El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-22
Toto, the Mute
By Gabrielle d Annunzio.

TIE WAS a kind of wild bear that
had perhaps come down to the
= - plains from some glen or the
Maiella. His shaggy black hair hung
in unkempt masses round his dirty
face. and his two little eyes, yellow
as the ivy blossom, were never quiet
for a moment.
In the summertime he wandaIeu
about the fields, stealing the fruit
from the trees, or gathering the
ackberries on the hedges or throw
ing stones at the lizards basking IN
the sun. He gave short, hoarse cries
that reminded one of a mastiff when it
howls. For he was dumb, poor Toto.
The brigands had cut out its tongue
when he was herding the cows Or his
master in the meadows. playing on
his wooden flute. One summer even
ing il Moro came to the meadows and
two others with him, and they took
the spotted COW from Toto and be-
cause ne Grief out Justify, they cut q
hit off his tongue ami Moro said TO
him:
go now, and tell them all ABOUT it
Toto returned home. swaying from
side to side and waving his arms; and
the blood flowed from his mouth III
great waves.
he never forgot il Moro, ara one day,
when he saw him handcufftd and sur
rounded by soldiers, he threw stone
at his back and ran off laughing
loudly
After time, he left his old moth
er and the yellow cottage under the
evergreen oak, and took 70 roaming
the country, barefoot and dirty, always
ragged and hungry. and butt for all
the lads in the village
But Mimi loved him, Mimi, slim
slip OF a girl. all eyes. with a freckled
face and wisp of .tawny hair On her
forehead.
They had first met there under the
arch of San Rocca-Mimi, punched up
in a corner, was devouring a crust OF
bread, Toto, who had none, was stand
ing watching her.
VIII you have some?" the child
asked shyly, looking up with her great
eyes, clear as the skies in September.
81 have another piece here
Toto came forward gladly and took
the crust Both munched in silence;
three or four times their eyes met and
they smiled.
Where DO you come from?" whis-
pered Mimi
He made her understand by signs
his mouth. showed her an ugly black
morsel of a tongue
The child turned her head away
with a gesture of horror. Toto touch
ed her arm gently, and tears were in
his eyes as If he wished TO say:
do not look at me like that, Be
kind TO me-do not run away"
But such a strange sound came out
Of his mouth that it made poor Mimi
tremble
"Addio,'' she said as she fled.
Later on they saw each other again
and became like brother and sister.
Together they basked in the sun.
Toto resting his great, brown head in
Minis lap, and blinking his eyes with
pleasure like cat, when the little one
stroked his hair with her small fin
gers.
So they passed many days, begging
their way, sleeping in the hedgerows,
running amongst the grape-laden
vines at the risk of receiving a volley
of shot from the gun of a peasant.
Toto was happy. Sometimes he car
ried the child on his shoulders and
galloped with her like racehorse over
bitches and bushes.
One Sunday in November at noon
lu6y were QI1GOI the dICn Oh San IAOCcd-
From the clear blue of the sky the sun
bathed the houses with a soft, golden
glow the church bells pealed merrily
in honor of the fiesta They two were
alone; on one side the lone road to the
Cato, on the other the fresh plowed
fields.
Winter. is coming now" said Mimi
thoughtfully, looking down at her bare
feet and her washed-out rag of gown.
1.-The snow is coming and soon every
thing will be white; we have no home,
we have no fire. Is your mother dead,
too?'
The mute bowed his head after a
moment he. raised it quickly and with
sparkling eyes pointed to the distant
ho.;xcn'
Then she is not dead? She is waiting
for you over there?" said Mimi.
Toto made an affirmative gesture,
then he made other signs that meant
to say:
Let US go to my home, there under
the shadow of the mountain, we shall
find warmth and milk and bread"