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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 389 trying Wd to keep awake enough to watch his father stirring the poletila in the caldron. On the stranger entrauce every eye was turned to him as he bUxA drip ping in the doorway. One glance was enough to show he was to be trusted, and the natural politeness of the Tuscan mountaineers showed itself on the instant They pressed him to come to the fire, removed his damp coat and boots, and though they had no available substitutes to produce, a woman brought a largo shawl and put it over his shoulders. Then as he stood warming himself, and feeling as if he had suddenly got into au old picture, the assembled group Btwd regiirding him witli a per sistent stare, calculated to put a more uorvous man out of countenance. One or two of the men set off to show the driver to a rough stable for his horses, and the sturdy father, who had conscientiously kept on stirring the jmlcntu, in spite of distractions, announced that it was ready to be nerved His wife, putting a stiff, swaddlod baby 011 tho ground near tho kitten, brought a huge bowl, and tlio yellow stoaming mess was turned into it, and placed on the mas sive worm-eatou oaken table at tho side. Then tho father, seating himself bo as to be on a lovel with the dish, took a piece of string, and holding one end in his mouth, sliced and then cut in pieces the whole moss, which by this time was quite firm. The children woko up bh if by in stinct, and came crowding to obtain their handful of tho steaming compound, and the old woman putting some rough plates and glasses and somo coarse bread on tho twblo, the meal was ready. Arthur Mostyn, hungry enough not to bo fastidious, willingly partook, making one of the homely party as sembled round the bid oak tablo, while a gaudy colored Madonna on the wall in front of him gazed down smil ingly through a veil of several layers of smoke acquired in the course of years. The simple peasant all looked toward her, and crossed thomselves devoutly before eat ing. During the meal they told him that tho house and its surroundings belonged to Count Mastini, a name already familiar to him, as his aunt in England was a friend of the late Countess and had given him an intro duction to tho present Count Ho, however, seldom visited it, leaving the caro of the villa to his conlwlino, or peasant, who was now shaking. "You see, Hignore luglose" (let any Englishman try to conooul his nation ality from a Continental to whom he has spoken two words if ho can), "this place is sort of lonely like, five miles fjom tho nearest village, which is but a poor place at tho best And tho Padrone (master) snds most of his time at Koine or Florence, which he likes better than this old villa on account of" " But it is not the loneliness," burst in the irrepressi ble ly of the hnpiwh, who sat by tho fire discussing a huge slice of ihAchUu , , Can't you bo quiet," said the driver, giving him a kick; " who asked you to talk nonsense?" "Father says-" begun the boy. "Tell your father to mind his own business, re claimed the peasant, with a look that silenced the boy at once. ; Then to change tho subject ho added: "Tis lucky you found us up at this hour; we generally sup at eight o'clock, only there was nfinizitnw (service) at the church, some miles off, this evening, and that made us lute-we only got homo just before the storm. 'Tis tho vigil of San Giovanni (St John's Eve), you know." His frugal supper ended, tho traveler began to agitato the to him iinortant -subject of a lsd, but found that considerable dilliculties awaited him. In fact thero was not an article of that description in all tho cottages that did not do double, or even triple, duty, Tho driver and lsy wero content, tho one to sleep on a large "settle" by the dying firo, tho other to remso on tho same straw as his iruptrh; but for the gentleman was no place found, unless ho would consent to make a third on tho mattress sharod by two bachelor hiothora, Gathering from tho peasants that tho largo villa was furnished, and that they had tho key, ho proposed to sleep thero if they would prcparo him a lied, urging as a claim that ho had with him a letter of introduction to Count Mastini. Ho was not surprised having somo traveling oxiorioiieo - to llml that a hundred dilliculties were made, but tho start of horror that ran through tho assembly rather pux.UI him. The dilliculties ho surmounted one by one, however; when tho MMiHimU had no more reasonable objections to offer, yet remained as obstinate as over in refusing, ho lost pationco and lsgan to insist; and what will not Haxoii determination backed up by Haxoii gold conquer? The jieasaiit yielded at length, unwillingly it must ho confessed, also much worried by many sleeve twitchlngs and mutU'rings from the female members of tho family, who evidently did not approve of tho Englishman's do. sign. Tho ancient dame, finding nil private ndvico tin. availing, placed herself in their path, and in a trembling voice, but with a certain dignity, said: "llepjio, my sou, beware of what you da Englishman, yon know riot what may hapsui if you insist!" llcpio, tho stalwart, father of tho younger family, shrugged his shoulders, saying, " If tho Kignore chooses to go in spitfl of our ndvico, ho can't blnino us." Then calling to his wife for some clean sheets, which sho gave him from an old oaken chest, ho took a lantern ami hi I tho way out "Alas!" cried tho old dame, as IlepjMt good natiiredly put her aside, " it is timo for mo to go; no one minds me, not even my own son." Tho irrepressible boy gnvo vent to his feelings by a prolonged whistle, and ejaculated, " If ho knew what I know he'd I stilettMd rather than sh-ep thero." IJul tho grandmother and driver both turning nngrily on him, ho forthwith ts.k his way to seek tho company of l.is sleeping companion, tho miilo, while tho old woman went sighing up tho creaking stairs to lxd II. Tho nmbvliiM whom they called "Ileppo" led the way with tho bundle of linen under his arm, a lamp In one hand mid a great key in tho other, muttering as lis went down the cotUgo te, " My mother is growing old,