The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-11-30
Continued from Page SD
GlovANNPs REPENTANCE.

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GlovANNPs REPENTANCE.
Blanca took the childs death very
hard, and she was so run down by the
nights of watching that she did not
rally for some time. She was anxious
about Giovanni. The man was almost
beside himself with an unreasonable
rebellion. Day after day he went and
came with the same look of fierce
hatred of all mankind. Blanca was
the only person in the alley, where he
had been so beloved, who had not be-
come afraid of him. To her he was
gentle, as always. but said little.
He could not play for children any
more, SO he frequented the business
streets, playing before saloons and bar
Der shops. One day, about two weeks
after Francesca's death, as he sullenly
ground out his tunes for crowd of
noon loafers, carriage stopped behind
him and woman's voice exclaimed,
why, there is Nono's piano mani"
He turned involuntarily. The lady
in the carriage leaned forward eager
| ly.
"Oh," she said, where have you
been? My little girl is sick-you know
the big white house where you play?
and she cries because you do not
come any more. Won't you come to-
day? she likes the music so much"
She opened her purse and took out
a dollar
Here she said. please come.
You know where it is.'
Giovanni, ignoring the money, turned
| to the piano. His face had flushed a
dull crimson.
81 GOMEZ he said hoarsely. "I, no
want re monnay. come play for
her"
Without another glance at the car
riage or the group of listeners, he
went swiftly up the street.
His heart beat quickly as he stopped
before the big, silent home and began
to play, jerkily. He was strangely
moved. He longed for, and yet dread
| ed, the moment when the door should
open and Francesca-it seemed as if
it must be she-should be brought out
to make her little offering.
He began with her favorite, "Put
On Your Old Gray Bonnet" and at
the end of it maid appeared and
beckoned him
Come in" she said. Miss Mono
wants to see you
He followed her upstairs to the room
from whose windows Mono had so
often waved her hand to him. The
child was propped up with pillows in
a big chair. Her cheeks were flush
ed with excitement. She greeted him
with her old sweet smile
Mono want music" she lisped.
pretty moosic. Man play"
She extended a tight little fist, and
Giovanni held out his hat for the preci-
GUS coin. Then she paled suddenly,
and the nurse picked her up and laid
her on the bed, while the governess
led Giovanni away.
"You must play some more" she
said. "She likes to hear it, and we
were wishing you would come.'
"She vair seeck?" he asked.
Eyes" was the reply; and then, in
Italian. "You do not speak much
English? WE'LL I will try Italian Yes
the baby is very ill. We think she
cannot get better, but we are afraid
to tell her father and mother. They
love her so. There are other children,
yes, but Mono is SO sweet, so dear;
we all love her BEST"
Giovanni turned his hat in his hands
'She is like my Francesca" he
said, ''but not the same. They are
night and morning, the sunshine and
the shadow"
Eyes? Your little girl is dark, of
course. I should like to see her. Your
wife is not with you today?" she quest
toned. "She is very beautiful"
They had reached the front door, the
girl opened it slowly, waiting for the
mans answer but he brushed past her
and out into the vestibule. Then he
turned with wild, hunted look.
Forgive me-" he muttered, half
roughly. Il am rude. You are kind
Blanca come not any more-she comes
not any more since Francesca is
dead"
Then he turned and ran down the
steps. He grasped the handle of the
piano, his eyes full, his heart heavy
and played and played. Twice was the
repertoire exhausted, and then foot.
man came and told him that the child
must sleep.
| For nearly a week he played daily
and always paid visit to the wee
Isufferer, so wan and listless, as Fran
cesca had been at the last. He was
living that time over again, and the
strain was telling on him.
On the sixth day he drew his piano
to the curb opposite the side garden
He could not stand in his accustomed
place, for carriage and two motor
car were in front of the house. AS the
chorus Put On Your Old Gray Bon
net" died away, somebody came to the
library windows and lowered the
the shades. Then here and there, al
over the great house was the same
thing done. Giovanni stood as il
turned to stone. Then he stopped tt
the curbstone and sat there, bowed
down his head in his hands.
The little governess saw him there
and went out to him. Tears were il
her eyes and she spoke very gently.
"The baby is dead" she said il
English. Then she remembered ant