Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-03-03
Knight Grant
By EDNA LYALL

You should have been professional
tale-teller Tell it me all over again
from the very beginning"
The old fisherman pulled his red
Pbrygian cap lower over his wrinkled
forehead shook back his grizzled
locks, glanced up at his brown sail to-
see that all was well then looked
across at the sweet. eager face oppo-
site him. and felt willing enough to-
obey the request.
Neither the healthy life on board
the Pilgrim, nor the weeks among the
Swiss mountains which had followed
il. had been able TO keep the color in
F'rancesca's cheeks; she was as pale
as a lily, and almost as fragile-look-
ing. but the mouth and eyes were as
sweet as ever, and betrayed nothing
of her story She sat in the stern Of
the little fishing boat and listened TO
the old man with hotfaverted face
while they sailed homeward. letting
one Of her long white hands trail
through the water. and looking stead
lily down into those dark blue depths.
as once more Florestano repeated the
story Of Carlos first appearance.
Grand Dio' he is as good as
piece OF breadi" exclaimed the old
fisherman. "Who but he would have
thought of coming all the way out
here to fetch shabby old fellow like
me, and giving me a fine place at the
theater, where l could see as well as
those who carry a heavy purse, and
are too fine to walk on foot. and
spend their days In idlenesa? He
came signorina. bringing with him
the little boy, his nephew"
was ne looking well?" asked Fran
cesch still keeping her face turned
away.
"Ebbene signorina, he was grave
anf quiet, doubtless thinking Of the
evening; and. now | come TO think Of
his fare, ! remember it was browner
than ii was wont 10 be; he had lost
his color. being shut up so much
studying" Florestano could hardly
help smiling to himself. because he
thought he had given these reasons
with such an admirable air Of con
viction But except for that he was
just like himself signorina, just like
He would take an oar on the way
back TO Naples. as If we were back
in the old times. aud I was rowing
him to school once more. as did for
many a year in the warm weather
And then when In the evening | saw
him stand on the stage, with all The
people praislng him and he looking
so fine in his velvet dress and his
sword then did feel proud to think
that only q few hours back he had
taken my oar from me that | might
rest a bit He couldn't have treated
me better signoriua, If ia been his
own father"
And the people applauded him a
! great deal?' asked francesca
"Cappen' you may believe me, sig
norma, the noise made my head ache
for days after How he bore It |
don't know, but afterward when they
called for him. he came before the
curtains looking as modest and natu-
al as II he were bat just an ordinary
man in his own home, .,rd iumed as
/ though he were pleased that we hal
found pleasure ln his acting And
when went to thank him and take
! leave ! came upon him Just at the
stagedoor and he said he wanted n
breath Of fresh air. for the theater
had been nearly as hot rs the crater
/ OF Vesuyius. and he walked with me
down 10 he Pillero, till could have
I thought he had been a boy again he
| seemed so like himself that / could
/ hardly believe twas he that had been
| Valentino few minutes since. With
all the house crying over his death"
Then he acted very wen?"
He Just made IL real signorina'
! Gran Dio! | can never forget his face
as he drove back the devil with the
cross. stopping ont boldly before the
soldiers as though he feared naught
Twas fne 10 see the old devil cringing
and backing can tell YOU signo-
rina, that I came away that night be
lieying In the old faith once more
There's more in the cross than they
would wish 20 have us think down at
our club IN Naples
Francesca thought she would have
liked to tell her father that story. but
Carlos name had never passed be
tween them since her betrothat had
been ended. and she knew that she
would no, be- the first to brea', the
silence.
Comforted aud vet saddened by her
talk with the old fisherman. she was
set down ON 'f> beach and made her
way through the vineyard TO the fa
mtllar o'jvegardcu. where she found
/ Sibyl helping Two or three peasant
women to gather olives There was
something which soothtd her IN the
silvery shade Of those gnmled old
trees. she sat down ON the grass
leaning against one of The terraces
and watched Sjbyl's hlueelad figure
( fitting hither and thither. and the
I peasants i'm their somher stuff gowns
ana gay handkerchicfs tied over thor
heads Under one Of the trees 81
baby had been laid ON a tattered old
ehawl while. clos" hy. IFS mother
busy with her basket OF olives sang