Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-40.djvu/688

668 The first lot was drawn by a very simple process: the steward's baby reached forth a little hand, plunged it into the hat held by the priest, and clutched vaguely a slip of paper on which was inscribed a name.

There was a pause of intense expectation on the part of the crowd, and the steward, standing at the entrance of the villa, read aloud the name:

"Pia Tommasi."

had drawn the first bridal dowry.

The event was a miracle to the town, where each person had a different explanation to give of the circumstance, when the general astonishment had subsided. Pia had a lucky face: any one could see that. The lines of her right hand formed the letter M in the palm, which signified especial favor with the Madonna. Marianna Cari rejoiced, while the mother of Sabina shook her head.

"Where is the husband?" she cried, and the women of Spina took up the word, passing it from lip to lip, until Pia became the centre of a clamorous and gesticulating throng, envious, jealous, and ardently curious.

"Money always brings a husband," retorted Pia, with crimson cheeks and sparkling eyes.

She was still bewildered by the good fortune which had befallen her. She trembled from head to foot, and great beads of moisture stood on her brow. The fan of red paper with a gilded edge, so seldom laid aside in the summer heat, was crushed in her hands, without her being aware of the convulsive movement.

"Will you keep the dowry, then?" demanded a matron with five robust daughters, extending her yellow arm and skinny hand, as if to wrench away the prize.

"Yes," said Pia, steadily.

"Who is he, then, this husband?" shrieked the defrauded one.

Pia made a grimace, screwing up her features into a malicious expression.

"Flies do not enter the closed mouth, nor a secret escape it," she said, gravely, in her deep voice.

Cesare Tomrnasi chuckled.

"Eh! eh! the little one always keeps her head," he added, with paternal pride.

Emilia stepped between the dwarf and her neighbors.

"Let her alone," she said, in her calm tones.

Pia eyed her askance, as a bird looks at another bird venturing too near on the same perch of the cage.

The two other maidens rejoiced in their portion,—a slender brunette, and a plump blonde with red hair. Thanks to the whim of the baroness in adding her purse, the sum was considerable, each bride receiving five hundred francs. The blonde and the brunette were not