LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2192, 5 March 1881, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE MYSTEEY OK LORD BRACKENBURY; A NOVEL. BY AMELIA B. EDWARDS, Author of “Barbara’s History,” ■* Debenham’a Vow,” &o. Continued.) Chapteb XLIV, Engaged—and not to Tonio Meretti ? Impossible ! ’ ‘ Impossible if you please, but true. It is I who say it.’ To lodge in the Osteria del Capello was to live in a house of glass. The gossips had La Giulietta’s engagements at their tongues’ ends the very day after Stefano Beni had given his consent. They talked of nothing else that morning round the well. ‘ I tell you he was there all last evening,’ said Monn Teresa. * A tall man with a reddish beard ; a sailor by his clothes.’

‘ Ay; he had been round to the Arena in the afternoon to see neighbour Stefano, and they returned together. My Giacomo happened to be coming borne at the time, and he followed them all the way from the Piazza Bra.’ * Old Stefano was minded to treat him well, anyhow,’ put in another. ‘Be oame down himself in the course of the evening, and ordered a fowl and a bottle of Aloatico for supper ? ’ Yes,’ said Brlgitta, the wife of the lame clogmaker ; ‘ and the girl Maria, who took up the tray, told me they had both lucerne lighted, and most beautiful flowers on the table. It was quite a Festa ! ’ * Well, but who is he ? ’ * Where does he come from ? ’ ‘ What is his name ? ’ ‘He comes from Venice—l know that for certain,’ says Brigitta.’ ‘ What will Tonio say ? ’ * Poor Tonio ! He’ll be fine and angry, I’ll warrant.’ ‘ And with reason. Tonio has not been well treated.’

‘ No, indeed. Why, be has courted La Giulietta for the last twelve months 1 ’

‘ And now to be turned off for a stranger whom nobody baa ever seen before! But there, he was too good for her.’ ‘ Mnch too good. She never knew bow to value him.’

‘ Che 1 che ! che ! some girls don’t know when they’re well off.’ ‘ A lad that any lady might have been proud to have for her sweetheart! ’

‘ I don’t think mnch of the one she has put over his head,’ says Monna Teresa. Dame Giannetta shrugs her shoulders. ‘ Neither of my girls would look at him,’ she says, scornfully. 1 He is ever so much older than Tonio ! ’

* Five and thirty, at the least!’ ’And not half so good looking.’ ‘Then that red beard I Ugh I Not to obey the Holy Father himself would I have married a man with a red beard, when I was a girl!’ * Well, well, there mast be something at the bottom of It. He’s well off, maybe.’ ‘ Absurd! a sailor, and well off I Those fellows spend their money as fast as they get it.’ ‘ I must say I am astonished that neighbor Beni shoald favor snob a match,’ ssys Dame Giannetta, going off majestically, with her can upon her head, ‘ I should be sorry, indeed, not to look higher for my girls I A sailor, forsooth! 1 should like to see Lota or Lisa taking np with a sailor !’ La Giulietta, meanwhile, little dreamed that her secret was even suspected; but because she desired to avoid ’Tonio Moretti, she kept away from the well at the hours when it was most frequented. Whereupon the gossips, taking It for granted that she was avoiding themselves through malice prepense, credited her with p>lde, slyness, and every nnamiable quality nnder heaven. ‘lt is yon who have thrown la Giulietta over, or is it La Giulietta has thrown you over, ’Tonio P’ asked Dame Qianetta, meeting him in the yard as he was geing to dinner. For being alone and a bachelor, the young man generally took his meals at the Osteria,

‘What do yon mean, Dame Giannetta?’ he said frowning, ’ Eh, dear me ! we all thought it was going to be a match I ’ * Match or no match, what business is it of anyone’s ? ’ * No offence, ’Tonio—only one is surprised, you know.’ ‘ Surprised I What the devil are yon surprised about ? ’ ‘ Cielo ! haven’t yon heard ? Ah well— I’m no raisohief-maker. Good morning, ’Tonio.’

And away went Dame Gianetta, leaving the vetfurino to go to his dinner with what appetite he might. His appetite, however, was not much impaired by the conversation. Perhaps he did not particularly notice what was put before him, or how it was served. Perhaps he washed it down with an extra draught of the thin red wine which was the favored drink of the establishment; but except that be was a trifle more sulky than usual, the young man betrayed nothing of the uneasiness brooding in hia breast. Still he ‘ was ’ uneasy. Stefano Beni had by no means welcomed him as he conceived he ought to have been welcomed. The wheelwright had, in fact, thrown the coldest of cold water on his suit. As for the girl herself, she systematically avoided him. Then what abont the stranger in the Piazza Bra ? And, above all, what about these hints of Dame Gianetta’s f

Too proud to question any of those who could have told him the gossip of the place, he nursed hia disquietude till the day’s work was done; then made up his mind to pay a visit to the Benis, and bring matters to an issue. But he went first to his lodging to smarten himself as became a suitor on hia promotion. He was a self - confident young fellow enough ; yet his heart beat quicker as he went up the stairs. ‘You here?’ said the wheelwright, himself answering the bell. * May one pay yon a little visit this evening, neighbor Beni? I have come to offer my respects to the Hignorita Giulietta; and, to-morrow being a Festa, to invite yon for a drive in the country. I will pat both my horses to my vettara and take yon to the Ponte di Veja ’ He had conned this little speech over in his mind all the afternoon, and he flattered himself that he delivered it with becoming fluency. ‘ My niece,’ said the wheelwright, ‘ place a seat for our visitor.’

La Giulietta put down her work, rose silently, and placed a chair as far as possible from her own.

tbe had cn her bast black gown, a little knot of crimson ribbon at her throat, and a white rose in her hair.

The room was full of light. There were flowers on the table. And Htefano Be i was in his Sunday coat. ’Tonio Moretti was not gifted with very keen powers of observation; but be could see that they were expecting a guest. * I hope I am not unwelcome,’ he said, half-deflantly; standing with his hand on the back of the chair. ‘ I come as a friend. Do yon accept my Invitation ?’ The wheelwright glanced at his niece. ‘ We cannot accept it, 1 he replied. * I'annot.’ ‘ But we thank you all the same.’ ‘ Cannot means ‘ Will not,’ I suppose 7’ ‘ Not so. It means that we are engaged.’ A black frown settled on 'Tonio Moretti’a brow. ‘ Yon are not engaged for the whole day 7 ’ he said, incredulously. ‘ Yes; for the whole day. We go out early in the morning, and we shall not be hack till evening,’ * You say that to get rid of me. I don't believe it.' * I need not toll a lie in order to get rid of yon or any other intruder,’ retorted the wheelwright, wrathfully. *Oh ! lam an intruder, am I 7 ’ ‘ If you want plain speaking—yes, ’ The vetturino broke into an angry laugh. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘Now I understand what yon mean; but let me tell yon—you especially, La Giulietta that there are plenty here in Verona who would be only too well pleased by the like intrusion,*

The girl laid down her work, and looked at him for the first timo. ‘We do not doubt it,’ she said, gently. I We know you mean kindly. Why need there be rough words on either side? Surely wo may thank yon for your olvility, and decline it without offence.’ ‘ I want to know if you decline me? ’ he said, coming abruptly, and almost fiercely to the point. ‘ I asked yofir uncle the other day. 1 meant to ask yon to-morrow. But if I go now I shall not come back again, so let na out with it. I’ve courted yon nigh upon a year; and you have known well enough what I meant. I—l shouldn’t have courted you, if I hadn’t loved you.’ . . . (here his voice shook a little, and his look softened.) ‘ Say, how shall it be. Sea or NoP’

The girl turned her face away. *1 am so sorry,’ she faltered. * Is it Yes or No ? ’ * Bnough, my lad! Don’t yon see that it's No ? ’ interposed Stefano. impatiently. * Take your answer like a man, and have done.’ But Tonio Moretti never took his eyes from her face. * I am waiting for my answer,’ he said, turning very pale. ‘ Indeed it must be No, the girl said with trembling lips. ' Is it that you like some one else better ? * San ue dl Lio! ’ I knew it. I knew it. Well, whover he is I wish you joy of him ? It’s nothing to me. There are dozens of girls—yonr betters every one—who will jump if 1 hold up my finger. So good bye to you, La Giulietta; and if either of us lives to repent this ending, it won’t be 11 ’

* You are an insolent cnb !’ shouted the wheelwright, following him. But the vetturino had flung out of the room, crossed the passage, and already reached the outer door. Now it chanced that at the moment when he lifted the catch, some one on the outside pulled the bell; whereupon, the door being suddenly opened, he almost ran against a man on the other side of the threshold. ‘I beg your pardon,’ said the coming guest, stepping quickly back And by the dim light of the little oil-lamp on the lauding, ’Tonlo Morettl recognised the stranger of the Piazza Bra. This was Cesare Donato’s second visit in the character of an accepted lover ; as that of the previous evening was his first. 80 far, at all events, the gossips were right. To-morrow, doubtless, they would know that he had used tbe privilege of a ‘promesso,’ and come again ; and tbe very 1 cakes and ale ’ with which he was entertained would be no mystery to them. What they did not know, however, was the suddenness with which all these changes had been brought about. That had been a secret attachment, opposition on the part of neighbor Stefano, slyness and secrecy, and deception all round—of this they were positive. No amount of evidence would have convinced that the lives till little more than a week ago, and that they fell in love at first sight. The first sight was somewhat formal, as such visits are wont to be. Donato felt that he was treated as a guest, and to Stefano Beni be knew he was not altogether a welcome guest. Bat to-night—possibly because, being angered with one suitor, he felt more favorably to the other; or perhaps because he was becoming more accustomed to the new order of things—the old man gave his future nephe w-ln-law a better reception. He even shook hands with him when he came in, and when he went away. Then, too, they had much to talk abont; for, to-morrow being the Festa of some popular saint, all Verona would make holiday ; and it was arranged that La Giulietta and her ancle should go with Donato to Venice for the day, to see his ship, tbe barque Diamante, there lying in harbor. So, what with looking over the‘train bill and planning the excursion, this second evening passed not only smooth'y, but pleasantly. They were to start early in order to have a long day, and Donato proposed that they should take the first express, leaving Verona at 7 a.m. This would give them some nine or ten hours in Venice, and allow for returning early In the evening, ‘if 1 come for you at half-past six tomorrow morning, It will not be too soon,’ he said, at parting. 'And I will bring a vefnra; unless you prefer one from the yard below ?’ Bnt a vettnra from the yard was not to be thought of. Neither was it desirable that he should oome to fetch them when ’Tonfo and all the gossips were abont. So the wheelwright suggested that they shonld meet at the station; and thns it was settled. ‘ Weather permitting, yon know,' said old Beni, *1 promise a south-east wind, a cloudless sky, and snnshine from dawn to dusk,’ ‘Nay, nay,’ said La Giulietta, serlensly. * Our Lady alone can do that!’ But aha secretly resolved to Jpropitiate the Madonna that very night with a special taper.

(To be continued on Tuesday.)