Evening star., 1928-04-16
Giovanni Returns.

| Bartolomeo waxed furious. Maria's
| face Madonna-like in Its sweet Seren-
| ity, remained unmoved. Bentto who
loved her TO the extent OF promising
Bartolomeo. her father, half share In
/ his thriving fruit business II she should
| become his wife-Benito looked at her
With Sullen desire. Why did she not
| like him? True, his face was somewhat
marred by the scars of smallpox and
his profile was ungodlike, but his clothes
we're tailored beautifully, his tie of rich
purple and his shoes spotleSSly yellow.
/ How could Maria resist him9 So many
girls almost as lovely as the daughter
/ OF Bartolonleo smiled on him and would
/ gladly accept AiS love. and this Sloe-
/ eyed, shy little thing resisted and stub
/ bornly remained deaf to the pleauinaS
! of her father and himself. What was
/ the secret?
Come. Maria" pleaded Bartolomeo,
You will turn your poor fathers halr
to the gray OF sorrow. You will destroy
his health and leave him in want
through your StubbornneSS, And Benito,
who adoreS YOU; can YOU denv his love9
He pines for YOU. His eyes are sad with
longing"
The Injured fathers arms were elo-
ouentlv outStretched. Maria knew he
thought of all the wine he could have
with the profits from the fruit store.
And Benito looked not like a languiSh-
ing lover. Indeed. he seemed rather
villainous. as If he would like to Strangle
his unwilling sweetheart.
Il do not love Benite." she said
finally. My heart t given to another
to Giovanni"
Bartolomec sneered with deep dis
gust Beniio frowned. He had never
III t.s "a LAT fn
had a sharp point. his wrist was strong,
"Pahl" exclaimed Benito. After four
years YOU Still think OF him, He has
not written TO YOU. He does not care.
A Strolling singer. a cheap actor" ex-
planned Bartolomeo 10 his prospective
Son-in-law. she knew him In Sicily.
She WAS mere child then. She does
not know. ! will see that she marries
you. my son. will force her to forget
this Giovanni.
The two meE went out with angry
looks at the fral little rebel The
strength of love that had SO long Sus-
tanned her broke down. She Sobbed and
shook with grief. Giovauni-four years
she had been loyal to her laughing -eyed
lover She could never forget the glori-
Gus Sicilian nights. the road winding
white in the moonlight up to her
fathers cottage on the cliff: the soft.
sweet drumming Of guitar. the voice
OF Giovanni freiehted with tender pas
sion. the promise that she would wait
Had that promise, so hardly kept, been
in vain7 She had been in America q
long time before she could write 10 him.
Bartolomeo had always hated Giovanni.
He had watched her and prevented her
from sending a letter TO Sicily. Finally
she had written once. twice. No an
swer came The lonely years went by.
Then appeared Benito with his love so
unwelcome. II was long before she
dried her tears.
The next day VAS q fiesta. holiday.
Her father compelled her 10 accompany
him and Benito respiendent in new
salt OF lavender with red stripe. They
went FIRST on n bus to the park. They
would dine together that night and she
would be betrothed 10 Benito. There
would be 3 grand repast. with much
wine and much merTymaking. Benito
had many friends. who would al come
10 pay honor 10 him and his lucky
choice Every one considered Maria 50
fortunate Benito had acquired much
money. He had a great shop. Yes. she
Was very lucky to be selected for his
wife.
But Maria had q hard time TO fight
down the tears that welied to her eyes.
An, II only Giovanni would come and
save her from this mani She had never
liked Benito Now she hated him. the
dirt In his nails. their claw-iike length.
the shiftineSs OF his eyes. the way they
looked at her
She sat with Benito on top Of bus.
Bartol0meo sat behind them. making