Chapter 4 The Old Organ-Man by L. T. Meade
AT LAST
There came a warm day, full of light, and life, and color; a day over whichthe blue sky of Italy smiled. Beside an artistically arranged fruit stall aslender and handsome Italian girl stood. Behind the stall, on a low seat,sat an old woman; she was knitting, but her restless eyes took eager countof every passer-by.
"Did you observe that old man, Marcia?" she said in her rapid Italian tothe young girl.
The girl turned her beautiful and pitying eyes full on the old woman. "Hewas not my father, mother. Ah! dear mother, can you not rest content thatthe good God has taken my father to himself?"
"Fifteen years," muttered the old Italian woman. "Fifteen years, with thelove growing stronger, and the heart emptier, and the longing sorer. No, Ihave not given him up. Oh! my merciful Father in heaven, what--who isthat?" A little group was coming up to the fruit stall, a child who dancedmerrily, an old man with a bent white head, and a gentleman on whose arm heleaned.
They came up close. The child flew to the younger Marcia, the old couplegazed at each other with that sudden trembling which great and wonderfulheart-joy gives, they came a little nearer, and then their arms were roundeach other's necks.
"At last, Marcia," said old Antonio--"at last!"
THE END.