Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-02-02

PN'At way ~ INblilC. II was sun SillN VI
MAY, but the heat was already SO fierce
tbs the Ciocciares, those picturesque
mountaineers who make n living In
Rome aslartists' models, were seeking
ouf the few shady spots around the
famous stair.
An old man was sleeping peacefully
On the bottom step, and at his feet a
little girl was making up bouquets of
ytolets to sell them on the Corso. A
FEW steps higher up n group of young
boys were smoking and looking dream
Ivy down upon the street. IN a shady
Corner of n landing half a dozen young
girls We're tanning themselves lazily.
Only one of them fried TO prevent her
chums from falliuS asleep by teasing
them and p~inchtng their arms and ears.
But she was not very successful the
girls were too much used TO Rosetta's
p~layfulness.
Rosetta was an unusually pretty
girl. Under her white kerchief a pair
Of laughing blue eyes We're always full
of mischief, and her hair fell In heaVy
natural curis around her shoulders, all
most down TO her slender waist. Her
features were regular and her pouting
lips always seemed TO invite kisses.
AT last, when she could not stand Iio-
setta's teasing any longer, one OF the
girls said in n knocking tone:
why don't you go TO your Carlo, or
he will again invite ,Assunta to go with
him to IRE F~ontane?'
THAT is not true, Ercinia." replied
Rosetta suddenly, turning very serious;
he never took her into the Campagna
with him"
but 1 tell you Sor francesca, the
sculptor. saw them together
'Sor Francesca is an old liar."
well, it is nothing to me" replied
Ercinia In n sleepy voice.
But, in spite OF her apparent con-
fidence in her sweetheart, Rosetta's
~playfulness had entirely disappeared,
Was II possible that her Carlino, Karl
Reinsdorf, whom she loved with all the
strength of her heart, could be faith
less TO her? No, 1t could not be possi-
BILE. 1t was nothing but a lie invented
by Sor Francesca, whom she a re-
fused. To be true, she had herself seen
Assunta coming out from Carlos
house, but then she was a girl who
would run from one studio to the other
Carlo would never lower himself to
have anything TO do with her.
Rosetta stood up and walked away from
the other girls who were now sound
asleep. She felt an irresistible desire 10
see her lover. She did not believe what
she had heard, but she wanted TO hear
him deny II with his own mouth and that
he loved her alone. She went into a side
street leading to the restaurant where
Carlo always took his dinner at 2 o'clock
with a few friends, and 1t was now half-
past one. She sat down anon the stoop
Of a house on the other side OF the street
and waited patiently.
CARO- was fond Of looking at all pretty
giiis, but mat IS the way Of all the young
mon who come from the north, where 1t
Rs said there are only pale, sickly girls
n aRf4-- H;fra IaIr n-sNha~aI Anurnrg Go
why should they not be smitton with the
fiery beauties Of Rome, especially when
they are painters. But the heart has
nothing to do with Il, as Carlo had said
so often. But then many 81 are so
wicked and the men so weak, a 4 Reset
ta's heart was tortured with jealousy.
At last she saw Karl Reinsdorf coming
with two artist friends. He seemed glad
to see her and was evidently in the best
OF humor.
How are you, little one? VIII / see
you tomorrow or must you again sit for
the In~glesa?"
Carlo, / must speak to you t~oday-right
now," she cried cxcitedly.
Her manner surprised him.
"Wha has happened, Carina mia? Tell
me everything"
She drew him into the hallway and i'm
pulsively threw her arms around his neck.
Carlo she said, looking him straight
into the eyes, Carlo, are you faithless to
me? Some one told me you were. Were
you at The Fontana with AssuntaT
He laughed, but his laughter did not
sound natural and he did not dare look
at her as he answered:
FLOW can you believe such nonsense?
OF course l was not there"
Il shall try to believe you-no, / do be-
Iieve you"
''Come TO my studio tomorrow, cara
mia, and we shall rave a long, coy chat
together. 1 must go now, as somebody Is
expecting me at Cafe Aragno."
With tears In her eyes Rosetta looked
after him as he hurried down the street to
join his friends.
Why could he not look her into the eyes?
WHY had he seemed so embarrassed and
why this great hurry to get away from
her? Was it possible that he was deceiv-
ing her who had never looked at any other
man. for that Trasteveran girl, who was
flirting with every man she laid eyes on?
She must find out! But how?
Should she ask Assunta? She o
never tell the truth. No, she must find
out for herself. In disguise she would fol-
low her lovers step from morning TO night
until she knew the whole truth.
She went into a store and bought an out
fit as the Roman servants wear, and when
she had put 1t on and looked at herself In
the mirror she felt sure that not even
Carlo would recognize her.
A strong desire ovcrcane her 20 watch
Carlos house, and she was soon on her
way, feeling very uneasy in the unfamiliar
costume, carefully avoiding the crowded
streets and open squares.
At last she reached the little house so
dear TO her. and just then she saw a girl
cross the street going toward the entrance
door. She Immediately recognized As
sunta, and, insane from jealousy, she for
got all her plans and hurried after the girl
into the house. up the stairs
Assuuta, hearing her steps, turned her
head and Immediately recognized Rosetta
in spite Of her disguise.
You are going 10 try to win my Carlos
love, when you know he belongs TO me-
Rosetta cried in a voice trembling with
emotion.
Assunta looked at her with q smile OF
contempt.
Mind your own business! Your Carlo.
As if he were not as much mine or any
body else'sl You stupid foo.i A painter"
AND she laughed out loud
This was mere than Rosetta could stand.
In enc bound she vas beside her rival.
grabbed her by the hair and tore her coral
necklace from her rech 20 that the red
coral beads fe,l en- the stairs IKE drops or
A~ssunta's face was sgig from fright.
She was no match ltg s3e infuriated
mountain girl. but quiel a. lightning she
drew a stiletto from pce,ret. only to
see IL torn from her hands \, Ter strong
or rival.
In this moment the door TO the studio
opened and ,. all -tp'rsd y % me out, As
sunta tore herta.f locsc nj d threw her