The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-11
I~naddelena'S Valentine -

to st. Raphaels Hospital. unconscious.
at an early hour this morning"
Maddelena uttered a pitifuI little cry
and dropped on her stool behind the
counter. sobbing softly.
Emilia heard It and rose hastily.
What is It. poverina mla?" she asked
alphabetically.
"H-h-h-he's dead" sobbed Mad
delena.
Who? Silvestri?" screamed Emilia.
"Silvestri, That little beast-no,"
cried the girl wildly.
The older woman pounced on the
newspaper and read the headlines
with difficulty. "Che-che," she muir
INJURED. II am sorry. Poverino! He
was so handsome. You liked him,
Maddelena?"
The girl cried silently.
Emilia patted her shoulder. iii
go 10 the hospital. cara mia"
"Now-nOw," cried Maddelena hast
lily. We'll close the shop"
Emilia hesltated. Mona Lisa would
rave II the expected sutton arrived and
found the bird flown. But another
look AZ the pretty. griefstricken face
carried the day. Emilia had once
also been in love
The pair trudged through the dusl.y
streets toward st. RaphaeTs Hospital
Madeleine wore a thick jacket. but
she only tied crimson handkerchief
over her dark head. her face framed
in u. appeared a. 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. ~ he lived at all. and
they were not allowed to see him.
Maddelena took II 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 10
, Saint Patrick's and offered two candles
for Giovannis legs. Then she wept
all night and in the morning opened
her little shop. Would Giovanni ask
for her? Did he wish her well enough
for that? The doubt tore the girls
heart and made her silent. She had
seen Comma Miserendino also inquir.
ing al the hospital Maddelena had
as yet. no public right TO weep for
him. hut the Madonna knew she
prayed. and prayed harder than Gem
ma. too! But what II Giovanni pre-.
ferred Commas prayers 10 hers?
Maddelena busted her little shop and
kept her qulverinC lips firm. Emilia
found her sympathy 80 coldly received
that she marvelled. Then Mona Liss
Nated her for taking the girl to the
hospital. and poor Emilia. between the
two. vas reduced 20 tears.
The news from the hospital was
bad: Giovanni would surely lose one
leg. Tie had been struck while rc3cu
: ing a little girl who had stumbled on
the track. Giovanni was indeed a
hero.
Ma chez" said Mona Lisa. "tls q
pity. There IL nothing for a crippI,
i, but 10 sell shoestrings on the Green
That afternoon silvestri came III
, was counting. for he wore his blaei
:. Sunday suit, a starched collar and
tall silk hat. His thin hair was beau
"a tifully curled and scented. Emni
r. went al once for the penny's worth o
N molasses. and she and Mona Lis
" watched. But In Ave minutes 81
=. vestri emerged. looking slightly pal,
% and wandered aimlessly away. Tn
)f chaperons found MaddeIena with re-
a checks and tight lips
a "Weil?" said Mona Lisa.
N What happened. cara mia?" pante
n Emilia
The girl gave them a scornful Iool
ie He bought a penny's worth OF ioII,
n pops'"
IN "Poverino' He lacked courage.
~ said Emilia NY husband usad Z
's say he would never have got ~ out.
p was Ike a chestnut IN hla throat. an
n, he choksd hsd ~ slap him on m
H.. bark so. and ne says 10 mo. 'EmHI-
ne cara mia. n you would slways boz Their
'd 70 slap my bark. OH Ma che. ate
~ that o. was easy"
iv Madonna re e. necessary T.
le myself will slap siiveztri's back" sai
"a Mona Liza
h. " looked a. n This erpedlent woui
1o Do necessary. for suvestri hun
se round ne shop. enanoured but apeeci
- les. HeanEhlis the weeks paaae,
=, and by the hrst OF February Madd
n. lena was famous She had already RI
10. fused many Offers Neither wealth
y. nor station. nor diamond rings temple
~ the beauty But she went faithful
1a every morning 70 Saint Pafrick's an
~ prayed. yet she received no meaaaa
~ from The hospital
h. For nearly I've weeks Giovanni IA
on his bed of palm one Jog woui
or b. saved. but the strong body va
maimed Tor iife The young ma
~ mourned with passion. he ste his heal
7, out In secret. turning a stern face y
his nurse and his occasional visitor
h. Emilia came sometimes with ieiiy. \
.s q little fruit and Giovannrs eyes 70
Ia lowed her wiufully but Tor a Ion