Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-09-06
PietrO'S
Secret
"
BY ALICE e. IVES
Copyright, by w. G.. Chapman)

Inns In the orchestra. ne was 4ulcI
man, seldom going off with the other
men, but generally making directly
for home when his work was done at
the theater. He was thinking Of Tes-
ga and the baby whom he would find
waiting for him in the little fiat out on
the East side Of the great city.
They called the little one Rosey, and
although she was not yet two years
old she would listen with wide open
eyes, as still as could be, when Pletro
played the violin.
Tessa was a very happy little wife
and mother. She kept the little nat
neat and clean, and when her work
was done wheeled the baby out toward
the river where the air came freshly
and there was always plenty to see,
with the big ships going and coming.
Tessa had been born in this country,
so she was perhaps more American
than Pietro, who had come from Italy
only nine years before. She had a
girl friend who lived near by who
often walked with her down to the
river and sat with her on the pier
while they both sewed or knitted. One
day q young man whom her friend
knew Joined them on the pier. He was
well dressed, good looking, and an
agreeable companion. He amused the
girls with merry talk and laughable
stories. Tessa liked the young man,
whom her friend introduced as Mr..
Lonna, exceedingly, and was not sorry
when a few days after this he again
appeared down by the river. This
lime she was alone, and was all the
more glad to have company. She
feared he would be disappointed when
he did not find Lisa there, and would
not stay long. But the absence OF
Lisa seemed to make no difference to
him. He stayed till she said she must
go home to get dinner for PietrO.
After that he found his way quite Of
ten to the pier, and almost always
when Tessa was there alone. She
cared nothing for him further than the
pleasure of his merry company, and
was so innocent in all her chatter that
she did not see he was thinking of her
i'm quite another way. Then one day
he let her know what he meant. He
told her he loved her, and was plainly
astonished when she shrank away
from him to indignant surprise.
SLOW could you say that" she
cried. "You know have Pietro-and
the baby. And Pietro is the truest
opd tho host in tho wOrI5
Lonna's lip curled incredulously.
"YOu think he is the truest and
best" he sneered. "How little you
know about it. Have you been much
around the theater"
"No," she answered. "Pietro does
not care to have me come to the stage
door. And why should I? I have
Rosey to look after"
"Of course" he answered. "Why
should you? Yot would be in his
way when he wants to meet someone
else at the stage door,"
"That is not true" she stormed.
''How dare you say it?'
She caught at the handle Of the lit
tile cart and walked quickly away.
When Tessa had given her answer
ito Lonna she felt exactly as she had
spoken. Then fearful doubts began to
come. The serpent had entered her
Eden, and she began to wonder if she
had been a trusting fool in believing
so implicitly in Pietro.
A few days after Lonna had seen
her, Pietro brought q letter in from
the box. Tessa noticed the strange
look he gave when he opened the let
ter. He turned away, read it hastily,
and thrust it into his pocket.
"Who is it from?" she asked.
"JuSt a man-wanting something
business" he answered evaSively.
Always before he had either told
who the writer was or handed her the
letter to read.
It seemed horrible If she must be-
lieve Lonna's words, but what could
this letter mean? Pietro had gone into
the bedroom before leaving. What If
he had taken money to give to this
woman? She went quickly into the
other room to satisfy herself, though
she had a kind of shame in the doing
of it. The little savings they were
putting in q small tin box under bag
in the closet. With trembling hands
Tessa drew out the box. There had
been two hundred and sixty dollars
there a few days before. She opened
the box. Only ten dollars remained.
Torn with the horror Of the revela-
ton, Tessa was for some minutes stu
pifed and unable to think. She de-
termined to go to the theater and
watch, but Rosey fretted and was
long time going to sleep, so that by
the time she could leave her Pietro
would be already in his place in the
orchestra, so she determined to wait
till the closing time and get some
where in place to watch the stage
door. She dressed plainly and went
out. She was rather early and paced