The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-14
FROM OVER THE SEA.
By Harriet Monroe.

had passed since he left his native town
OF Amali. which climbs boldly skyward
up the rock like a cllff-dwcllers' village.
ard sailed away from Naples in the big
eh-p TO better his fortunes. In beautifna
Italy he was very poor and very deep IN
love. and IN rich America he hoped to re-
heNe both conditions-tn America. where
a man might earn as much as one big Sal
yer dollar a day and put it away. so he
could come back for q wife.
For in Italy 1t was no use-a man could
not be sure ever OF the few poor SOUS FOR
the polenta to put into his stomach. And
then there were the taxes-no one could
be poor enough to escape the taxes. Ono
day his brown-eyed sweetheart had corne
running to him in tears-his beautiful AL
varetta, who lived with her sisters fam
lily high up near Ravello. and sold flowers
to the tourists that drove gral.dly IN and
gu: of Amalf.
All Tomaso milo. what shall, we dor
cried Alvaretta. One of my sisters baby
twins is dead, and we cannot lift 1t from
our only bed :tn we have paid the death
tax. Tell me, / pray you in the name OF
God. how are VIC to raise five lire?"
Tomaso's black eyes grew still darker.
This is an unholy thing. this death TAX"
he cried: ut makes me hate my coun-
try!!'
Nay. those are untoly words" sad
gentle Alvarctta. BE not angry. but ten
me how to pay the five lire when we have
but two."
Tomaso could add but eighteen Sous
less than a lira-to the little store: 80 to-
gether the lovers went to the vineyafdD
where Tomaso often worked and persund-
ed his employer to lend them the resi-. 80
that great Italy might lift it's heavy hand
from the little dead baby. Then they ran
In debt for a tiny coffin. and in a few
days Alvaretta was smiling again.
DtyH -~A -,-i.- ~ HA--
that death tax. He wrote to his cousin
IN America and in a few weeks came b
ticket which would carry him far over sea
and land. He almost ran to show II TO
Alvaretta, and could not understand why
che wept.
But there are beautiful ladies' IN Amer
lea, she cried; you will forget your poor
little devoted one."
Then Tomaso ewore by a long list OF
saints that not the very queen OF all
America should drive Alvaretta from his
heart. Il will grow rich and CONC lack
and marry you and dress you III silk and
jewels and carry you far away" and he
called her by many a musical pet name.
until she was consoled.
SO 1t was that Tonlaso looked colby up
on the very flower Of the Italian colony
when he reached the big city in that
strange new world. For a year he helped
his cousin at his fruit stand. until he had
learned a bit OF English and repaid his
passage money and even stored up a few
OF the big round silver doliors Then.
thinking of Alvare,ta, he became advent
urons: bought a secondhand car for ~
dollah II quatah" and pushed II through
the streets shouting "Bananus! bananos.'
And in two years more, because he was
not ashamed to share a room with seven
other men. and to live on polertG and
bananas instead of meat. he found HIM
self rich enough to buy his own ticket and
q suit OF most gcntleman!y clothes with
which to go in search OF his beloved.
And when he had crossed the seas once
more. when he had landed in Naples and
hurried to Amali and ran up tbs hill. 10
f%taVello, he began for the first time to
wonder whether she would love him as OF
old. Suddenly he saw her coming VIII
her flowers down the steep road against
the succeed wall. and he leaned heavfl,
in a corner under the sudden shadow 81
his doubt. Gracefully she came down.. bal
ancing her basket on her head: coldly she
glanced at him and passed him by; and he
had Gcarcely strength enough to call ate.
ller-"Alvaretta!''
But with the word her basket fell, and
all her flowers tumbled in heaps over the
rocks, and the girl herself wheeled and
leaned half fa.nttng against the wall. To
1naso ran to her, took her in his arms
"Ah. ToInaso, do not touch met ,24iles
the girl. II am betrothedi'
Tomaso started. released her. stpoS
erect. "Retrothed-and to whom. them.
"Al, but I have been unhappy! she
cried. and now you come back so strange.
ly dressed l know YOU not. Eou sent M
word-they told mo you would not .s,nae
they made me pledge myself TO Emilio
For food has been scarce-we were staY,.
ing"
DO YOU love him"'
NO, 1 rave done nothing but weep."
Listen. then. You Shall come With rna
A sh!p sails from Naples tonight, and II
New York we Will be married"
"Ah! But, Tomas, my word Is given. ono
next week is the wedding"
Then must we hurry the faster. TO @,s
APE Emilio and the sister who will no
consent. We must slip down The otbel
road and away
An, but-Tomaso---"
D you love me enough?' this with /.
look IN her eyes.
D l love you? Dio mio.."
Then thank the Blessed Virgin I ,aay,
come i'll time. A betrothal is nothing h
the country we are going to. And did 70,
not promise me fiFst?"
And so Toaaaso carried OF his bride
And now Alvaretta has a four-roo1n fat
and two or three children, and a sill
waist or two. and speaks "ze Engls' II,
soft Neapolitan fashion Of her own.
nN,. -