The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-03-23

Imagine tue QcSpdiI VI IuOoS tWS
Their letters were no longer legible,
for tears blotted the words rows OF
exclamation points, that looked like
Prussian soldiers under arms, follow
ed the daily imprecations against for
tune, destiny, fate, and other imper-
sonal beings incapable of resenting
them; a thousand fantastic plans
were created, discussed and then re-
jected. Carlo would have liked to
elope with Maria, but his father all
lowed him no money, and it would
have been difficult to put together the
nine lire and fifty centesimi for two
tickets for the journey to Naples ;
they thought for a, moment of suicide,
but found that it would not solve the
difficulty. Then, in the long run,
their love became systematic, the i'm
precautions were always the same, and
they could not go to their beds with
out having poured forth upon the
faithful paper the fullness of their
grief" In the town nothing was
talked of but their unshakable love
and their torrents they were the
objects of general interest if Nea-
politan arrived, the townsfolk took
him to see the ruins of the amphi-
theatre and related the case of Carlo
and Maria. Therefore the young
people, fattered in their amour pro-
pre-, assumed the behavior fitting to
the circumstances. Maria was always
pale, with a melancholy air, never
smiling, always talking to her girl
friends about her joyless days, con-
tent to resemble in all respects one of
Mastriani's heroines. Carlo too K
lonely walks, was always deeply de-
pressed at balls he never moved out
of a corner, content that they muir
INJURED around him: Poor young
man that unfortunate love affair
saddens his life % In society, at
small festivities, in visits, with the
unwearying monotony of the pro-
vince, the discourse always returned
upon the subject of the two lovers.
Carlo ana Maria bore with dignity
the burden of their popularity.
Finally, after 1 don't know how
many years-four or FIVE, it seems to
me-of this continual struggle, of
daily weeping. of long, long love
maintained alive by dissensions, the
aspect of things changed. There was
a worthy person-there still are such
who with many efforts of eloquence
persuaded the parents that by the
law suits they were losing property,
and much of it, as witness the two
advocates who had grown rich at the
expense of their clients; that those
two young people were pining and
would 60 into decline because of
that thwarted love the houses were
side by side, and the estates contigu-
GUS; Christ forgave and they must
forgive, if they wished to find for.
giveness. He said so much, and so
many other persons, moved by the
example, interposed, that the ques-
tions came to a compromise which
had, as its first chapter, the marriage
of Carlo and Maria.
Here surely everyone will suppose
that the young people were greatly
consoled, and will suppose truly-but
my obligation as sincere story-teller
constrains me to say that in their first
free colloquy reigned great embar-
rassment. They were accustomed to
see each other at a distance, by
stealth to speak from first floor
window down to the street, in the
darkness, Disgusting or smothering
their voices they found themselves
quite different, perhaps little ridicu-
lous they had no subjects of conver-
sation, they were often silent, hasten
ing their thoughts the hour when
they should quit each other. There
were no more imprecations and tears
to be mingled with the ink they no
longer wrote to each other. Every.
thing was free, smooth, easy for their
affection they were not obliged to
think of subtleties by which to evade
the vigilance of their elders; they
took no more pleasure in murmuring
a few words in secret; they made no
more daring projects for the future.
They would be married prosaically,
without obstacles, like so many other
silly couples. The townsfolk no lon
ger took thought of them (; the won.
der and the comments on the mar
riage once over, Carlo and Maria no
longer awoke attention were no lon
ger talked about their behavior was
noted no more they ceased to be
pointed out as an example of fidelity.
Now all eyes were fixed upon the
wife of the pretor, who was accused
of too great partiality for the vice.
attorney serious piece of business.
The two lovers felt themselves for.
saken a great GOODNESS arose between
them. Carlo found that the virtues
of his fancee, those virtues which
shone in her letters, were dimmed by
the atmosphere of home Maria fire.
quently thought that Carlo was rather
commonplace in his tastes, and that
to end, with a stupid marriage, SC
tempestuous love was unworthy ol
a reader of Mastriani. A few lively
remarks passed between them in re-
gard to illusions contradicted by the
reality" about "mirages, "optical
delusions," f" and similar pin -pricks;
quarrel ensued, then two, then they
became daily occurrence. One even
ing Maria said with an irritated tone:
"Carlo, let US leave it off.
"Let u.s." he replied without hest
tation.
And the next day he set off on
journey for the improvement of hi.
mind Maria went to Naples, to the
house of a cousin, to fish for heroic
husband. The families had a new
falling out Maria's father had ar
opening made for a window which
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