El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-17
The HeraId's
Daily ShOrt StOry
PietrO's Dream Of Love

The days passed and still he could
not bring himself TO tell Nlnette- A
few more days of happiness, he said
just one more day
How he hated himself Yet how could
he bear TO give up NinetteE he dld not
dare TO hope that she would love him
after the disclosure
One rainy evening they stood together
under the tent the light from the cleo
trio globe on the corner falling upon
the cleaning wet pavement and trying
IN cain 10 pierce the fog that was 81
lently envelOping the city.
Drops Of mist like little pearls chung
to Ninette's black hair and the red SCARF
she had pushed back from her Iore-
head. PietrOs heart sWelled palnIully.
ooh Ninettei" he cried How beau
tiful you arel Your eyes are like me
stars. I don't deserve you, don't de-
serve your
You say that so often, Pietro," Nj
nette answered. i am sure 1 dom
know why. The girls at the shop JninA
YOU are the handsOmest boy they nave
ever seen. They are, oh, so Jealous ana
enviOus. And, PietrO, tomorrow IS sun
day, and you must come ana see ne
have told my mother all about you, ana
she wants to see you Don Z say lhat
you don't deserve me- am not SO
good as yous Pletro-
The words went to PietrO's heart ike
a stab and his lips Whitened-
''Ninette, oh, Ninette! We can't De
married. I have deceived you Oh,
Ninette, it was because / loved YOU
so. 7 could not bear to tell you You
could not love a cripple, and am only
a cripple LOOkW
He came out from behind the cart
and hObbled rapidly up and down the
wet pavement, his grOteSque figure ana
jerky, plunging gait looming curlouSIy
through the fOggy twilight he ola not
spare himself nOWi I'm feverlsn eager
ness of self abasemenS he exhibited MS
deformity in all its ugliness-
THAT is why I always stayed behind
the cart That is why / never saw you
on Sunday evenings! see how noDDle:
Oh, ] am a Wretch- his words uleu
away in a cry Oh NlneIIes don Nd
me for it,"
Ninette looked on in horror and
amazement- Could this wretched little
Jerking cripple be her Pietro, the Pc
behind his cart and looked so tail and
handsome that the girls enYled ner
All. Whist would the girls say A GRIP
pIel She put up her hand and hid ner
face to shut out the dreadful sight
Pietro's outstretched arms dropped to
his side, the pleading look died out or
his beautiful eyes; if deep in his heart
he had retained a little hope that Nj
nette might still love him, IT was gone
s.Ninette," he said quietly, 81 give
your promise back to you 1 know you
are not for me" His voice Quivered
little. But QOn De unhappy aDDA-
me. You can go away ana never see
me again. You must so, Ninette.
yes, I viii go away" said Nlnette
drearilv. 1T is not your fault, PietrO,
and I don't hate you for 1t; but can't
stay-now. Oh, no, no. could not!
GOodbyr
"GoOdbyT'
Pietro stood and watched her slim
figure disappear in the gray mist Jne
light falling upon his white race ana
clasped hands, and upon his tented cart
and the slippery glistening, wet pave
ment, and the shadowy figures moving
through the fOggy night
Darkness had likewise descended up
on his heart and upon his bright dream
Of happiness After a time he moved
back to his cart ana began putting
away his wares.
Then something happened. A wild
scream pierced the air, noise OF Tying
hOOfs and tearing wheels filled the
street and people scurrled h1ther ana
thither as a carriage drawn by two
terrified horses came swinging along at
a frightful pace.
one instant Pietro shrank back
against his cart, tho next he had
sprung at the horses heads and was
clinglng TO the bride.
His light figure swayed to and fro,
the hot breath of the horses tanning
his face, their loud snOrting filled his
ears like a roar A few more plunges,
then q crash and pause, and Pletro
lay white and still beneath the horses
feet.
A dozen hands grasped the heads OF
the trembling animals and lifted the
Door bruised form from the ground. a
spark Of life still flickered fitfully, and
the bore him to the great hospital near
by. Brave, they said he was, but it
was only reckless bravery.
He opened his eyes after his leg had
been set and his head and arm ban
daged, but suffered silently and IN
complainingly- That was strong proof
or bravery.
Two days he lay, white and listless,
sinking slowly. and the doctor said
quietly to the nurse, There is no hope"
PieurO knew, but he smiled family
and looked up with wide, wistful, dark
eyes.
On the third day came a little black
haired italian girl, with red scarf
wound about her head. and demanded
to see PietrO.
The doctor warned her not to excite
the patient, but she walked quietly by
his side to the bed; then she threw
herself on her knees and flung her
arms around Pietro's neck, and kissed
him again and again.