The Washington herald., 1915-07-04
Edited by MARY MARSHALL
By MARY MARSHALL.


Let us take ourselves back almos,
500 years to a certain beauteous woods
in Northern Italy. The sun flickered
gently through the thick overhanging
chestnut boughs. and everything was
.still. save the low. musical hum of
insects. The scene, the sounds, and
even the fresh smell of new growing
things were just what meets you boys
and girls when. on a nice spring day.
you wander out into your own woods.
All at once a strange figure broke
in upon the scene, a handsome young
knight riding on a white horse with
red leather trappings. The knight
with a party of pleasure seekers and,
wearying of the pastime, had ridden
off by himself into this secluded por-
ton of the woods.
, Imagine, now. that you hear a
| burst of musical girlish laughter
through the trees. happy voices. call
ing back and forth.
Bona, Bona. Bona could be
heard distinctly.
Our knight in the woods had come
upon no lady of high degree in his
wanderings, for in face and costume
this little woman was surely a
peasant. At sight of him. obviously a
person of distinction. the girl started
back in surprise and then. covering
her confusion, she dropped low
courtesy.
Good day" said the knight, with
the usual salutation of his country.
I May l be of assistance to you? Are
you lost in this deep woods?'
oh, no. sir said the girl. Il was
but hiding in sport from my playfel-
lows We are having a merrymaking
in the woods. 1t is the custom of US
village folk to meet together on
pleasant holidays in the woods like
this"
After a few more words the pretty
peasant maiden asked the knight to
go back with her to the others and
if he were willing. to join them in
the supper they were preparing. The
knight was delighted to follow his
guide, who. even if she wasn't a real
lady. was very graceful in her man.
ners.
Thus it was that Brunoro-for that
was the knights name-met Bona.
whose story is still told by the peas
ants of Italy just as if it all hap
pened yesterday.
Brunoro was in the service of a
great duke, who for some foolish rea-
son had got into a quarrel with a
duke who lived in a castle near Bona s
home. The two dukes had carried on
their quarrel till finally Brunoro' s
duke. having no better adventure on
hand, had come with his little COM
pany of fighters and encamped near
his enemy's castle ready to fight.
! Then something better turned up
some adventure that seemed to post
/ pone hostilities. So away he went.
! leaving Brunoro, who was the most
daring knight in his service, in charge
| of his forces till his return. In the
meantime. there was to be no fight
| ing, and Brunoro and his friends had
leisure to go about in the beautiful
country where they were encamped,
hunting and feasting and merrymak-
ing and generally enjoying themselves
as all true knights were expected to
do in those days.
1t was in one of these hunting
trips that he met Bona. After he had
| talked with her for few minutes he
saw that she was a very we'll edu-
Gated little girl, and had all the
grace and charm of manner that he
had ever seen in any lady or princess.
This he was rather surprised to find
in n peasant, so he asked some of
the village folk about her.
This young girl. Bona he said to
a young farmer he had been talking
to. has she always dwelt among you?
She talks as we'll and as gracefully as
any high born lady l have ever met"
Bona" exclaimed the peasant iwth
great respect. Have you not heard
of Bona? She is the niece of the
priest of our village church. Her
mother and father died when she was
a babe, and she has lived with her
uncle ever since. He has taken great
pains to teach her. so that now, I dare