The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-08-26

IN .MEN COQyTlB IJVO, ny w. q. I1edASt.J
The glowing MONDAY Jun was shin
Ing In all its splendor on the Spanish
stairway in Rome. 1t was still early in
May, but the heat was already SO fierce
that the Ciocciares, those picturesque
-monntaineers who max a living in
Rome as artists models, were seeking
out the few shady spots around the
famous stair.
An old man was sleeping peacefully
on the bottom step, and at his feet q
little girl was making up bouquets OF
violets to sell them on h Corso. A
few steps higher up a group Of young
boys were smoking and looking dream
lily down upon the street. In a shady
corner OF a landing half q dozen young
girls were tanning themselves lazilY.
Only Of them tried to prevent her
chums from falling asleep by teasing
them and pinching their arms n ears.
But she was not very successful, the
girls were too much used to Rssetta's
p~layfulness.
Rosetta was an unusually pretty
girl. Under her white kerchief a pair
Of laughing blue eyes were always full
of mischief, and her a fell in heavy
natural curls around her shoulders, al
most down to her slender waist. Her
features were regular and her pouting
lips always seemed to invite kisses.
At last, when she could not stand Ro-
setta's teasing any longer, n OF the
I girls said In q hooking tone:
Why don't o go to your Carlo, or
he will again invite Assunta to go with
him to Ire Fontane?"
THAT is not true, Ercinia," replied
Rosetta suddenly, turning very serious;
"he nev took her into the Campagna
with him." ~"
But I tell you Sor Francesca, the
sculptor, saw them together"
"Sor Francesca is an old liarv'
well, 1t is nothing to me-" replied
Ercinia in a sleepy voice.
But, in spite OF her apparent con-
fidence in her sweetheart, Rosetta's
~playfulness had entirely disappeared.
Was 1t possible that her Carlino, Karl
Reinsdorf, whom she loved with all the
strength of her heart, could be faith
less to her? No, 1t could not be posi-
BILE. 1t was nothing but a lie invented
by Sor Francesca, whom she had re-
fused. To be true, she had herself seen
Assunta coming out from Carlos
house, but then she was a girl who
would run from n studio to the other.
Carlo would never lower himself to
have anything to do with her. +
Rosetta stood up and walked away from
the other girls who were now sound
asleep. She felt an irresistible desire tc
see her lover. She did not believe what
she had heard, but she wanted to hear
MIN deny 1t with his own mouth and that
he loved her lone. She went into a side
street leading To the restaurant where
s Carlo always took his dinner at 2 O'Clock
with a few friends, IND 1t was now half
past one. She sat down upon the stooI
Of q house on the other side of the street
and waited patiently. ...-....
Carlo was fond of looking at ell pretty
girls, but that Is the way of all the young
men who come from the north, where II
Is said there are only pale, sickly girls
looking like half-withered flowers. 81
why should they not be smitten with thu
fiery beauties Of Rome, especially wheT
they are painters, But the heart has
nothing to do with 1t, as Carlo had satc
so often. But then many girls are sc
wicked and the men SO weak, and Reset
ta's heart was tortured with jealousy.
At last she saw Karl R~einsdorf coming
with two artist friends. He seemed GLAD
to see her and was evidently In the best
Of humor. g.
How are you, little one? Will / SCI
you tomorrow or must you again sit fol
the I~nglesa?"
Carlo, I must speak to you tcday-right
now" she cried e~xcitedly.
Her manner surprised him.
What has happened, Carina MIA TIE
: me everything"
She drew him into the hallway and i'm,
pulsively threw her arms around his neck
l. Carlo" she said, looking him straigh'
into the eyes, Carlo, are you faithless tt
me? Some one told me you were. Wer'
you at The Fontana with Assunta?"
He laughed, blu his laughter did no
sound natural and he did not dare lool
at her as he answered:
"How can you believe such nonsense
OF course 1 was not there"
IT shall try to believe you-no. I do be
lieve you"
COME to my studio tomorrow, cart
mia. n we shall have q long, coy cha
together. I must go now, as somebody 1
expecting me at Cafe Aragno."
With tears in her eyes Rosetta looked
after him as he hurried down the street Il
Join his friends.
Why could he not look her into the eyes
RNhu had ha onannad no amha rra aaad AM