Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-08-15
Lugi's Lady
In White.
BY LULU JOHNSON
Copyrighted. 1905. BY Associated

It's lower aud middle classes. has II.
aristocracy
Luigi was not one of those swarthy
sons Of Italy who labOrIously drag q
street piano over the hot asphalt Of the
citys byways Much less did he be
long to the lesser lights who with d
wheezy melodeon. huddle In corner:
aud Mechanically grind out In the
Sweet BY and BY" or the "Aliserere'
from Ill Trovatore." The first Lug
scorned. the latter he despised for wa.
he not the proprietor OF u horse out
ut?
Every morning except sunday he
drove into the suburbs his wagon ~,
with red and gold on which was
swung one OF the largest and best OF
| the mechanical pianos There was 3
| lad to turn the wheel. and ull Luigi had
to do was TO lead the white mule and
| collect coins which showered upon the
outfit. For Lugls white teeth flashed
beneath mustache rs black and fiow
Ing rs any that ever graced the lips OF
his brigand ancestors. and Lugi's smile
made him many friends. even among
the householders.
As for the servants, many Il rurai
policeman glowered upon him and en-
We'd his conquests. FOR Luigi. In his
smart Neapolltan costume. was good
to look upon. His red sash with lis
| gilded stiletto. his rutiied shirt and
raklsh hat were all in keeping with
| the swarthy complexion and flashing
eyes
To be sure. the stilettO was but 4
toy, a hilt and scabbard without o
blade. In Difference to the absurd
| prejudice OF the police. who knew
nothing Of a more businesslike weapon
sheathed In the collar Of l.ugi's velvet
coat. and his clothing had been oh
tanned from theatrical costumer, but
he cut most romantic and pictur
esque figure
Sundays. when the law forbade his
plying his trade. Luigi sought the ltal
Ian quarter In eminently correct Amer
lean dress. His top hat and yellow
gloves were the astonishment Of the
half naked "bambinos" playing on the
dirty sidewalks
Their mothers turned mute In his
august presence as he picked his way
fastldlously toward the tenement
owned by Gaetano Camera Presently
he would emerge, proudly escortine
Paulina Of the house OF Camera thar
whom there was no prettier girl In al
Little Italy.
For more than year Luigi had
w0oed Paullna. but her father had In
sisted that his son-ln.law should be .
property owner \ year must elapse
figured the thrifty Camera. ere Lug
might hope to we'd.
And ON his part Luigi did not tel
them OF the good luck that had be
fallen him IN the winter before. wher
servant IN one OF the great houses
offered him tips on the stock market
that she had wheeled from the butler
Great coups had been planned Over
the dinner served by this particular
butler as the rich forget that theii
servants are human beings and much
valuable Information had been drop
ped. Luigi profted by the tips, but he
had not told the Cameras. II was
| pleasant TO spend the Sunday after
moons with Paulina. but. then. too
there was the Lady In White. and be
cause OF her Luigi was silent.
He told no one Of the dreams that
burned In his busy brain, None guess
ed the high hopes that he nursed. Blu
since early spring he had hurried th'
| piano cart along his route until he hat
come to the great house on the hill
Sometimes he found only the gardener
spraying the lawn or clipping the
plants then Luigi led awny the mule
silent and morosc. Oftener there wcr,
golden days with flash OF white
through the trees. and she came-hl'
Lady In White
Tall aud fair she was. with eye.
more sweetly blue than the summer
skies Of his beloved Italy and hall
that shone like FURNISHED gold She
| leaned across the hedge and questioned
him as to his life and Luigi toll hei
all land more for to hold her interes
he drew upon Il vivid Imagination fo
a vendetta aud an earlier career ns
brigand
He loved 10 see her eyes grow roun,
with wonder at his adventures. and
like modern Othello. he wooed he
with his tales As the summer pro
gressed he saw her more aud mor'
often. and sometimes there was ;
whole hour during which little Pietr,
could rest his weary arms and thu
wheel Of the piano moved not
| or course II would not do to le
Paulina know Of the Lady In White
for Camera had declared that wheI
Luigi had made enough money the!
would go into business together. Ital
ian fathers had their own Ideas o
honor too. Once married to Paulina
his piano sold Luigi would no longe
see the obllglng serving maid. she o
| the ting