Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-01-15
A WAX:
ROSE
Bv DONALD CHAMBER IN


WOrthington. an American tourist,
was travelling on foot in Italy.
There are some queer regions in
Italy. Worthington would pass over
IL section OF country wherein there
were no inhabitants; then be would
hill. with no outskirts, nothing to con-
meet II with amy either people lie TO-
solved to Investigate one OF these
towns and. for the purpose, remain
in it several days. ae did not find
out much about the town, except that
no one felt safe unless incIosed in stone
walls on the summit of hill.
W0rthington stopped at hostelry
commanding beautiful and Interesting
views. He loved to sit on stone
portico and look out on the landscape.
The landlords daughter seemed to
have been captivated by him on sight.
for on the evening OF bis arrival she
waited on him at the table and could
not keep her eyes of him. The next
day when be was on the porch she
went out there with litre Of wine
and took advantage Of his asking her
about some points Of interest on the
rolling ground below to chat with him.
While they were there young ltai-
ian Of her own class went BY the
house and saw the girl evidently very
much interested in the stranger. This
man was her lover, and love Is very
sensitive. He saw danger for him in
the American. When he saw her
again he reproached her and accused
her of being infatuated with one he
considered bis rival.
"Oh. Andrea" she replied, ~how
easily you become jealous!'
"Oh, Bianca," was the reply. show
quickly you are caught by new
fancy!
WOrth1ngt0n remained In the place
three days. Then when about to de-
part Blanca took wax flower from
vase and offered it to him. telling
him that it was il piece Of her handi
work. He thanked her and put it in
his buttonhole. She watched him de-
scend the roadway, danked on each
side. as is customary in Italy, with
high walls, until he was out of sight
But she knew he was on his way
northward and must soon emerge
where she could see him again. Pres
emily he reappeared. and not far be-
hind him a man was following. Bian-
ca gave subdued cry. Despite the
distance she knew this man to be An
lrea.
When Blanca saw her lover again
she could tell BY his appearance. his
actions, that he had committed a
crime, and she suspected what that
crime was. It Andrea had followed
the American and killed him there
would be no likelihood of the murder
being known. because the country SO
tar as the next town. miles farther on.
was uninhabited. She was tempted to
charge Andrea with murder in order
to see how be would receive the acct
sation. but she thought better OF this
and pretended not to suspect him.
Gradually be seemed to recover from
what haunted him and one day asked
Blanca to name the day when she
would marry him.
1.-THE day viii marry you, Andrea
will tell you that when you have
brought me something WISH"
''What is that, BiancaY'
1.-The day the American went away
| gave him one OF the wax roses in the
vase on the mantei there. he put it
in his buttonhole, but watched him
90 down the road and saw him throw
the rose away. wish to put it back
in the vase with the other flowers.
Find it and bring it to me. Then l
will tell you when will marry you"
How can l do that, Rianca?'
''You must or will not marry you"
Andrea was much cast down at this
and went away, saying that she had
given him an impossible task. But the
next day she saw him bunting beside
the road This action she received
with a curl Of the lip. A few days
later be came to her with the rose
She turned pale as he handed it to her,
for, since she had made it herself and
put her mark upon it, she knew that it
was the one she had given Worthing-
ton. She had laid trap for Andrea
and caught him. but she had not been
sure that Andrea was murderer. She
did not believe that the American had
thrown away the rose. and she now
believed that Andrea had killed him
and concealed or buried her gift with
the body.
Nov, will you name the day. 81.
anca?" he asked.
Come and see me the day after to-
morrow"
Andrea was obliged to wait. On the
day appointed be went to see Blanca
for her answer. He found with her
q Gardiner. who. the moment Andrea
entered. closed the door. Andrea's
teeth Chartered.
"You have come" said Blanca. ITO
hava mo name the daV I will marry