Lucia Rudini Part 16

"Well then, what would you say if I told you that I am a fairy G.o.dfather, 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 antic.i.p.ation.

"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 G.o.dfather in her eyes, and she proved her grat.i.tude 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.

"h.e.l.lo!" 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.