The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-09-27

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over?" Mamma 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 Mamma.
Il know" she went on, while he
held his peace. Il know, you ugly
plowboy!"
Mamma, he still"
"No, no, no, You are Just baked
in love. like any tile!"
"I?"
"You!"
al"
Malta rose 10 his feet and ap-
peared TO wish 10 make some sort of
protest, but merely sat down again.
You humbugi"
Here the scene ended; but there
was poison in Nannas heart. Malta
had the honey. and was keeping a
close mouth.
He had set Leprina upon the altar
of his 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-
We'd. but so contented, overwhelming
her with his caresses.
Upon such dreams Ciuffo, the
butcher, threw, SO TO speak, 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 chalce 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 it's 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
glistening eyes and its open mouth.
And above this little tableau,
| percheJ amid the LEAKAGE like an
owl, was Mamma, apparently upon the
point of pouncing down upon them.
Instead, however, when Leprina and
Mattid put their heads together for
a resonant kiss, Mamma vanished, with
| a stirring of the branches tat 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-"
Mamma 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 IL 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 Mamma, in a strange
tone of voice. Stay here, and II
will go away myself
I She turned again to the saucepan
while a sort OF tickle smote Malta
in the stomach, which was beyond his
comprehension.
You shall remain alone, and be
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. fryins
pans and dried sausages began tC
dance IN a circle before him, till h,
ended by playing the bass fiddle fol
the ball himself, Something like two
hands clasping mis- head and two lipi
pressing close against his forehead
caused him TO give a start. and burs
into laughter. What things dreams
are now and then! Why he could
have sworn that IL was Nannai
Mamma reappeared.
Don't go away" she urged.
"Wby not?"
Because ! tell you not TO GO