Read Heimatlos: Two stories for children, and for those who love children Page 22
CHAPTER XXI
SUNSHINE AT LAKE GARDA
Two years had passed since Rico had come to his home, and it seemed tothem all that every day was filled with more pleasure than thepreceding one. Stineli knew that the time was at hand when she oughtto go home, and it made her sad whenever she thought of it. There wasthe possibility that she might not be allowed to come back, and shecould think of nothing worse than that. Rico, too, began to be unhappyabout it, for he had promised that she should go back to be confirmed.It seemed to be his duty to let her go, and though he put it off fromday to day, it weighed upon his mind to such an extent that hescarcely spoke except when it was necessary.
Mrs. Menotti saw that something was wrong, and inquired into thecause; she had long ago forgotten that Stineli would ever have toleave them. When they told her she said, "Stineli is still very young;it will be just as well to wait until she is older"; so they had onemore year of undisturbed pleasure.
One day, about a year later, a message came from Bergamo, saying thatsome one was there who was to take Stineli back with him. There was noway out of it now, so the preparations for the journey began. Silviocried and cried because his Stineli was going away.
"You must be sure to come back," said Mrs. Menotti. "Promise yourfather anything he wants if he will only let you come."
Rico said scarcely a word when Stineli went, but it seemed to him thatshe took all the sunshine in the world away with her. The cloudsremained from November to the following Easter. The days had draggedalong in monotonous fashion, with the zest of life completely gone.
Now it was Easter Sunday. The festivities of the day were over, thegarden was one mass of bloom, and the fields gave promise of abountiful harvest. It ought to have made everybody happy, yet here wasRico, sitting with Silvio in the midst of all this luxury and beauty,playing the most melancholy tunes he could think of. To be sure theysuited Rico's mood, but they depressed Silvio and made him extremelyfretful. Suddenly they heard, "Rico, haven't you a more cheerfulwelcome?"
Silvio screamed for joy. Rico threw the violin on the bed and rushedout. Mrs. Menotti came in from an adjoining room to see what hadhappened. There on the threshold stood Stineli. The sunshine was backagain. She had not had the slightest notion of the hearty welcome thatawaited her return. In fact, the others had not realized how necessaryshe was to their happiness until she was gone. They gathered aboutSilvio's bed as usual, and they asked questions and answered them andrejoiced that the days of separation were over.
A few years later something came about so naturally that it seemed asif it could not have been otherwise. One lovely day in May--as fine aday as Peschiera had ever seen--a long wedding procession moved fromthe church to the Golden Sun. The tall, handsome Rico was at the head,and by his side, with a wreath of roses on her fair brow, was thebeautiful Stineli. Next came Silvio, in a softly upholstered cartdrawn by two Peschiera boys. Next in line was the mother, in herrustling festive attire, looking somewhat pale and tired. The flowergirls who came next were almost hidden in the roses they carried;following them came the guests, and it seemed from their number thatall Peschiera must have turned out to do honor to the young bride andbridegroom.
The pride of the landlady of the Golden Sun, when she saw theprocession coming, can be better imagined than described. Ever after,when anybody told about a wedding, she would say scornfully, "That isnothing compared to Rico's wedding at the Golden Sun."
The loyal Peschierans rejoiced that Rico was to make his home amongthem. The sunshine never again left him, and the home nestled in thebeautiful garden was always a happy one. Stineli never let the Lord'sPrayer be forgotten, and the grandmother's song could be heard everySunday night.