The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-04
when CurfeW Met The Evil E

their faces please. I'll take them right along.
Oh how those cunning dears did shrek and squeal
for frightened rapture when we loaded them into
the gondola! The nurse looked uncertain; then she
counted the in her lap, and seemed treasured.
Pasquale looked anxious and distraught; but
However, when swept into big. bril-
liant sunset Canal. felt trihe queer: 1 hustled
Gamma is little maid, pro tem)
1 told her to keep them up there, for the night.
pny, and that I'd much better wait, and tell next
morning.
So dressed and went to Melvna's room. She
papers. l didn't read closely for 1 busy
stance "oh. Mevina. wouldn't it be lovely to take
home three Italian orphans?") and it didn't come
easy. But, suddenly, my lighted para
graph that took my breath
"Langdon Bogardus. Stephen Sayles, Of Boston,
and Rutherford Barnes. Jr. sail today for a six
49,, Their first stop venice!" 1 gasped forgetting
April 18th, and this is Saturday, the 2sth they:
they're here in Venice, this very minute! Oh. must
tell Charlotte, quick!"
At that moment, in marched Charlotte opened
my mouth, to chant my thrilling Then I
shut it, tight Charotte's pretty round cheeks
drawn and ashen; her lips bitten in, blood
less; she was shaking from head to foot. Charlotte
what ails you?" cried. you're sick! You're hurt!
Oh what has happened?"
Nothing whatever, gOOsey,' snapped Charlotte.
go put your street clothes this minute. Hurry!
Charlotte. what on earth"
II want you to go-to go-sight-seeing-with me-"
Charlottes voice raced through dreadful sobbng
pauses. ITO St; Marks. Or the Library
cat night? We two girls, alone and only four.
teen? Charlotte, are you clean daft?
Charlotte leaned back, trembling: She tried to
finally. "Then Pasquale shall take us out in the
gondola till late. Late, say! Gomez Well go this
"Charotte!" Melvina opened eye "Change
your dress. eat your dinner. and write your home
were going out Melvina" Charlotte rose up
like grenadier.
Don't let Lucy Ann eat their heather dessert Write
your aunt to send me my extra sewing specs
"Charotte!" Both eyes opened, then. But Char
1otte had dragged me out dumb before this mon
Hurry" she breathed We fed downstairs, and
into the gondola. Pasquale. popeyed but obedient,
Charlotte! OF all the wild freaks"
Lucy Ami" Charlottes face shone whittier than
the marble; she gripped my arm till l squeaked.
IF you have any mercy in you, hold your tongue.
To-night-and ever after! Go on, Pasquale."
Well, I'll not try to describe that evening. Char
narrow lanes down broad flashing water Courses
through dusky mazes beneath black sepulchral
bridges; past looming cathedrals. and dim gardens.
and joyful, noisy market places. Hour after hour
night after night year after year.
At last our gondola FLASHED at own torchlit
Eleven o'clock" said Charlotte. YEARLY. well
60 in. We're safe, now"
safe from. Weakly foundered ashore.
There stopped. Before me- politely blocking my
amazing
tlemen. in skinny, gilt-edged uniforms and cooked
hats and large white cotton gloves.
What do they want, Pasquale?"
Pasquae gibbered at them; they gabbled back.
Pasquale grew excited; the little men firmly reite-
There arrives a demand a dissension. No, Sig
norma. mia, enter not beg! Within, there occurs
of alarm, of agitation"
OF agitation, indeed. Lights flashed in our win
dows; down the corridors rang angry voices,
long fierce shout-then a chd's scream!
"Oh, Jimmy Christmas!" groaned Its my
phans!"
Your orphans!" gasped Charlotte. Lucy Ann
Are they statues you've been buying, or WHAT"
you deceive me? Aren't they real orphans at all?"
Real orphans!" Charlotte turned blue.
"since they possess father mother, also five broth
and six sisters, also grandmother"
Bang! The front door crashed open. First out
shot gigantic peasant, his bull head thrown back.
trumpeting like mad elephant. The tinest twin
clung on his huge shoulder Behind him scufhed
husky contadina hugging Addolorata frantcaly;
then magnificent old lady in purple satin
and blue check apron, mady embracing the big
gest twin Behind streamed tumultuous mob. max
ing uproar fit to crack your One minute they
halted; then. with yell OF rage. they swooped
Thief" "Murderess." "Malocchio." "Thou who
stealest children by bride: Take thy vile sold!"
ploring arms Touch not the signorina! Are not
the gendarmes here to e enforce?'
and quirked their moustaches.
"Gendarmes!" said 1. Il like that! Why were
these children kept in an orphan asylum il they
weren't orphans, lnen. FdSqudie YOU anu TIE HuISe
told me that their parents were all dead and buried
that they had no clothes but these shocking rags
they wore"
Unluckily the contadna knew English "R-r-rags,"
she remarked, to the assembled multitude. Thus
shesthese garments illustrious which made
for my bambini from the lambrequins OF the Duches
sa! Rrrrags!"
There angry mutter. My knees began to
shake. Then, alas. that darling Addoorata put out
her arms to me. with crow. That settled it.
"Miserable She has stolen the bodies of my
children will she steal their lowest" shrieked
the mother. Come fly, else she will witch them
from us. for always!" She snatched the weeny
twin from the father crammed it under her arm.
and of she few. precisely like very mad hen.
After her streamed the whole chorus. But the
big father stayed behind So did q big sheepish
brother And the two Majesties Of the Law.
Then clamor. like tin shop rolling down
a mountain Down the stairs Melvina- But