Lucia Rudini: Somewhere in Italy

n in earlier in the day. One of his little hands had tight hold of the precious pink

e been twenty-seven instead of seven years between them

sleep again!" she sai

is very second, truly, Lucia! I have watched the goats, oh, so carefully, and they have not stirred,-see there they are only a little farthe

a la

asleep after you ate up all the candy, such a naughty little brother that you are. What kind of a soldier would you make

ther they drove the goats

ther they drove the

, wrinkled-up, old woman with bright blue eyes and thin gray h

when the children were within hearing. "Supper's

had used towards Beppi. "I had to help Aunt and Maria at ma

me that!" Beppi said accus

d, "fine soldiers they are too,

terrupted shortly. "Stop your

f to shut up her goats in the small, half-tu

and cheese, with a cup full of milk apiece. It was not a very t

mfortably in the green enameled bed with its brass trimmings, that occupied a good part of the small room. Lucia's mother

tly, as she smoothed the fat, hard pillows in a

plied, and without more ado she

bed of fresh straw. Though she persisted in her determination that her grandmother sl

; "not about fairies and silly ma

tories about soldiers, Bep

eplied scornfully. "I don't-tell me

" Lucia gave in, well knowing that

d very big eyes, and he came from the south where the sun

" Beppi interr

hurriedly, "very brave, and he loved his c

t Beppi's voi

, don'

he walked up and down before it with his gun on his shou

. Beppi was brea

ucia whispered, and

d and before many minutes

ll. Lucia crept out of bed, being very careful not to disturb Beppi, and slipped hurriedly into her clothes. Wi

u this morning?" she said as she pat

y of the position her name gave her, and the other goats cro

running away if I have to leave you with Beppi," she continued. "You're nothing but goats, of course, but you know perfectly well that we are at war, and that y

w if it won't rain until I get there it will be all right, but I'll cover the pails to be on the safer side." She found two co

the door behind her. She looked up uneasily at the cottage, but everything seemed to be

ng was comparatively easy at first, but when the road reached the bottom of the valley it stopped and seemed to straggle off into numerous little foot-pat

going on the remainder of the way. The next path that she took turned abruptly to the right, and led up an even steeper hill to a tiny plateau above. From

little spot suggested the close proximity of battle. The only human touch in sight

k now. She unfolded it. As she expected, she found four brightly polished copper

"You are welcome, my friends; good luck!" below the message, and tucked the paper back under the stone. Then with another curious

and hurried to finish her milking. When the scant breakfa

soldiers, but they were not laughing and jesting; instead, little groups congregated around the stalls and talked excitedly. Some of

en and women alike lowered heir vo

her aunt's stall, but left her pails inside the big bronze door of the church, and slipped quietly inside. The place was deserted, and the lofty dome was in dark shadow. Long rays of pale yello

e mite box that stood on a little shelf beside the altar. She stayed only long enough to say a hasty little prayer, and then hurried out again into t

pails and hurried

. "We thought you had stubbed yo

grumbled. "But no matter, we can get more from old

ied indifferentl

thousands of our men, and they say we may

Maria said excitedly. "Oh if we must move

re was an angry gleam in her big eye

ea! Since when must Italians make w

a protested nervously, "we will either have to lea

No, if the order to evacuate comes we must go at once. There will be no time

distance beyond the north gate. As if to give her wo

nearer. Oh, I am frightened,-something dread

wn guns. Ask any of our

o, maybe he can tell us. Good morning to you!" she c

ning," Roderigo said respectf

tened," Maria replied, trying ha

and I have been trying to tell her that they are Italian.

ave a different sound," Rode

ance of an old soldier, partly to quiet Maria's fears, but mostly to still his own nervous forebo

of course you would not believe me. Now perhaps you will tell h

could not give the assurance she asked. The little knowledge that he ha

an never be sure. War is war, and perhaps it may be necess

ked at hi

he demanded. "Have you heard

very bad. We have our orders to

ply, and her eyes filled with tear

would shed a tear for him, she with the warm blood of the south in her veins would weep. But Lucia's eyes were dry, and the only expression he could find in the

tant everything was in confusion. The soldiers hurried to answe

. An officer, with the bugler beside him, read an order from the steps of the town hall, an old

er, but they soon found Roderigo in the excite

"We have not a moment to spare. Tavola has been captured by

ed her face with her apron and cried. "My son

are with the Army. Don't worry, when the re?nf

n the street women were calling excitedly, and a n

r their kits. The square buzzed and hummed with excit

prudent women went home and began packing their household treasures, but

a's hand. "We can watch them march off

ny turns they at last reached the broad top of the wall, wh

Maria exclaimed.

appeared before the gate. The order to walk four abreast was given. The men took their places, and

d Maria leaned dangerously over the edge of the wall in th

t excitedly. The wind caught her dark hair and blew it across her face, and her bright skirts in the sunshine made a vi

to look up. At last she had her wish. Roderigo's place was towards the end of the column;

ng in her bodice. Roderigo caught it and tucked it, Neapolitan fas

f contemptuous. Her little heart under its gay bodice was f