Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-12-02

NO, no, SODDt0 MIA. MAsHl
have stayed away, and then she
would nave forgotten"
Never, for she loved you" said
Francesca. Her last words almost
were of you Oh. if you could have
heard how she begged Carlo not tol
leave you"
But at this Mia only wept the
more
Carlo will haze me. she cried.
.'Oh, let me go! let me go! Tell
them to put in the horses. l can't
stay here any longer"
He does not hate you; he loves
you" said Francesca, warmly. "Hel
promised the signora that he would
always take care of you"
Something in her tone quoted Nita.
She lay musing over the words, won
dering if. indeed, her brother knew
all and would yet help her, tremb
ling with fear at the thought OF meet
ing him, and yet trembling still morel
when she thought of going back to,
Naples to face temptations too strongl
for her.
Francesca watched her tenderly,
aware that some conflict was goingi
on in her mind, though wholly igI
norant of her story, and far too young
and innocent to dream of the mean
ing which lay in the dying words OF
the signora. Nita was in trouble, andl
In some sort of difficulty, and Carlo
had promised to help her. francesca
did not curiously wonder what theI
difficulty might be. nor did she forl
one moment doubt Carlos power of
saving her. She accepted every
thing with the quiet confidence of al
child who is vaguely conscious that
there is trouble in the house, but isl
quite certain that it's elders will soon
make 1t all right
Looking at Nita. she saw how
strong a likeness existed between thel
brother and sister; and even II shel
had not felt drawn toward her beforeI
by her loneliness and her grief, thisl
would have appealed to her The
fine profile and the warm, bright col
oring were exactly alike, but the
mouth was disappointing, and had thel
same weakness which had slightly
spoiled the expression of SignoraI
Donati; while the eyes, though large
and beautiful were lacking in soul,
and might almost have been the
eyes of a doll. so little did they vary
But yet, as Mia lay there in her
grief and self-reproach. trying to-
make up her mind between two evils,
wondering which fear was the least
intolerable, there was somethlrg g
about her which pleaded for pity.
She was so young so weak a para
site by nature-she seemed ready to-
cling TO anything. no matter what ii
was, so long as il had the strength
which she lacked.
She was afraid of sleeping in the
same house as her dead mother, but
then she was yet more afraid of con.
Tossing TO her husband where she had
been. She dreaded meeting Carlo,
but she still more dreaded meeting
Generic. All at once it occurred to
her to wonder who her companion
was
Il have forgotten your name, sig
norma she said. looking into the
sweet, pure face above her; but
think you must be Carlos English
playmate from Casa Bella?"
Yes; | am Francesca Britton." she
replied, quietly. not liking just then
to speak of her happy betrothal.
All! how shocked was in the old
days at the games you and he played
jtogether," said Mia, wistfully. And
uow-now ii Is who have shocked
you all But you were quite right all
the tin.c. have seen American life
siuce then and ii we Italian girls had
something of their liberty there would
not be so many broken hearts among
Ius"
The words reminded her of her
grief aud she again burst into tears.
Let me fetch Carlo said Fran
cesca lie will comfort you as no
one else can. Oh You must not say
you are afraid of him; that is only
because YOU have forgotten. And
may tell him that You will stav. may
/ | not you could not leave him all
alone"
Nita sohbed out something inarticu-
late. which Francesca took for a con
sent and hurried away in search of
her lover. She found him in the sa-
lotto but the body OF the signora had
been carried to her own room. and
Carlo. looking broken.heared. was
trying to write a letter TO his uncle
to tell him the news. Softly passing
her arm round his neck, and with her
cool cheek leaning against his heated
brow she stood by him for some mo-
ments in silence
II must 20 home. my own, she
said at length. Father will have
come back and will not '.uow where
\ am. May | ask him TO come in and
see il he can help You in any way?"
Carlo thanked her He felt dazed
and hewildeted. he thought it would
be- "a comfort 10 have The help of the
kindheated Enghshman who de
hshtod in managing othel peoples af-
fairs.
And then there a. Ma he ex-
claimed. with a loob of perplexity.