Martha Trent - Lucia Rudini
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Martha Trent >> Lucia Rudini
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Lucia thought of the telephone.
"I know now, of course, for I saw him climb up it and talk over the
wire to the soldiers miles away," she exclaimed. "But how could I
think to look in a tree for a soldier?" she laughed.
A bell tinkled, and Maria sprang up.
"I must go, it is my time to be on duty," she said, smoothing her apron
and settling her cap importantly, "I will come back when I can."
Lucia looked envious. "Do not be long," she called after her.
She settled back with a sigh, and the little goat came over to have her
neck patted. Lucia stroked it lovingly.
"Garibaldi," she said aloud, "we are in a dream, you and I, and soon we
will both wake up and find ourselves back in the white cottage with
Nana scolding because we are late for supper. And we'll be sorry too,
won't we? For that will mean that the beautiful sheets and the soft
pillow will vanish the way they do in the fairy tales, and this lovely
garden will go too."
"But what if there were another one to take its place?" a voice
inquired from the doorway.
CHAPTER XIV
THE FAIRY GODFATHER
Lucia turned and looked up quickly. She was startled and not a little
embarrassed at having her confidence overheard.
Through the door that led from the ward the American was pushing a bed
on wheels. Lucia had seen that same bed many times before. It had
belonged to the old Mother Superior of the convent, and many a bright
morning she had seen it out in the garden as she sat at her desk in the
schoolroom above.
She looked at the white pillow half expecting to see the old wrinkled
face of Mother Cecelia, but instead Captain Riccardi looked up at her
and smiled.
"See, I've found you at last," he said, as Lathrop pushed the bed
beside Lucia's chair. "I was beginning to think that you were just a
dream child, and that I had imagined about the milk."
Lucia laughed gayly.
"No, Captain, that was not a dream, or I hope it wasn't, for if the
milk was not real then I dreamed about the pennies, and the sick
soldiers never got them."
"Sick soldiers! Did you give away the money?"
"Oh yes, sir, how could I keep it? I did not know you were a Captain,
I thought--"
"You thought I was just a poor soldier, eh?"
"Well, yes, if you will excuse me for saying so, I did, but anyway I
would not have kept the money."
"Why not?"
"How can you ask? Why because, to accept pay for something--and such a
little thing as a pail of milk--"
"Two pails."
"No, just one, they were only half-full, but no matter. I wanted to
give away the milk, not sell it, and so I put the pennies in the box at
church."
"And all the time I thought you were perhaps buying pretty ribbons with
it."
Captain Riccardi shook his head. "But I might have known better."
"Ribbons!" Lucia scorned the idea. "What do I need with such
foolishness, with a war going on just under my nose! I had other
things to think about, I can tell you, and other ways to spend my
pennies."
The Captain looked at her gravely. Then he took her hand and patted it
gently.
"You are a brave and true little Italian," he said, "and I can never
hope to pay you for what you have done. You will have to look for your
reward in your own heart. It ought to be a very happy and contented
heart, I should think."
Lucia's cheeks flushed with pride.
"Oh, it is, Captain Riccardi," she said, "it is indeed, and I am quite
content. If you heard what I said just now about the dream, you must
not think that I don't want to go back to the cottage--I do, and I want
so much to see my Beppino and Nana again--only--"
"Tell me about that 'only' Lucia," the Captain said gently. "That is
what I want to hear, and then perhaps I will have something to tell
you."
"Oh, it is nothing but silliness," Lucia protested, "how can it matter?"
"Never mind, tell me," the Captain insisted.
"But you will laugh. What do big men know of fairy stories!"
"Lots, sometimes--I believe in fairies."
Lucia looked into the smiling eyes incredulously, "You, a soldier!"
"Of course, haven't I told you that I thought you were a fairy when I
first saw you, and by the Saints, I did too. Do you know, I first
discovered you way down in the valley. You were with your goats. I
looked at you through my glass, and your pretty flowered dress, and the
kerchief you wore over your hair, made me think of the little girls at
home."
"Ah, then you come from the south, too?" Lucia laughed. "I knew it."
"How do you?" the Captain demanded.
Lucia shook her head sadly.
"No, my mother came from Napoli. When I was a little girl she used to
tell me all about the sunshine and the flowers, and the blue water in
the bay, and old grandfather Vesuvius always frowning and puffing in
the distance. Oh, I tell you I feel sometimes as if I had been there,
but, of course, that is silly," she broke off, laughing, "for I have
never been away from Cellino."
"Would you like to go away to the south and live there?" Captain
Riccardi asked slowly.
"Oh, yes, of course. I dream sometimes that I am a princess and that a
wicked fairy has turned me into a goat-herder and forced me to live
here where it is so very cold sometimes, and then I wish hard for a
good fairy to come and set me free, and take me on a magic carpet away
to a garden full of flowers. There," she smiled shyly, "that is what I
was thinking of out loud when you came a minute ago."
The Captain did not laugh, except with his eyes. His voice was very
grave as he asked.
"Wouldn't a prince or a fairy godfather do just as well?"
"Oh, yes, even better," Lucia replied seriously.
"Well then, what would you say if I told you that I am a fairy
godfather, and that I can spirit you to a garden even nicer than this,
where it is always summer?"
"I would surely say you were telling me fairy tales," Lucia replied
frankly.
The Captain laughed delightedly.
"But I'm not, Lucia," he said seriously. "I'm telling you the truth.
Down in the south I have a big house set in the very heart of a
beautiful garden, and I live there all by myself."
"Oh!" Lucia's big eyes were full of genuine sympathy.
"A long time ago, I used to have a little sister like you, but she
died, and since then I have been ever and ever so lonely. How would
you like to come and be my sister? I'd take awfully good care of you,
and Garibaldi."
For an instant Lucia's eyes danced with happiness, but it was only for
an instant, then her face fell.
"Oh, I would like that Captain, so very much," she said, "but I could
not leave Beppino and Nana."
Captain Riccardi looked at her in silence for a moment, then he said
slowly, "Of course, you couldn't. I forgot them for the moment. But
of course I meant to include them in the invitation. I am very fond of
Beppino already. We had quite a chat that day in the cave."
"Oh, but you don't mean it!" Lucia jumped up excitedly. "To live with
you and Nana and Beppi and Garibaldi in a garden,--oh! but of course,
it is not so, and I shall presently wake up."
"Wake up in the little white cottage and milk the goats and trudge to
town with the heavy pails?" the Captain said.
Lucia nodded soberly.
"Not it I can help it, you won't," he added with decision. "You'll
never do another stroke of hard work again."
"But are there no goats in your garden to milk, and no work to do?"
Lucia looked bewildered.
"Yes, but there's a lot of people to do it,--so many in fact, that all
you will have to do is to pick flowers and tell Beppi and me fairy
stories. Will you come?"
"Oh!" Lucia stamped her foot. "If this is only a dream!" she
exclaimed half angrily, "I shall surely die of misery when I wake up."
"It's no dream, little sister, it's true, and it won't be long before
you realize it. This leg is going to take a long time in healing, but
as soon as it is better we will go home, then when I am well enough to
go back to fight, you will stay in the garden and keep it looking
beautiful for me until I return."
For a full moment Lucia stared into the Captain's eyes, while the
wonderful truth dawned on her, then her emotion being far beyond words,
she threw her arms around him and kissed him heartily.
CHAPTER XV
EXCITING NEWS
"Lucia, Lucia, such exciting news, come here at once!" Maria ran up
the stairs excitedly.
Lucia, who was busy helping Sister Francesca put away the clean sheets,
dropped what she was doing and ran down the corridor.
"What is it!" she demanded. "Have the Austrians surrendered?"
"No," Maria stopped, breathless from her haste, "that is, not yet,
though Roderigo says--"
"Oh, oh, oh!" Lucia protested. "Don't start on what Roderigo says, or
we will never learn the news."
Maria pouted. "For that I have a good mind not to tell you," she
threatened.
"Then I shall go downstairs myself and find out," Lucia replied, not
one whit disturbed.
"Then I may as well tell you," Maria laughed, "for the ward hums with
it. The King is coming--think of it--he is coming to Cellino
to-morrow, and he is to go through the hospital and see all the
wounded. Only fancy, our King!"
"Who told you?" Lucia's eyes flashed excitedly. Her loyal little
Italian heart beat with eager anticipation.
"Do you suppose I can see him?" she demanded, "but of course, I must,
even if I have to hide under the Captain's bed. He is sure to stop and
speak to my Captain," she added with pride.
"Oh, Roderigo says that he always stops and speaks to all the wounded
and shakes their hands, and is very kind and so sorry always when they
are badly hurt. Roderigo says he has talked to soldiers who have won
decorations, and the King himself pins them on--just think of it!"
Lucia gave a profound sigh.
"If he ever spoke to me," she said solemnly, "I would die of joy."
It was several days after Lucia and the Captain had talked in the
garden, and Lucia was beginning to grow accustomed to the wonderful
idea. Her dreams were coming true at last, and she had to admit to
herself that she always believed that they would. Captain Riccardi was
truly a fairy godfather in her eyes, and she proved her gratitude for
his kindness in a hundred little ways a day. It never seemed to enter
her mind that all he was offering, wonderful as it was, could not pay
her for her courage in saving his life.
She insisted upon laying all the credit on his shoulders, and with a
smile and a shrug the Captain accepted the double share, and determined
in his big heart to be worthy of it.
When Lucia and Maria went down to the ward a little later, the patients
were indeed humming with the news. Every face wore a smile of keen
joy, and the nurses hurried about to be sure everything was in perfect
order.
Lucia was well enough now to go wherever she pleased, and after she had
talked for a few minutes with Captain Riccardi, and made sure that
Maria had not exaggerated, she went out of the convent with the
intention of going into town. Some of the refugees had returned, but
so far there had been no news of Senora Rudini, Nana, or Beppi, and she
was growing anxious.
As she walked down the broad steps, she saw Lathrop coming towards her.
Lucia was particularly fond of the big American, and she smiled as she
saw him.
"Hello!" he greeted.
Lucia returned the salutation.
"Do you know that the King is coming?" she demanded.
Lathrop understood the word King, and as the town was talking of
nothing else he guessed what she meant.
"Yes," he replied in Italian, "nice--glad--you."
Lucia laughed.
"Oh, but you are so funny. How I wish you could speak so that I could
understand you!" she said.
Lathrop shook his head. "There she goes again, I didn't get even one
word this time."
He put his hand in his pocket and drew out a letter.
"See," he said, pointing to it.
Lucia nodded. Lathrop scratched his head.
"You--in--letter," he said painstakingly, "Girl, American."
"Oh, you have put me in your letter? How nice!" Lucia said. "What did
you say?"
"I get you, but I'm blest if I can tell you, and it's a shame, too.
You're such a little winner, you and your Mrs. Garibaldi, that I'd like
to be able to tell you so. But I guess it's hopeless."
All of which Lucia listened to politely, but without the first idea of
its meaning.
She nodded towards the gate and they walked towards it together.
Lathrop mailed his letter, and they stopped to look at the ruins.
Lucia questioned some soldiers who were clearing the streets as best
they could.
The town hall, at the end of the market-place, was still standing, and
to-day it was draped in Italian flags. It looked older and more
dignified than ever, amid the ruins, and the flag floated bravely in
the crisp fall breeze. Lucia and Lathrop stopped to look at it.
Lucia's eyes sparkled and she threw an impulsive kiss towards it.
Lathrop saluted respectfully.
As they turned to go back they noticed a crowd of soldiers and some of
the townspeople gathered about the gate.
"What can the matter be?" Lucia exclaimed, hurrying forward. "Perhaps
it is the King."
They ran to the gate and questioned some of the soldiers.
"More refugees returning," one of them explained. "See there's a whole
line of them, it is a good sight, and a good time that they have
chosen. Now we will not look so like a deserted place when the King
comes."
"Oh, perhaps some of them can give me news of Beppino," Lucia
exclaimed, forcing her way through the crowd.
Almost the first person she saw as she ran down the road was Maria's
mother. She was walking along beside several other women, and with a
start Lucia realized that she looked thin and wan.
"Aunt Rudini!" she called excitedly, "you are back at last. Oh, Maria
will be so glad!"
Senora Rudini looked up, fear and hope in her eyes.
"Maria!" she exclaimed, "where is she?"
"At the convent. She is helping to nurse the soldiers," Lucia replied.
"Oh, and I thought she was dead or a prisoner. She lay down beside me
one night, and the next morning she was gone; I have been terrified."
The old woman was wringing her hands.
"But she is safe, go and see," Lucia protested, "I have just left her."
Maria's mother needed no urging, she ran as fast as her stiff joints
would allow towards the hospital. But she had not gone very far when
she returned.
"I am a selfish old woman," she said, "thinking first of myself, when
of course you want news of Nana. Well, look yonder in that farm wagon."
Lucia did not wait to hear more. She darted off and met the wagon
before it reached the turn in the road.
"Beppi! Nana!" she called.
The man who was driving stopped, and Nana slid down from the straw,
right into Lucia's waiting arms. She was so glad to see her, that she
could only babble foolishly. All during her long journey, and her stay
in strange villages, she had thought of nothing but Lucia in the hands
of the enemy, and she was nearly crazy with relief and joy to find her
safe again.
At last Lucia quieted her. "Where is Beppino?" she asked, "surely he
is with you?"
Something in the straw of the wagon moved, and the old driver pointed
his whip at a mop of black hair, and laughed.
Beppi was asleep of course. Lucia's strong young arms lifted his
little body out, and hugged and kissed him. Beppi woke up, and at
sight of her he shouted with joy.
It was a happy and excited family that walked through the town and down
to the little white cottage.
Lucia had so much to say, and Nana would not listen nor believe all the
wonderful things she tried to tell her, but at last, from lack of
breath, she stopped exclaiming and crying, and Lucia pushed her gently
onto the green bed, took Beppi on her lap, and began the recital of her
wonderful news in earnest.
CHAPTER XVI
THE KING
"The King! The King!"
"Viva! Viva!" A great cry rose within the walls of Cellino, and
swelled to a mighty cheer, as a gray automobile drove slowly through
the Porto Romano, and stopped in the market-place opposite the town
hall.
The soldiers who had so bravely defended the town were lined up ready
for inspection, and as the King lifted his hand to salute the colors, a
silence, as profound and as moving as the cheer had been, fell over the
crowd.
Lucia, with Beppi held tightly by the hand, was on the edge of the
crowd. She trembled with excitement as she looked at the greatest, and
best-loved man in all Italy.
"See!" she whispered excitedly to Beppi, "that is the King--our King!
Look at him well, for we may never be lucky enough to see him again in
our whole lives."
Beppi's big eyes were round with wonder. He looked. His gaze fastened
on the shining sword. Then the memory that he might some day be a
General returned to him, and he drew himself up very straight. As the
King passed on his inspection, his little hand went up in a smart
salute.
His Majesty stopped, smiled, and returned the salute gravely.
Beppi waited until he had walked on, then he buried his face in Lucia's
skirts, and wept from sheer joy.
Lucia's pride knew no bounds. Her heart was beating wildly, but she
stood very still until the King went into the town hall, then she
picked Beppi up in her arms and ran excitedly across the town and out
to the convent.
"We can see him again, darling, so stand very still," she said. "He is
coming to see the soldiers."
They watched the gate eagerly, and before long the gray car came
through it very slowly. A crowd of people surrounded it, cheering and
throwing flowers. The King smiled and bowed to them all. Lucia's eyes
never left his face. Suddenly she saw him lean forward excitedly as
the big car stopped. Beppi tugged at her skirts.
"Look at Garibaldi, she is blocking the way."
Lucia looked, and to her horror she saw her pet standing in the middle
of the road, her four hoofs planted firmly in the mud, and her head
lowered.
"Oh, the wretch," Lucia exclaimed, darting forward. "Come here at
once!" she called.
Garibaldi looked around and obediently trotted off. The car started,
and the King waved especially to Lucia as he passed, but even so great
an honor could not compensate her. She was mortified to tears that her
goat should have been guilty of _lese majeste_.
No entreaties on Beppi's part could make her stay to wait for the
King's return. She left him with a soldier, and went around the corner
of the convent, followed by the disgraced Garibaldi.
She sat down on a bench and sighed.
"Of course you're only a goat," she said scornfully, "but I did think
you had more sense than to do anything as terrible as that. Do you
know who that was that you made to stop? That was the King, do you
hear?"
Garibaldi walked away indifferently.
"Oh, I am disgusted with you forever," Lucia exclaimed with a shrug of
disdain. "You will stay here until he goes away again, and then I
shall take you home and tie you up."
Garibaldi paid no attention to the threat. Perhaps she knew how empty
it would prove to be.
"Lucia, Lucia, my child, where are you?" Sister Francesca's voice
trembled as she called.
"Here I am, sister," Lucia jumped up. "Do you want me?"
"Oh, my dear, I have looked everywhere for you. Come with me at once."
Lucia followed, wondering at the expression in the nun's usually placid
face. But Sister Francesca did not stop to give any explanations. She
led the way hurriedly back to the front door, of the convent, and up
the steps through the ward of smiling men, and only stopped when she
reached the door of Captain Riccardi's private room.
"Go in, my dear," she said, giving Lucia a little push. "The Captain
wants to speak to you."
Lucia opened the door and found herself face to face with the King.
She was too astonished, and far too thrilled to speak. She must have
shown some of her feeling in her eyes, for the Captain, who was in bed,
laughed.
"Here she is, Your Majesty," he said.
The King stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder.
"So you are the brave little girl whom I must thank for saving Captain
Riccardi's life, and for blowing up the bridge?"
Lucia was still tongue-tied. She swallowed hard and tried to stop her
heart from beating so fast.
"Yes, yes, sir--Your Majesty," she said at last. "I and Garibaldi."
"Garibaldi?" The King could not restrain a smile.
"The goat, sir," the Captain explained.
"Oh, I see, and what did you say his name was?"
"Garibaldi's a her, Your Majesty, and so she had to be Senora
Garibaldi."
Lucia was fast forgetting her embarrassment.
"'The Illustrious and Gentile Senora Guiseppi Garibaldi,' that's her
real name, but of course, it's too long for every day."
"Yes, I should suppose so, particularly if you were in a hurry," the
King laughed softly.
"Was that Senora Garibaldi that we came nearly running over?" he asked.
"Oh yes, it was, but please, Your Majesty, don't be angry with her.
You see, she really didn't know you were the King."
"Angry, why I should say not. Before I leave, yon must introduce me to
her, I couldn't leave without seeing such a really important person."
Lucia clapped her hands delightedly.
"Oh, she will be so proud!" she exclaimed.
The King turned to the officer who stood beside him and nodded, then he
shook Captain Riccardi's hand. "I congratulate you on the addition to
your household," he said, smiling. "Come with me, Lucia," he
continued, "I have something for you, and I want to give it to you
where all the soldiers can see."
Lucia followed in a dream. She stood very still at the end of the
ward, and watched the men salute as the King stood before them.
She did not hear what he said to them, for her head was swimming, but
she saw him turn to her, and her heart missed a beat as he pinned a
medal on her faded bodice.
"In appreciation of your courage and loyalty," the King said, and
Lucia's eyes looked into his for a brief, but never-to-be-forgotten
moment.
CHAPTER XVII
GOOD-BY TO CELLINO
It was over a month before Captain Riccardi was well enough to be
moved, but at last the beautiful day for the departure for the south
came.
"Do you really mean we are going?" Beppi demanded.
"Of course we are, darling," Lucia replied, laughing. She was so
excited that she could hardly wait to dress Beppi and Nana with the
patience that such an undertaking required. Nana had a new dress, Aunt
Rudini made it with Maria's help, and though it was too somber for
Lucia's color loving eyes, it was a new dress and she fastened it on
Nana's bent shoulders with a glow of pride.
"There now!" she exclaimed when it was on and Nana's stringy gray hair
had been reduced to some sort of order.
"Turn around and let me see you."
Nana turned. She was in a flutter of excitement, although she would
not have admitted it for the world.
"Don't waste any more time over an old woman," she said, sharply. "I
am tidy and that is enough."
"You are more than tidy, Nana, you look beautiful," Lucia exclaimed.
"Now do sit still and don't do anything."
"There's nothing to be done that has not already been done," Nana
replied as she sat on the edge of the green bed and folded her hands on
her lap. Lucia nodded in satisfaction and turned her attention to
Beppi.
He had a new suit too, and the broad sailor collar on it was
embroidered with emblems and stars.
Beppi was delighted, and Lucia helped him on with it as he danced and
hopped, first on one foot and then to the other.
"I'm a sailor," he announced, "a real sailor! See the bands on my arm."
"Fickle one," Lucia protested as she tied the flaring red tie, with
loving fingers, "I thought you were going to be a soldier like our
Captain."
Beppi thrust his small hands in his trouser pockets.
"I am when I grow up," he replied seriously, "but I can be a sailor in
the meantime, can't I?"
"Yes, of course," Lucia agreed, "and now put on your shoes, dear, it
must be late, and it would never do to keep the Captain waiting."
"Go and dress yourself then," Nana said, "and don't make yourself look
too gay, it is not seemly."
Lucia tossed her head and laughed.
"Ah, but I will, my new bodice is so beautiful; all bright flowers, and
my skirt is blue--I know the Captain will like it--and we are going to
the South where all the girls wear bright colors--I expect my dress
will look very somber."
Nana did not reply, she grumbled a little to herself, and Lucia pulled
out the drawer of the dresser and very carefully took out her new
possessions. She put them on slowly as if to prolong the pleasure.
"When she was ready she looked at as much of herself as she could see
in the small mirror, and smiled happily.
"I look very nice, I think," she said frankly.
"Then we are ready," Nana exclaimed, getting up, "we had better start
up the hill."
"Yes, do let's go," Beppi insisted, "I know we are going to be late."
"Oh, but we have plenty of time," Lucia replied. "Go along both of
you, I will follow with Garibaldi."
"Such foolishness," Nana grumbled, "to take a goat in a train; there
are many goats in the South. Why don't you wait until you get there
and leave Garibaldi to Maria with the rest?"
Lucia looked at her grandmother in consternation, but she did not stop
to argue with her. She left the house and went to the shed; repaired
now enough to make a shelter to keep out the rain.
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