The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-02

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Far and wide did salvatore roam over Manhat.
tan that day. dark and lowering. like = bull who
has broken his pasture bounds
But at night hasxard and pale. the prodiszl came
home. He said not q word but went up to bed
and fell into heavy sleep.
The next day he was Up bright and early. With
out one break or even Y grunt he worked at his
desk through the long. sultry hours. And that
evening. for three nights thereafter. salvatore
sat on the doorstep quietly smoking the pipe OF
peace OF honest repose from . day well spent.
But the fourth evening. moment by moment
the mountainous bulk Of him seemed to tighten.
Suddenly with a breath that like an explosion.
he rose. damned his broad black hat firmly down
over his eyes. and with look of heroic decision.
strobe on toward the old place OF meeting
Swinging sharply around the corner he met Gem
face to face. At nrst she did not see him. She
stood by the old hurdygurdy alone. and staring
across the street ia way that made Salvatore stop
short. When she him, Comma gave a Quick
gasp. ana both hands leaped throat and then
her face cleared and relaxed. and looking up into
his scowlng visage the girl laughed trumphantiy.
long and low.
but salvatore wss in NO joking mood. With
solemn businessiike frown. he advanced. took her
hand. squeezed 1t until she WINGED with the pain
and growled:
i
to priest. We will be married. and then viii 70
to my father and mother! Let him try! What can
he say? My mother herself was Italian!"
As Comma looked up. her face slowly changed.
grew utterly dazed. For . moment she seemed to
grasp nothing. But ali At her eyes fairly
cracked with wrath.
Me- she gaspsd. Like your mother."
YES" said Salvatore. suddenly beaming Don't
be afraid. You be just the same"
me! Ne the same?" She started to
laugh. stopped looked ut him again. pursed her red
lips and spoke in q tone Of withering scorn:
Salvatore! have seen your mother In the
shop! And rather than be SiEnora Schneider
like her, would wrap my throat tight. tight In my
hair. and pull and pull until was dead! ugly"
She threw up both expressive young hands,
salvatore was dumb With Amusement Thrice he
tried and could not utter q word. But a he dared
down as Comma. slowly his cheeks pulled QUE and
out In swelling indignation.
"Good-by!" he burst out at last. He aoanced
around heavily and started away.
moi Salvatore! no-no-no!" Her strons ann
pie fingers chung tight to Of his arms: the girl
was painting between her teeth. An instant she
seemed hesitatins. MOI" she whispered. II will
not tell!''
TELL what!" he asked roughly. She shook her
head. and her face broke into flashing smile.
Salvatore. Come" Her voice was coaxinx and
tremulous now. Come. One evening more-only
when sing can see: And then will tell you
what we can do. We will nnd q good wya, . beau
tiful way. Come! salvatore! Come!
And Salvatore gave in!
That night they hardly knew where they wan
dered: they barely saw the swarthy faces pressing
close around The eyes Of Comma kept hungrily
turning to the face OF lover striving tn srin
again the vasabond spirit that she had awakened
to ltfe Salvatore himself could feel this part or
him rise to respond. But his old SELF the ScAneid-
er self of sobriety, order and thrift this
too rose to the struggle. And while the witch
danced TIL the tenement street was . Of de-
lighted faces. while she sang merry heat the old
mountain songs that had once made him thrill with
strange new dreams and longinss Salvatore stood
at his post hrm n the ancient Colossus Of Rhodes
His face was hxed In . gloomy scowi through
which the soul of broke only In faint occa-
sionai CLEANS. And the believing laugh was silent
now. buried deep in the fortress. Stoutly did the
house Of Schneider stand the storm that night
At last when the struggle had gone ON for hours
after desperate tinsling effort which brought the
tremendous applause, when Comma turned and met
as before only that stony expression OF gloom, her
dusky face grew suddenly white. She came to him
swiftly. stamped her feet. threw her 1.-the young
body into posture Of terrible scorn and with one
hand outstretched and shaking, the girl poured
forth her pent-up wrath
Nov go! Go back to you Schneider. your sau-.
sages. cows-and pigs! Go back! Go to sleep.
Grow fatter than all the pigs in the woridand eaf
You are good for ing-nothing-nothing! Co"
salvatore looked down at his feet. gave . short
angry laugh. and turned and went qniekly away
And Gemma facing the crowds with cheeks that
now were flaming. went into peal upon peal Of wild
hysterical laughter.
Who" she shouted ut last. who will play while
I dance?"
Three gallant countryment sprang to the grinder.
And laughing and shrieking in gay little bursts the
airy witch whirled round and round tiu the vsole
street echoed with long and resounding Braves"
of applause.
Since then. In the snug little butcher shop. aine
long happy years have giided smoothly by.
And now each morning. his books held firmly un-
der his arm. neat and decorus youngster trots
dufully to school His face ID plump his stR little
haxen curls peep demurely from under his cap: