The Argosy — page 295: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

274 Marionettes. longer dead, but living triumphant. Yes, why weep any longer over the sad graves in yonder Campo Santoe TZyzs is the sweet song of gratitude, poured out by happy rescued souls at the feet of the Saviour. Near him, kneeling, with her face upturned and her large soft eyes full of tears, is a young girl. She is dressed in black, but the little simple dress, made to fit the pretty figure, is of perfect neatness, and the soft hair shades the round, childish face. Luigi looks again and again, and almost forgets to kneel and join in the service, his soul is so full of pity for that sorrowful face. Presently he falls on his knees behind her, and tries hard to forget everything but his devotions. The service over, he waits until the girl moves. He must and will know who she is, so he drops still farther behind. When she leaves the church, he follows her, most cunningly keeping on the other side of the wind: She does not go far. Across the piazza, and a little way down a street, until she comes to an old arch, through which she passes, and stops before a little shop. No, this it can scarcely be called, for in the windows there is nothing to tempt the passer-by. ‘The door is open, and inside is a humble little room; whitewashed walls and a common chair and table, before which sits an old man, with a bottle of ink and a great bundle of pens, while over the wall is painted the word, “‘ Scrivano.” The girl passes in out of sight, and the door closes. Luigi hovers about, determined not to leave until he is quite sure that there is nothing more to be learned: and he is rewarded. At the end of half an hour she comes out with a letter in her hand ; and then, when Luigi has watched her quite out of sight, he enters. He knows the old man, who sits there all day to write letters, and it 1s not difficult to learn from him what he is most anxious to know. Yes, he knows the girl; and a pretty girl she is, and a good little thing, too ; but he fears that she has had a sad sort of life of it with that cross old uncle. Why, does not Gigi know him? Old Piero Vanni, to whom the Marionettes belong? Very good Marion- ettes they are, too, and well do they merit a visit. He advises him to go and see them, and then, perhaps, he may catch a glimpse of pretty Chiara as well. Needless to say that the first spare evening, Luigi started off to see the show ; and many atime afterwards he was to be found there, until at last, one happy evening, he managed to speak to Chiara. He had made the acquaintance of the uncle some weeks before, and had found him all that had been described—old and cross and disagree- able, but clever with his Marionettes. After this, the little romance progressed without let or hindrance. For once the course of true love did run smoothly. There was no one to object to the young people doing exactly as CONnNIECLOOKSsE@