The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-16

p!d Mattia'S Love Affairs. Die


| iouS anu neTTiiy.
why, what are you spooning
over?" Mama blurted out one even
ing, planting herself squarely in front
of Malta, who had assumed a mys-
terious air, and was gazing at the
moon through the easement. He
gave a start. He was thinking OF
Leprina, but beheld only Mama.
II know!" she went on, while he
held his peace, II know, you ugly
plowboy!"
"Nanna, be STILL"
"No, no, no! You are just baked
in love, like any tile!'
| "I?"
"You!"
| an"
Malta rose to his feet and ap-
peared to wish to make some sort OF
protest, but merely sat down again.
"You humbug!"
Here the scene ended; but there
was poison in Nanna's heart. Malta
had the honey, and was keeping
close mouth.
He had set Leprina upon the altar
of hiB hopes, and fancied how she
would look up among his hills, all
affection for him, with flowers about
her and the full sunlight on her
pretty little face. He fancied her
| there, on the tomato-festooned
threshing floor, and in the farm house
during the long winter evenings, with
the fire flashes reflected in her black
eyes, and he there, too, close by, en-
WED, but 80 contented, overwhelming
her with his caresses.
Upon such dreams Ciuffo, the
butcher, threw, 80 to speak, a Jug Of
ice cold water.
"Leprina," Quoth he, Seems an
angel dropped from the skies; but she
isn't. Let Malta beware. A man
forewarned is a man forearmed!"
The result Of this warning was a
fist fight, and Malta changed his
butcher, without changing his mind
in the least. Leprina smiled on him
more sweetly than ever, and made
him believe that he beheld a paradise,
with seraphim and cherubim more
gloriously depicted than by Dante
Alighieri himself.
The first charce that Malta had of
hugging Leprina was one evening,
Just behind the wall of the Viale.
The laurel boughs shielded them; ST.
lence surrounded them, while the
moon cast its white radiance upon the
little villas over the way. Amid the
shadows could be discerned the girls
pretty head, studiedly inclined, and
Matthias visage uplifted, with its
glistenfng eyes and its open mouth.
And above this little tableau,
perched amid the LEAKAGE like an
owl, was Mama, apparently upon the
point of pouncing down upon them.
Instead, however, when Leprina and
Mattia put their heads together for
a resonant kiss. Mama vanished, with
stirring Of the branches that caused
the couple to turn round and look up,
and then stare at each other.
"Good-by, Mammal" said Malta one
day not long after. "My masters
have discharged me-"
Mama did not reply. She had
turned to her oven, and was looking
at saucepan that contained nothing.
Malta touched her on the arm.
Then she wheeled about, with two big
tears dropping from her eyes.
Malta was serene. He was dis
missed, and he would go. The folks
were not satisfied with him; SO let
them suit themselves elsewhere!
where do you intend to go?" in
quired Mamma.
"Home."
THAT is not true!"
| Nor was ii true. He would have
gone home, had Leprina not been in
the way. But there she was.
Malta, you want to ruin your
self" exclaimed Mama, in a strange
tone of voice. "Stay here, and IL
will go away myself"
She turned again to the saucepan,
while sort OF tickle smote Malta
in the stomach, which was beyond his
comprehension.
Aou ohdii Icllldiu dlOuS, anu Ue
contented! Leprina-" She in
terrupted herself, and, suddenly turn
ing round with an altered counte-
nance, calculated square in his face:
you plowboy!" and walked away
with her face in her apron.
Malta stood somewhat amazed,
but presently sat down once more,
content not to understand anything
further. A breeze stole in at the
window and caressed his cheeks; and
little by little, Leprina, Mama, frying
pans and dried sausages began to
dance in circle before him, till he
ended by playing the bass fiddle for
the ball himself! Something like two
hands clasping his head and two lips
pressing close against his forehead
caused him to give a start, and burst
into laughter. What things dreams
are now and then! Why he could
have sworn that 1t was Mamma!
Mama reappeared.
Don't go away" she urged.
"Why not?"
because I tell you not to CO."