The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-28

GullIorQ-DOtn legs crushed. carried
to ST. Raphael's Hospital, unconscious,
at an early hour this morning"
Madeleine uttered pitiful little cry
and dropped on her stool behind the
counter, sobbing softly.
Emilia heard it and rose hastily.
What is it, poverina mia?" she asked
alphabetically.
"H-h-h-he's dead" sobbed Mad
delena.
who? Silvestri?" screamed Emilia.
'Silvestri! That little beast-nol"
cried the girl wildly.
The older woman bounced on the
newspaper and read the headlines
with difficulty "Ch6-che!" she muir
INJURED, 81 am sorry. Poverino! He
was so handsome. You liked him,
Maddelena?"
The girl cried silently.
Emilia patted her shoulder "T'll
go to the hospital, cara mia"
"Now-now!" cried Maddelena hast
fly. We'll close the shop"
Emilia hesitated. Mona Lisa would
rave if the expected sutton arrived and
found the bird flown. But another
look at the pretty grief-stricken face
carried the day. Emilia had once
"also been in love-"
The pair trudged through the dusky
streets toward st. Raphaels Hospital.
Maddelena wore a thick jacket, but
she only tied a crimson handkerchief
over her dark head, her face, framed
in it, appeared as pathetic and beau
tiful as young Mater Dolorosa. All
the way she was praying for Giovanni.
Giovanni, with whom she-had been
angry but an hour since, because he
had not passed her window!
At the hospital they were told that
he was unconscious, in danger of los
ing both legs, if he lived at all, and
they were not allowed to see him.
Madeleine took it in silence, like a
stunning blow. She went back quietly
with Emilia, so quietly that the good
woman wondered. The girl made no
further sign, but she went alone to
Saint Patrick's and offered two candles
for Giovanni's legs. Then she wept
all night and in the morning opened
her little shop. Would Giovanni ask
for her? Did he wish her we'll enough
heart and made her silent She had
seen Comma Miserendino also inquir
ing at the hospital. Madeleine had
as yet, no public right to weep for
him, but the Madonna knew she
prayed, and prayed harder than Gem
ma, too But what if Giovanni pre-
ferred Commas prayers to hers:
Maddelena busted her little shop and
her q
found her sympathy so coldly received
rated her for taking the girl to the
hospital, and poor Emilia, between the
two, was reduced to tears.
The news from the hospital was
bad; Giovanni would surely lose one
leg. He had been struck while rescu
ing little girl who had stumbled on
the track. Giovanni was indeed q
hero.
ma chez" said Mona Lisa, !" tits {
pity. There is nothing for a cripple
. but to sell shoestrings on the Green!
That afternoon Silvestri came. H
was counting, for he wore his blacl
Sunday suit, a starched collar and
tall silk hat His thin hair was beat
, tifully curled and scented. Emili
: went at once for the penny's worth o
/ molasses, and she and Mona Lis
watched. But in five minutes 81
vestri emerged, looking slightly pale
| and wandered aimlessly away. TIL
chaperons found Madeleine with re
? cheeks and tight lips.
"well?" said Mona Lisa.
d What happened, cara mia?" pante
? Emilia.
The girl gave them scornful lool
e HE bought a penny's worth of loll!
! pops!"
: "Poverino! He lacked courage
8 said Emilia. My husband used
s say he would never have got it out;
$ was like chestnut in his throat. an
: he choked. had to slap him on th
: back so, and he says to me: 'Emilii
s cara mia, if you would always be thel
to slap my back, eh?' Ma che, afte
: that it was easy!"
nAoOOAAds II II ID nCOCGSdAy
e myself will slap NSilvestri's back" sal
d Mona Lisa.
= 1t looked as If this expedient woul
e be necessary, for Silvestri hun
e round the shop, enamoured but speec
g less. Meanwhile the weeks passe
i and by the first of February Madd
r lena was famous. She had already T
2, fused many offers Neither wealt
Y nor station, nor diamond rings temple
= the beauty. But she went faithful
a every morning TO Saint Patrick's ar
y. prayed; yet she received no messat
d from the hospital.
= For nearly five weeks Giovanni ls
on his bed Of pain. One leg woul
If be saved, but the strong body vi
MANNED for life The young ma
r mourned with passion. he ate his hea
lt out in secret, turning a stern face c
his nurse and his occasional visitor
. Emilia came sometimes with Jelly.
s. little fruit, and Giovanni's eyes fl
4 lowed her wistfullF, but for q Ior
l.