Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-07-03
full half inarticulate cry Mari clasped
her trembling hands.

her trembling hands.
Peter" she whispered-"oh, Peter.
Dumbly the guilty youth stood peering
through his cage. The wooden shawl
which the girl wore fell back from her
head. revealing the we'll remembered
clustering curls. The sound of his
home tongue upon her lips brought Il
sob to Peters throat.
II came" Mari went on breathlessly,
ito you, beloved. Because you had
not been able to send me money, should
that then keep us apart? So worked
| and worked" The words melted into
soft, little laugh. "Oh. you did not
know that could be so clever, Peter
could of myself earn so much money.
enough to bring me to the far America.
But me, alone-I did it, The trium-
plant tone turned now to one of deep
compassion. And you. my Peter
the girl said quickly-"they have made
you suffer. Because of cruel. wicked
mistake they have placed you here
behind their great locked doors.
"'He Is married in this country the
men tell me. but ask then how can
that be. 1t is foolish, for is not my
Peter my husband. and have not here
our printed records? But the interpret
err is very stupid. and he will not I'M
derstand, and he tells me over and
over again. Peter Olaf is married. so
l come away angry"
| The girl tossed her head BE brave,
beloved" she said, land all will vet be
we'll.
DO not grieve that l must go
| back, for so they have ordered. Re
turn AT once to your own country the
stern man said. as though that were
| punishment to me. am glad-glad
| to go
Here the people are so strange and
| fine and grand; here no one cares"
Mari caught her breath sharply. Tears
welled in the golden black eyes. She
waited. wondering at his silence, and
then. with a sudden hopeless gesture,
Peter stretched forth his arms.
Mari" lie murmured brokenly, IF
l could but touch your hand"
Have l not. then. the same long
ingW she answered TREMENDOUSLY. But
when they have learned their mistake.
Peter, when they know of their wrong.
then they will set you free. and you
| will hasten back to our happy home
land.
"There will be to welcome you and
| see in the garden our fruits and flowers
are growing and upon the hills our
sheep. So you will be content and hap
NJ CO VA
again to WANDER"
Mari" the boy cried out in despair,
"how may | then come to you'll who
am SO unworthy?"
An attendant laid kindly hand upon
| the girls shoulder Times up" he
reminded Mari looked back through
the screen with reproachful eyes.
You unwcrthy Peter?" she said ten
| derby. YOU Then obediently Mari
| followed on up the stair. Outside be-
| fore the Jail Il dark faced italian paus-
! ed to adjust the golden harp which he
carried. At his side. in bizarre cos
tune. tripped Il red Tipped girl. With
swift sidelong glance at the man she
firted her beribboned tambourine
81 go in there. Toni" she said ~ not
| play on the boat today. The Italian
stood looking down upon her with a
sort of logged devotion
You so to see him, Bianca." he said
he who was not your husband. He
fool you and lie to you, yet you can for
| give?" The girl shrugged her shoul-
| ders.
What do l forgiven" she asked pert
ly. 'He leave her for me. Ii he leave
me for her"-Bianca's eyes narrowed
but Petro he not do that she said
| Halfway to the impressive entrance
she turned back to smile at him. You
wait for me. Toni?' she called, and the
| Italian answered with sad resigna-
| ton:
Always | wait for you. Blanca"
She smiled at Peter also, showing her
pretty white teeth, as he drew near the
forbidding screen.
| Hello" she greeted him gayly.
Hello, but | cannot shake hands"
"Would you?" Peter asked her grave
| ~. Would you if you coud?"
why notY laughed Blanca. "You
will be free" she added quickly. 81 ask
the man at the desk if they send you
to Jail. and he frown, and he say he
think not. They send you back per-
haps where you belong. But. Petro"
she whispered softly. "when you are
free you will come back to me? Prom
ise am your wife"
The boy leaned YEARLY against the
| screen Through it came the fragrant
breath of roses in her hair
Promise, Petro." the girl caressing-
| ly implored him.
81 will come back to you, Blanca"
he answered evenly. She laughed q
little as she turned away.
"Goodby." she said And Us she
came out again into the light and
found the Italian still waiting in pa
tient hopelessness Blanca anticipated
the burning question Of his eyes
NO" she said. slowly shaking her