"I was born in Posilippo, near Naples," said she, "and was the
daughter of Augusto Barelli, who was the chief lawyer and once
the deputy of that part. Gennaro was in my father's employment,
and I came to love him, as any woman must. He had neither money
nor position--nothing but his beauty and strength and energy--so
my father forbade the match. We fled together, were married at
Bari, and sold my jewels to gain the money which would take us to
America. This was four years ago, and we have been in New York
ever since.
"Fortune was very good to us at first. Gennaro was able to do a
service to an Italian gentleman--he saved him from some ruffians
in the place called the Bowery, and so made a powerful friend.
His name was Tito Castalotte, and he was the senior partner of
the great firm of Castalotte and Zamba, who are the chief fruit
importers of New York. Signor Zamba is an invalid, and our new
friend Castalotte has all power within the firm, which employs
more than three hundred men. He took my husband into his
employment, made him head of a department, and showed his good-
will towards him in every way. Signor Castalotte was a bachelor,
and I believe that he felt as if Gennaro was his son, and both my
husband and I loved him as if he were our father. We had taken
and furnished a little house in Brooklyn, and our whole future
seemed assured when that black cloud appeared which was soon to
overspread our sky.
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