora began with fresh start