Carlotta's Intended.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2624, 26 October 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

Carlotta's Intended.

BY RUTH M'ENERY STUART. concluded. / Indeed he felt father to all the world. / excepting of course the dear woman to whom be was husband, and this exception was as distinct and as tender and sensitive as only this particularly potent occasion could make it. He had hitherto known nothing so exquisitely refined as the almost reverential tenderness with which his intensely masculine heart went out to the sallow little mother and the tin}' yellow man-child who lay upon her breast today. The combination was something to live for. to fight fof, to die for — almost. And Pat's offense was against this embodiment of sacredness — this woman — this infant. The accidental wife, the incidental babe! How the thought would cheapen tho sacred possessions in the vulgar mind! To Socola himself, when it all dimly recurred to him, it fleemed almost a dream which be no longer more than half believed. If he were choosing again, he could choose no other woman of all the world, and surely be would have no other babe than this. When the two men. the one with the blind eye and tbe other, came together into the shop on this second day and gave to Socola, separately as opportunity offered, the sign of the Mafia, it was a signal to withdraw hastily with them into his private office. A subordinate gives the summons to his chief only when a communication of importance is pending. When be returned to the shop an hour later, the old man was still blue about tbe lips, and hi. hands trembled a« lia swore promiscuous oaths indiscriminately at the employees of the shop for imaginary offenses. The two men bad gone silently together out the side door v.-ith their heads down. Although Pat was restless in view of an impending row and eager to have it over, gauging the probable duration of an Italian's spree by the Hibernian standard, he did not think it worth while to return to tlie city fur several days. The gentleman from Palermo bad in the meantime hail much time for sober reflection. He had of course heard of Pat's projected visit and was ready for him — with an extended hand. Indeed no crafty diplomat ever confounded an adversary with a more gracious and smiling suavity than th". t with which he greeted and disarm*-.* his ingenious guest when on the Thursday following Pat re-entered his shop. Soeolrt's English vocabulary, at best a matter of a few hundred words, s.-enied today to have shrunken until it was less only thau his comprehension. He failed utterly to understand that there could be anything disagreeable in his visitor's mission. The inter-view, a ludicrous pantomimic affair throughout, ended by a mutual handshaking confession of friendly feeling, and Pat went away entirely satisfied that either a mistake had been made, the Sicilian had forgotten his oath or the coming of the babe had indeed crowded murder out of the father's heart. He had personally no longer a quarrel with the old man. He had refuted the lie and was simply willing to stand by the refutation. If be had glanced backward as he left the shop and seim the menacing scowl that followed his receding figure, lie would perhaps havo understood. From Soeola's presence he went up "home" to the Di Carlos'. Here, to his dismay, two more notes of solemn warning awaited him. Both, were unsealed. Indeed they were written on unfolded scraps of paper and were found slipped in haneath th-- door, just a< thefir-t had been. YVhen tie- signora had called Par. into an inner i-oum. she (d 'sed tie- door and turned gray with pallor as she handed them to him.

When the si'iimrtt find culh tl ['at iidn<r,i inner room, she c/om./ Die door. Her fear of the law. of death, of purgatory, of hell, was vague and as nothing to her terror of the vengeance of the Maria. None of her family were members of the dread organization, but she remembered only too vividly how the husband of her first cousin had years ago received jnst such a warning as this. and one day he had gone as usual to Ids work and had never come homeagnin. Ever since she bad had the letters in her possession Aav had felt as if tho angel of death were hovering over the house. As she stood at Pat's side and saw him read the words of warning she began to cry. "Fo' God sague, Meester Pad, wad you ces-a been do:" she moaned. Pat laughed. "Well, ma'am," stud he, "at the present moment I'm jist afther a second visit to yer yung frind, Socola. We're that thick ye'd think we wero twins — or thripW- mebbe, an I was two an he

only wan— the way he does bow an sclirape right an left to mo." "Socoli'v!'' If Pat had said he had just returned from a visit to hia satanic majesty, she Bhe would not have been much more startled. "Socola! Yon ees-a been see Bocola! Fo' God sague, how you ees-a fin' 'im?" "Find 'im! Faith an he's as well as cud be expected afther havin a fine by a-Sunda' night. Ye see, it does be very dangerous whin a firrst by is borrn to in ould man. It does fly to his head an rot 'im ravin crazy. I b'lave the docUiors do call it puerile faver. Did ye river beer ay ut?" The -woman -was too much concerned even to realize that he waa jesting. "Wad 'c sayce to you?" she asked eagerly. "Sure an he sez he wants to name the yungshter afther me, but I'm that proud I won't allow ut. Ye see, the shtyle ay beauty in tlie Rooney family has been preserrved through thick an thin wud great pains, an I'd niver con.sint to take a risk ou Socola' s fatures wud no promise ay relafe from her loyal acoindency tlie madam. Ye see, a proud man must protect his name as well as his fame." This bantering, really only a ruse to gain time to reflect a little on the situation, was becoming very trying to tho signora. Pat became suddenly conscious that there were genuine tears in her eyes. "Niver mind now, niver mind," he said, willi real feeling. "Don't fret yersi If because a eon pi**- o' cranks do sind me a valentine. Faith, there's northin iv ut but mebbe a t brick o" the shoe thrade to dthrivo me out o' the competition." He then briefly reviewed his two visits to the old Sicilian, omitting the occasion of his going and laying special stress on all the pleasant features of their meetings. Put she was not to be so easily appended. She lowered her voice almost to a whisper when she spoko again: "Teil-a yon fume, D.leester Pad, me an Carlo ees-a been hear somethtvn." "Ilcfrd soiiiething, did ye? An whut was ut?" "Plenny young mans eos-a tell me an Carlo you ees-a say somethecn 'boud-a C'lotta an .^ignor Socola. All-a peoples ees-a talkin 'bond." "They are, are thoy? An whut if I did? An whut did ye say?" "Me? Of a coze I sayce ees-a no true. Socola ees-a neva was-a lova-a C'lotta." "Ye did. did ye? An whut did 'er father say?" "Carlo sayce ynu ees-a just a inague-a lill fun. 'Z no true." Pat .scratched his head. "An hetune the two ay yez ye've made me out a bloomin liur now, haven't yez?" *''F I mague you oud a lie. I mague you just-a pardners fo' myselve. Fo' Cod sague. lis'n ar] mo, Meester Pad. 'Z no lime fo' talk 'bond lie. 'Z-a time fo' business. Yon muz-a '^o just-a so q'.-ig as you can-a go an tell all-a do_e young mans you was-a just-a pljy'n." Even tho strong friendship evinced by her intense anxiety failed to palliate tho affront of her proposition in Pat's eves. He looked at her, bit his lip and without a word turned on his heel and left lier. As he passed out of the door the sound of a sob reached his ear. IP 1 was back in ;i moment. •'Fo' the love o' shad, ma'am, don't — don't fret. Niver mind now, I tell ye. If ye cry anithc-r dthrop, I'll howl out a high tenor mesilf to match ye. Sure it'll he all right now, I'll promise ye. I'll shtep out by an by till I do find the crowd, an I'll make a bit ay a spache that'll silence thim, an they'll niver lay a hand on me. I'll promise ye that. Come out now." "Tell "jn ei-s-a no true Meester Pad. Sny you was jn-t-a mague fun. An anyhow I b'iii •!'(•«•.-;• a 1 1. ■; 1 < ]< -r you lto way." She sobbed again. "Well. 1 d-elare. ma'am, I'm thafc ashamed ay ye! Ye're fretfin yer.-.'.lf about lii-.rtliin, an Socola. an meliketwo pea.- -a irre.-n wan au a dlhry wan in wan pud. Come ou out now. Sure the crowd around the shteiis are all half a.-hlape. an they'll 'nave uo fun till ye do come an w;;K-e thi in up wud a good laugh. Come now. The royal eon-orrt an all yer ma.j- --ty'-j ]oya! sub/a-ofs'll not da.re open parliament till the queen do<-s arrive. With a comical bobbing courtesy he made way for her to pass out. Snijuling and wijiing her eyes, she escaped to her own room for a moment, but it was not long before she joined the circle on the banquette. It was a sultry summer afternoon, and the scene about the doors was drowsy enough indeed. The little father Di Carlo nodded on his barrel. The bah}-. a mosquito netting stretched over her face, lay sleeping in her willow cradle at his side. Several men lounged on the benches talking lazily in Italian and fighting the flies with their red cotton kerchiefs. Within the shop the hoy Pasquale stood languidly opening oysters for a black girl, who, leaning with half her tall length spread over tlie counter, indolently chewed a cud of gum as she waited with bovine patience while lier bucket was slowly rilling. Half way down the block a chattering */*. oup of neighborhood children, among whom was a generous sprinkling of Di Carlos, were playing in tlie doubtful shade of a tallow tree. Some sat with their laps piled high with china blossoms, which they strung on threads into fragrant purple necklaces. A pair of girls played "jackstones" on tlie fronts of their dress skirts lapped one over the other on the grou?id, while others, arm in arm, promenaded up and down, shading themselves, after the fashion of Paul and Virginia, with tall green banana leaves purloined from over a neighboring fence. Somewhat apart from the ol her children and nearer the shop two taller girls sat crocheting cotton lace, while their toddling charges slept at their sides. Pat, whose scat commanded a view of them, was not long in discovering that the smaller of these two was Carlotta, and while be passed idly from one subject to another, challenging conversation

at random with his drowsy company, he delighted to watch ber as the oblique rays of the sun revealed her each monaent more clearly to him. "Five times thi in two childer have dropped their nadles to measure their lace or fringe or whatever ye call it," he said prcsontly, laughing. "Sure I'm going to watch thim now, an tbe seventh tiuio they do measure ut I'll up an be off. I've a, call to make a spache to some o' me constituents, an I must hunt thim np. Ido fale as lazy as the fly on the banana here at me elbow. See him walk like a bug from wan black end to tafce c sup at the ither — too lazy to raise his r.-ings an fly. There they go again, the childer. God bless thim, measurin again! Six times in 40 minutes. Sure they've harrdly time to put a tuck in ut betune the two measures." The signora laughed heartily: "Lis'n ad-a Meester Pad! Pood a tug in a lace! I swea' you would-a mague a dead dog laugh." Her laughter did Pat good. "Sure a tuck or a him are all wan to a tailor in leather," he replied, unconaciouslj' coming into the domain of Carlyle's thought. "But tell me, ma'am," he continued, "how do ye ladies him fringes ony way? I cudn't for the life ay me him a fringe nor scallop it nayther." She screamed with laughter now. "My God! Hem a fringe! Nobody can-a hem a fringe." 'Ts that so? An d'ye fringe the hims? I'm not jokin. Faith I niver so much as fringed a scallop in me life, let alone a him. Tell me, now, d'yez dthraw threads, orr dthrop stitches, orr pucker it on the bias? Oeh, there now! I must got The two girrls beyant are measurin their scallops again. Well, so long, ma'am! I'll be back in the autumn, pi aze God, 'whin the l'avea begin to fall.' " She was laughing so that she could not speak when Pat rose to go. "Since ye do insist upon ut," he added as lie turned away, "I b'lave I'll change me summer plans an come back be supper time. Put an exthra sup ay coffee in the dthrippcr, plaze, an dthrop tlie name uv Rooney promiscuously in the pots." "All-a righd! Muz-a be shore, shore come to supper. Prormus you sometheen good." This was a thing Pat rarely did, and she was delighted. Even had she not known that he would come in laden with paper bags full of good things to add to the supper table she would have hern just as glad to set his plate in between little Pat's and Carlotta's. Pat had no trouble in finding the "constituents"' whom he wanted to meet. He knew tliat at this hour certain Italians would be sure to congregate at their favorite rendezvous, a coffee house near tho levee. He was glad to find Tramouetti and others who wero present on the former occasion already there. It took but a few moments to repent his former account of tlie Socola wedding, which he colored with new drolleries in the narration, and to add — and this was the object of his visit— the item carelessly omitted befor< — viz, Socola's threat that the Mafia would avenge a betrayal of tlje affair. This he carefully explained was the reason his good friends, the Di Carlos, had felt constrained to deny it. They were afraid of the Mafia. They couldn't understand how he and Socola understood each other perfectly now, and. after all. it was a small matter whether .Socola had been jilted or not. Who cared? It was a thing of the past. For himself, he only mentioicd it again to prove that he hadn't lied before. The whole business was. he finally declared, "a timpest in a taypot," and the sooner forgotten the better. He ended by begging them not to "worry tin- madam" by saying anything more about it at the Di Carlos'. "bure the madam's been wapin an v.-abui for fori- ni lie kilt entirely. bhe thinks I'm mit this minute tellin ye all I wa.s jokm an thryin lo hack out ay the who],, shiateuiiat. Sure \\) hack out, in a minute if J knowed a- backshfep, but when I tuck dancin lessons in Paris whin J was a yungshter I niver learrned the crawi'sh luovemeat. an faith it's too late in life now to dthrag me wooden peg into a new iigure. There's but three-quarrt-Ts of me left onyhow. but it's tlife. -quarrters ay a man's shape, praise God. an I'll not disgrace the fraction for tie- likeness it does bear me mother, Cod rest her." The crowd was rather still and subdued for some time after Pat left them. "I'm sorry I ever oponedmy iipa about So< olas business," said one finally in Italian, "but anyhow 1 told where I heard it." "I never said anything to anybody," said another, "and I'm glad. I don't want any of his flock of vnmpires following me in the dark." "Put I'd hate to be in that Irishman's shoes!" "In his one shoo, yon mean. And me too So would I."

CHAPTER VI.

For several months after this things seemed to drift along as usual. Pat's prosperity, already assumed, though plodding, had been unexpectedly accelerated by tlie sudden death of his partner, whose widow had preferred a settlement in cash to the possible risk of an investment subject to the vicissitudes of trade. This left Pat in sole possession of a promising little business, and he was doing well. He still went "home" nearly every Sunday, and as Carlotta had of late been especially kind to him he began to feel that the materialization of his hopes was not far distant. The youth Rubiuo still hung about the shop with his accordion, and once Pat had found him and Carlotta out walking together when he camo on Sunday afternoon. He said to himself that it was all right for her to be happy in her own youthful way, and he tried to feel glad. Indeed if he were not wholly so at the- time her hearty greeting when she came home in a little while made him forget it all. So the winter passed — a second since the Socola affair. In a month Carlotta wouhl pass her eighteenth birthday. Things were coming very close.

Pat feared no opposition from the Di Carlo parents. Indeed the signora in her relation of unconscious mother-in-law elect was a joy to his Irish heart. Bhe had evidently no suspicion of tho truth, and in the face of Pat's blossoming out into a successful gentleman had been unable to refrain from throwing out occasional bints recalling his early fancy for Carlotta. And Pat, tho while laughing in his sleeve, kept her in continual suspense by hinting at other posgible alliances, as when he said: "Sure an I wush ye cud see the Widier Schmidt, how purrty an yung she is eince the ould man's gone. Troth an ye may heer any day ay an elopemint in high life. Sure I tould 'er we betthor wait till the Bernnmla is fiiTinly rooted en tho ould gintleman's graye — God rist 'im! An, wud ye b'lave? she does northin but shprinkle it wud a watherin pot since." "Oh-h-h, "z-a shame fo' you, Meester Pad, talk like thad! Can get plenny pritty young-a woina' yed." "I've not fully made up me mind yet, ma'am, sure, till I do see wull she turrn back all the capital she dthrewoutnv the thrade an promise me a day off once a wake from cinnamon cake till I dofale me pulse an starrt fresh."' It was no wonder the signora missed Pat out of her daily life. He made so much fun. Was it strange she wanted to secure him? It was at last Carlotta's birthdaj-. Pat had come to town rather earlier than usual, intending to take her — alone for the first time — out for a ride. They would go up to the Carroll ton garden and sit on one of the little benches together under a tree, and when thoy came home they would tell "madam" and ask her blessing. He knew just the funny things ho would say as he would present the little bald spot on his betid for her maternal blessing. And then they would have to tell — or rather to ask — the father. He scratched his head a little nervously at this thought and wished the ordeal were over, yt t he would get through somehow and "carry it off" with whatever inspiration the moment should bring. He was dressed in his very best and would have given much to wear his artificial leg for the occasion. He would have liked to appear as a whole man walking at her side tonight. It was just merging into twilight when he approached the shop, and the family sat, as usual, about the doors. "An whore's Lottie?" he asked as he joined the circle. He hail never called for her in thia way before, but he was too near tho edge of things tonight to care to think. "C'lotta U'.-.-cii just now gone oud-a walk weeth ( riuseppo Rubin. >. Sid duwn, Meester Pad." And the Cgnora lifted her foot from tho rung of a stool and pushed it toward him. He sat down, but he was uneasy. After a lit la' while, during which, the signora afterward said, lie had never beeu more lively or more witty, he ruse and left them. For the last three Saturday evenings Carlotta had been out with Giuseppe when he came, but he had thought nothing specially of it. But tonight! Ibid she not remembered? Did she not realize that today meant much to him — und to her? He would pass the hour until he should be sure to find her at homo in his favorite retreat on Ihe river bank alone. There wonld bo no demand upon bim here, and he could get himself together again, for lie was keenly hurt. As he left the Di Carlos' he could not see that two nan — Sicilians 'hey were — who stood together in the shadow of the wall across the way moved slowly after him until he stopped the car, wheu, quickening thoir paces, thoy also jumped aboard, one seating himself within, while the ot her pas.-.cd out to the ] >];; t '• .r,n wi;h tlie driver. N'iihor could hi' know when he crossed tin.- wharf that these two men watched and by separate routes followed him at a distance as he disappeared among the shadows between the piles of freight along the pi"r. The river was high, and when lie reached his accustomed seat the floating wharf, which was chained to the heavy timbers, attracted him. He had never been down here, but a pair of hanging steps invited the folly of his descent tonight, and. lie had soon hobbled down and sealed himself on tho inner edge of the raft and thus within the shallow of the pier above. It pleased his mood to get thus near the turbulent, restless waters for awhile. To sit in a little black shadow while he waited for Carlotta to come homo witb Giuseppe suited bim tonight, while the booming, swelling, restless river that lifted him upon its bosom and seemed threatening to submerge everything was typical of his love. His thoughts had hardly begun to cool and shape themselves when, first vaguely, as at a distance, and now nearer, clearer, came the sound of an accordion. On summer evenings almost anywhere along the river bank one may expect to find a sprinkling of accordion players — usually German kitchen courtships out for an airing — and there should have been nothing very startling in the sound, yet its first note made the Irishman's heart stand still. Ho knew the most distant reach of Giuseppe's accordion. It had come out to meet him too often in the evenings for him to mistake it now. It was coming very near, and soon he began to hear voices, Carlotta's and the youth's. They were sitting down on the wharf just above his head. Broken snatches of tunes proved that Giuseppe was toying thoughtlessly with his instrument, and while he played lie was earnestly talking. Soon the music stopped altogether, the voice fell lower, more-seri-ons, more indistinct. It seemed to Pat that the boy talked for an age, but he could distinguish nothing. But presently Carlotta spoke clearly: "No, no, Giuseppe. Hush! I can't lis'n at you!" Then again Giuseppe muttered in a tone indistinct as to words, but full of pleading. And now Carlotta again: "Hush, I say, Giuseppe! I musn't iis'n at you! I wish I was dead! I hate

you I I hate myself! I hate your music I I hate everything. Before you came I was satisfied. Everything was promise good, an I never knowed no better. Now when I put my finger in my ears I hear you siug — I hear that music. Oh, I hate it all! Tonight I ought to be home, and I am here with you — always with you." He spoke more clearly now in Italian: "But why do yon speak so, Carlotta? It is not true that you hate me. You love me — I know it; I feel it. Since firstp liiw you I knew we were for each other." "But no, Giuseppe. Hush, I say. I can't be for you. Since two years lam promised. My word is passed." "And who is it that holds a child by her word when she loves bim not?" "Oh, hush, Giuseppe! He don't hold me. I hold myself. He is the best man in all tho world. He loves me more than even my maw. Since I was bo big he loved me, and I loved him good, but since you came lam not the same. lam not fit. I run away with you, and then when I see him I am sorry and speak kind with him, but all the time I see you. He trusts me, Giuseppe, same like I trust the Blessed Mother. He even put my name by her name once, and you have all broken me hearted, Giuseppe, and made me turn away from him. I wish I was dead — .aud you— and him!"' There were tears in her voice. "But listen, Carlotta. You don't understand. Nothing is true but love. Everything else comes after — promises, mistakes, all — everything! Lovo is from God Almighty. He never sends love like mine but ho sends the answer too. For twomonths I have read my answer in your eyes and was satisfied, but it was sweet to wait, to sing, to play, to laugh all around it, making believe I was not sure. But lam sure. You are mine." "Oh, but no, no, no, Giuseppe! I am not fur you. If I was that mean, G-od would never bless me nor you. It wouhl bring a curse. You cannot, understand." "Who is this coward who holds you?" "But flush! He is no coward, Giuseppe. Me, lam a coward — but not him. It was me what made him speak love. You talk about God! For what does God kt us make mistakes? How can we be sure? I was crazy for him, and in my heart I felt sure — sure it was love, and I told him, Giuseppe. I made him love me. And now — if only you go away, Giuseppe! If you love me true, go and let me have peace nnd not trouble. Go far and let me forget tiie sound of your music - — let me forget yuur eyes — let me not see your shape in tlie air which way I turn. Then it will all pass away, and I will bo like before. I love him good, Giuseppe. Ia vi not a liar. Only now I am like in n dream, and in my dream I see only you. Now I se-a I know what you meant. Giuseppe, wla ,■ yun said in your sleep I stood before you. But soon I will wake. I will .*('»' bis kind eyes, find it will pass. He will never know."' "And who is this man for whom you put me away?" "It is tune enough, Giuseppe, but bettor if you never know him. Go far away." "I go not away without you, Carlotta. Every day I will come till I get you. I will walk by your side before ibis man, and when lit; looks at us he will see he is a fool." "I walk with you no more, Giuseppe. Tonight finishes, (.'ome. hat us go. I beard a noise, and just now over there a shadow moved. 1 am afraid. Come." As they rose to go tho accordion, which Giuseppe grasped hastily in rising, opening by its own weight, sent out an attenuated discordant wail. And to Pat sitting alone in the shadow beneath it sounded like a weird banshee's shriek coming from far over the seas. The tender tremor in Carlo! ta's voice vr hen first sh" s ] •■ ike Giust.-]>i>e's name had struck his heart like a deathknell, aud the words which followed were but as (dods falling upon a cofiin. The girl's loyalty through till s -emed to mock him, like a hymn at a grave. It was as ihe silvor sheen upon the silken fabric of a shroud — tlie smile upon the face of death. For a long time after thoy had gone the heavy limbers about him were not more still than he. Once he thought lie heard soft stops above him. If he had risen, he might have seen two dark figures peering stealthily about as if looking for some one. They might have beon assassins in ambush. But Pat did not even glance upward. Can anyone hy simply imagining bo sure ho half uivb r^iands how this man felt, or must be have passed through tho shades of a liko sorrow to know its black, bleak depths and the hopelessness of it? It is hard to say. His first movement was to cast his eyes about him upon the water. It w.as all around him — so near — so inviting. It seemed almost to call him. If would have been so easy from where he sat just to lean over and over, like Maupassant's little blue and red soldier, as if he wore trying to drink. There would be only a few bubbles, fit emblems of Ins life and its story, and so it would end. Plad he not promised hor his grave whenever it would be a safe bridge over her troubles? The time had come. Or had it come? Would tho plunge be for her sake or his own? Was he, after all, a coward — he who had never run from a foe in his life — who had even fought and vanquished his potheen with a flask in his pocket? Distinct rapid footsteps abovo startled him, and ho raised his eyes. As he did so a bundle fell at bis side into fix.' water, and the steps retreated. He seemed to see a struggle as thedark object twisted for n second within the rings of the eddy that swallowed it down, but he could not be sure. In a moment, however, he heard quite near the thin, wiry cry of a youivg kitten. He looked about him and above, but could see nothing of it, though the sound came again and again. Finally, however, a desperate wail located the suffere?. On the outside of one of the heavy timbers, caught in its fall by a protruding splinter or spike, the wretched little creature hung suspended, its own weight

and struggles imprisoning it more securely each moment within the notch. The struggling contents of the whirling bundle were explained. This little ■unfortunate had slipped out of the open bag in its fall to perish high and dry in the night wind or to be scorched by the gun should it survive the night. Pat regarded the writhing little form a moment only. "Sure we're in the same boat, kitty, you an me,"' he said aloud. "We're wan too many in a crowded worrld. But, plaze God, I'll give ye the same chance I'll take meself — in the name o' him that shaped the two ay ns." Witb this, seizing the fragment of a broken oar, lie swung himself outside the timber.. At the Bound of his voice two black shadows rushed noiselessly across the wharf, and quickly reaching tlie edge peered over. What they saw was only a whining young kitten crawling feebly along the raft, The upward reach with tho oar which liberated the little beast and sent him back to life bad thrown his deliverer accidentally backward. The grip of his one leg about the post had served only to let him down, down, gently, noiselessly, into the eddying current which sucked him under the raft without even a twirl or a twist. There was not so much as a gurgle of the waters as he sank.

If he had risen, he w.i'jht hnve sent two dark JUnircN p'^yhnj s!<niihih./ almiit. Tho blaelc figures waited a long time, lying on their faces and ]i<t"-:iiug, and two stilietos were drawn and ready. When the voice should sp' ;:k again, tliey would do their work quickly, for bh" emis-aries of the Mafia are wont to us--> dispatch. It was past midnight, and tlie moon was rising, when at l.tst. despairing and mystified, they separated reluctantly and by diiAront routes went to report another failure to old Pietro Socola. their chief. Tiie Di Carlos wondered with great anxiety why Pa* did not come home. anil all during tho night tbe signora started at every sound, fancying she heard his wooden peg a-scvndiiig tiie stairs. It was on the second day afterward when a boy in the sleep read from tindaily paper lad I ii > body of a one legged man had be.-v washed up against a coal barge floating in tho river near Canal street. The father Di Carlo went immediately to investigate t -a' mat t-r, and wic-a he cam-' h0,..- an jftir i;\V-v ahd tiie family gathered ab u;t bim. anxious to h-::r the new.-, he only sho, -k his head sadly, and taking from his b mdkerchi"i' an old red baby siioe he said. "It was in his biside pocket." Customers who cam" in at the time and people pas. ing by I 'nought from their dist res-: thai a member of the family was dead. Carlotta, trembling and white as m:\rble, went away abaie. An investiga' ion of I'.-.t's affairs and effects disclosed a w.ll. made some years beforo. bequeathing to Carlotta ail his worldh goods. A large proportion cf tbis. which proved quite a neal compe: "uc". she expended, despit" her mother's frugal protest that it c mid do him no good, in a handsome marhje shaft to his memory. In its unique inscription, which was of her own dictation, she sough; to make some sort of reparation for tile sin of which she acens-d herself. The nionunmnt stilt stands in the corner of St. Patrick's cemetery and reads: ; in :ii:mo!( v : : JWTb'cK i;')(>Xr.Y. : INTI..N ; i oi- i aki.o . : \ iii r.u'i.o, : : A h -.-, j j .M-JU-.S. : And on any All Saints' day Carlotta and Giuseppe, wi'h their flock of beautiful children, mny be seen to stop therefor awhile, leaving a hi -uquet oi' pbish topped coxcombs and a cross of white chrysanthemums. TIIK KNO.