The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-03-15

HIS uutiSc VIlIdSe, he udO not vel
been bitten by that worm Of self-in
terest--love of wealth
Returning home after military edu
cation had taught him somewhat OF
the world beyond the village walls
he found 1t profitable to listen to the
propositions of Signor Tommaso the
richest villager, who had a daughter
to marry, not beautiful like Teresa,
1t Is true, but with a dover not to be
despised
To the one whose constancy had
Kept her for him during the long
months OF his soldiership he gave
never thought.
Love-" he reasoned, like every
thing else in life, is habit Most
men can fall comfortably in love with
FIVE out of 20 girls they meet"
From that time. he spoke no more
to Teresa, and, all vitality centered
IN one rut, the poor girl took his de-
sertion so seriously that the whole
village now realized her life to be
numbered by months, perhaps weeks.
Such instances are not rare in Latin
countries.
Obliged to work daily, it often hap
pened that she found herself in the
house Of Signor Tommaso at the
same hour in which Luigi came to visit
his betrothed, and many time while
she was laboring with bent back under
burning heat. 1t must have been a
crown OF torment to see the pair,
arm IN arm, upon the fields, or under
the shade of the bushes at the foot
of the hillside.
And how many nights, watching in
desperation the footsteps of the man
she loved. did she see him set out Sc.
cretly for the home OF his sweetheart.
where, unknown to Signor Tommaso,
the daughter and heiress found a
means to welcome her lover oftener
than village customs and parental sur
veillance allowed.
Teresa knew also, through the Ar.
gus eyes of love. that for month
past. ever since Signor Tommaso and
his man had been posted at night
time In guard over the ripe grapes
as is common throughout the vine.
yards OF Italy, Luigi had been obliged
to make the round of the entire hill
to arrive without peril where he was
awaited 1t was precisely this last
TACT that called to reality the fervid
fantasy Of her falsehood
How impatient he was to know
whether the way was clear" thought
the girl after Luigi had left her; well.
we will see"
She felt certain that this night, believ.
Ing Signor Tommaso to be safe IN bed,
instead of guarding his magnificent
harvest Of grapes, Luigi would spare
himself the long journey around the
hill, and would go to his betrothed
through the vineyard.
And. With a certain malicious pleas.
ure which marked the small revenge
OF the peasant. at the thought of the
mistake he would make and the scan
dial that would follow, Teresa reached
the first houses Of the village, from
whose windows streamed the cheerful
red and yellow flames Of lamplight.
But a curiosity to know how Il
would all end tormented her. and she
began to go slowly back over the
same road, through whose darkness
the bats wheeled, and the Expresses
stood black against the glitter of the
moonshine. Concealing herself near
the hedge which surrounded the vine.
yards of Oleggio. she waited patiently.
The moon accomplished its short
round and disappeared, several hours
passed, but still Luigi had not come.
1t must have been near midnight when
hurrying footsteps sounded upon the
path, and In the gloom Teresa could
distinguish that the young man grasp
ed tree limb and swung himself over
the high hedge. Then the girl listened
with strained attention.
For few moments, nothing could
be heard but the faint noise of leaves.
carelessly trampled; than, all at once.
in the silence of the hillside, rang
out the challenging voice OF Signor
Tommaso. watching the poachers as
he guarded the heavily-fruited vines.
who goes there?"
Then some one, running furiously,
and the sharp crackle of dried twigs
and broken shrubbery under the head.
long haste Of mans flying feet-then
a gunshot, a desperate cry--another
cry-stillness
To the girl crouching In the hedge
shadows. where the lick branches
massed, the mistake meant a love
avenged.
Tho oermanlc Museum.