The Miner's Lady

8/22/2019 The Miner's Lady

1/37


2/37

L n d o f S i n i n g W T

T

MinersL d y

T c i P T S o n

5


3/37

2013 by T P

Publhd by Bhy Hu Publh

11400 Hmph Avu Suh

Blmg, M 55438

www.bhyhu.m

Bhy Hu Publh dv

Bk Publhg Gup, Gd Rpd, Mhg

Pd h Ud S Am

All gh vd. N p h publ my b pdud, d vl

system, or transmitted in any orm or by any meansor example, electronic, photocopy,

dgwhu h p w pm h publh. Th ly xp

b qu pd vw.

Lby Cg Clgg--Publ D

P, T.

Th m ldy / T P.

pg m. (Ld Shg W)

Summy: Wh Chl ll lv wh w my h

1890 -mg mmuy, wll Chl mp d h upl ul

m h w?Pvdd by publh.

ISBN 978-0-7642-1146-1 (lh : lk. pp)

ISBN 978-0-7642-0621-4 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7642-1147-8 (lg-p pbk.)1. FmlMF. 2. MHy19h uy

F. I. Tl.

PS3566.E7717M56 2013

813 .54d23 2013016389

Spu qu m h Kg Jm V h Bbl.

Th wk . Nm, h, d, d dlgu pdu

the authors imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual

v p, lvg dd, ly dl.

Cv dg by Bd Nvg

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 7 6 5 4 3 2 1


4/37

To Chantel Karch

Yu wm yug wm.

Alwy lk Ju!


5/37

7

chapter 1

Ely, M i n n E so t a

oc t o b E r 1890

A Cl? Chlly P lkd h db-

l. Yu w my Cl?Seventeen-year-old Isabella shook her head. Not just any

Cl. Old Cl. W lv, Chl. I ll

my heart not to love him. You havent been here this last year,

yu d kw hm lk I d.

I my hv b g, bu I d kw h h Cl

d P hv b dd v y y.Ibll ppd lg hy-bw h v h huld.

Th ud m hg Old d m.

Suzg h yug wmly gu d ull

lp, Chl hk h hd. Ibll lkd y byd

her seventeen. She seemed just a child when Chantel had let,

bu w h pk mg d lv.

Hv yu ld Mm Pp?

No, o course not. Isabella threw hersel across the bed.

I wd w ul yu ud m Ily.


6/37

The Miners Lady

8

Chl h dg h bd d ully

dd h wd. Yu kw hyll v ppv.

Isabella reared up like a cat about to attack its prey. Theyll

have to. Orlando and I plan to marry. This eud is ridiculous,

d I d Im dwd. I lv hm.

Bu hw dd h hpp? Chl qud. Suly

M d Ald wuld v llw yu b l wh

Cl.

Ou bh b vywh. Thy w wh Pp h m vy dy wk, d mm I lppd

wyl m Old h.

Yu w h m? Chl lzd h w ly

hug, d hud lw h v. Yu b -

u. Yu kw w uppd g ul w wh

other womenits dangerous there. The men have no reason yu lk ldy yu hw up h m. Oly

l wm wuld d h.

Yu kw ull wll h xp, v u m-

ly. I m mmb m h wh w dlvd

ood to our menolk. Anyway, its not like I made a public

spectacle, Isabella said, easing into a sitting position. I kept

mysel hidden and disguised. Only Orlando saw me. Even

h bh d h hv d.

Th vy hugh h kg h , v

h l, v m h kw h p wuld v p-

pv , gv Chl hv. I pdg h l y

Italy visiting their grandparents had taught Chantel anything,

it was just how possessive amily could be. In the old country

yug ld dd muh pk m whu h

h pm.


7/37

Tracie Peter son

9

Sp wg lk h, Ibll dld. I h

d h wld. Yull . Old d I gu h x-

ly wh dd pu d h ud.

Chantel wished she could be as sure as her sister. You

kw h h pblm bw h ml w g wy

ly. I m lkly h yu mg wuld ly u

uh dv.

Nonsense. Isabella twisted a long strand o hair between

her ngers. I were married and produce children, they willblg bh h Cl d h P ml. Thk

, Chl. I lly w Mm py.

Th mh hd lg whd d h gg

eud. As Chantel understood it, the entire afair had oc-

curred in Italy and was over some dispute that no one would

speak about. Frankly, Chantel wondered i anyone evenkw u wh hd d h m. Sh dd kw

that it ended in the killing o a mule, which threatened

h lvlhd h Cl mly. Mm d h mul

dh w d, bu h bu h w ldy

bad blood between the two amilies, it could not be orgiven

yhg bu pupul k. Chl hd

d g h N P pk h m, bu

her grandmother was even more closemouthed about it than

Mm.

Wh gh, Chl d ml. Wll, gd

you again, nevertheless. I cant say the same or this lthy,

depressing town. The past year in Italy has only made me

lz ju hw wul h pl uly .

Its a mining town. You know what Mama says about

hm. Ibll d h dg h bd.


8/37

The Miners Lady

10

I h l p b h g hll, h gl d

u d lughd.

Chantel looked around the room shed shared with her

h mly hd mvd Ely h y l.

H h y mg wk hd k hm m

back east to Michigan, and now to Minnesota. They had lived

h m Duluh h mh Mll.

Bu v h lg w ld h lgh Chl

mm h Il uyd.S w yu p wdul yu l mpld?

Isabella questioned. Id always looked orward to going there

myl, bu w I upp I w hv h ppuy. A

l m.

Their parents had a tradition o sending each o their

hld y wh h gdp Ily. Up u-ing twenty-one, the siblings, i unmarried, would leave home

y l bu h ld uy d h .

Marco and Alredo had each had their turn, and now Chantel

hd xpd h m.

I uly ulk yhg I uld hv pd, h

said. Nonna and Nonno have such a beautiul home,

Chantel continued. And the scenery is incredible. You can see

h vyd d hd ml d ml. Ad N

and I had great un tatting and making bobbin lace. I brought

ul hm wh m d md m h hp.

You wrote about the amily dinners, Isabella interjected

with a wistul look on her ace. They sounded so wonderul.

All h ppl d h mu d dg.

Thy w, Chl dmd. Evy Sudy lv

would come rom all over, and we would east. Nonnas tables


9/37

Tracie Peter son

11

wuld plly bw m h wgh h d. Oh, d

uh d! Yu hk Mm gd k; wll, l m ll

you theres nothing quite so wonderul as Nonnas dishes

made with resh ingredients. She put her thumb and middle

g h lp d kd. Wh ll h gd d, w

hd w h py. N wuld plly ph

m wh h d bl h d. I w mzg.

H h Gd g.

Y h llw h upd ud bw ml. Adall because some mule was accidentally killed, Isabella mut-

d. I d udd hw h gdly.

Chl hk h hd. N, I d upp . F-

giveness is something that people in the old country seem

lu gv, d I d kw why huld llw u

here. Old traditions die hard, I suppose, but America is aland or new traditions and opportunities. It seems to me

h uh gudg huld b d.

Just then their mother burst into the room carrying a huge

k l l. Buon giorno.

Good morning, Mama. Chantel crossed the room to

hlp h mh wh h ludy.

Its so good to have you home, their mother said, beam-

ing rom ear to ear. She rattled away in rapid-re Italian,

proclaiming how much shed missed Chantel and how empty

the house seemed without her, beore slowing down to return

again to English. Your papa is so happy you have returned.

Chl pld h l p mpy h. Im gld

yu ll g, bu I y Im hppy b Ely.

E-lee is no so beautiul as Italy, her mother declared. Al-

though she was hal French, her accent was decidedly Italian.


10/37

The Miners Lady

12

N, , Chl gd.

Th mg w pd wy-x l, mpd

only ve churches. There were a variety o other businesses:

general stores, banks, doctors and lawyers, jewelers and dress-

makers. But it was what happened in the backrooms and upper

h l d bhl h w m dg.

Pu, gmblg, d ll m v w , d

h w lm dly p m hvg b klld

in a ght or o drinking themselves into such a stupor that theyell on the railroad tracks to be run over by the morning reight.

Th l w mm, , h h mhl hd k

to checking the tracks beore the train was due in. O course, it

w umd h my h bd dvd h k

hd b pld h pupully dgu mud.

Mother bustled around the room, tidying things as shew. Ad dd yu d pl by? Mh kd. A

Italiano by?

There had been a bevy o nice-looking young men who paid

u Chl, bu h dw m h mmy

. Chl kw h mh hd hpd h m

wuld blm d h php h dugh wuld u

to America a married woman bringing yet another Italian

l h uy.

N, pl, Mm.

Oh, its too bad. Youre such a pretty girl. You need to

d gd hubd. Mm ppd lg d lkd

h dugh. Bu Gd wll pvd. Non forse cos?

Yes, it is so, Mama.Just dont go trying to do Gods work

for Him. Chl uld ll by h lk h mh

h h d hd d h md.


11/37

Tracie Peter son

13

Ibll d hl up h bd. Im gg k

Chantel to the new dressmakers shop, Mama. I want to

du h h Mll .

S, and show her the new meat market, their mother

uggd. Suh gd m b hd h. Thy mk

wdul ug.

Mm lvd h ug. Chl mld d mvd -

wd h d. L m g my wlkg h .

Better to wear boots, Mama countered. The rains, theymk h lk- mud p.

The girls nodded in unison and went to the mud porch

v h b. Chl k up wl hwl d

wppd ud h hd d huld. Th dmp O-

b hlld h h b hy bg h wlk. F

vl blk Chl d hg.I lkd ll b h dd l y. A l hyd

removed a good many tree stumps. Many o the trees that had

b u dw mg u hd ld h wh

ump. Bu w h pl w buldg w d.

I w v mpvm.

I ld h I xpd.

Isabella shrugged, doing up the buttons on her brown wool

. I ly Nvmb. I h wk w wll

b kg h lk.

Chl ddd. I upp b xpd, bu v

, I hll m h umm wmh Ily.

Winter must come. It cant stay summer orever, her sister

replied. Summer here is quite lovely, as you must remember.

She did. Summer picnics at Lake Shagawa and picking

blub m h mll lk ld.


12/37

The Miners Lady

14

Yuv md g dl ud h. Ibll wvd

h hd wd h w buldg. Th Rvd F-

m l h p h Pby Chuh um

h ud Chg. Oh, d w hv bd-w huh

building or St. Anthonys. Soon well be holding services there

d h bdghu. Fh Buh d h my

d vw h buldg. I gg b qu wdul.

Chl dd my h w uu. I l-

m lk h w gw up vgh.Ibll ud. W hv w dug d w

hl. Th Olv Hl qu md d d b ju

h hg bg u hg d hug.

Im mpd, I mu dm, Chl dld. I v

heard some men talking on the train about ice shing this

w. O u h w l umb m whw mg d wk.

Papa says that with the new iron mines being established,

wll hv hudd m ppl. Myb hud.

A h Chdl M w ugh du

h ld.

Isabella didnt seem to hear. Oh, remember Sara Norman?

Wll, h md M. Ell. Yu kw h mmb

h Ely F Dpm, h h m w gh

d gv hm d mh. Mm d m ll

h wy m Chg.

N dub h py py, Chl pld. Sh

lkd ud h w, yg mg pdg h

o her lie here. She doubted that she could be happy even

wh w d mh m Chg. Th d d

noise, damp cold and unpainted buildings made her long


13/37

Tracie Peter son

15

Ily. A hmk hd b m whl bd,

Chl uddly l mplly dpld.

Yu huld hv b h h Fm Bll, I-

bll ud, g h md. Th

department ordered special suits and looked quite grand.

They wore black pants, red annel shirts with blue collar,

u, d bpl. Whd Hll h v hld uh

spectacular afair. We all dressed in our nest and went to

lb.Clb wh? Chl kd.

Ibll hw h lk mum. Smhg d-

erent. We were just happy to have a diversion. We danced

d d md my.

Chantel could well understand that. As they crossed Chap-

m S, Chl l h b k h muddy u

h d. Sh hud g ld g h bd-

walk, carrying what elt like ve pounds o muck on each

oot. Wiping her boots against the edge o the walk, she

hk h hd.

Isabella was unazed. See over there? Weve been told that

u d dy wll p h Juy. I, ,

m qu xd.Chl mld, kwg h ph w.

N ugh m mk m wdul mly p,

including some candy that Mama used to make when she was a

little girl. To her surprise Isabella gave her an impromptu hug.

I gd hv yu hm. I md yu muh.

Chl ud h mb. Im gld b hm. Iw xly l, bu h w h uh.


14/37


15/37

17

chapter 2

Its got to stop, Dante Calarco told his younger brother

Orlando. You cant go on sneaking around to meet that

P mp.

Sh mp! Old h up d

with his brother. I love her and intend or her to be my wie.Dante rolled his eyes heavenward. Youre nineteen and

hv bu v hkg bu mg. Yuv ly

been working the mine or the last year. You have nothing

yu m d ly d w. N ly

h, bu yu kw u h wll v llw yu my

P. Ad gd .Reason, good or otherwise, never has gured into this

dulu ud. Old puhd bk hk blk h d

lmd h h dg m bl. Am I h ly

bhd by h h u ml dd v

upd mul? I m, hk bu . Tw ml h h

h bu mul dlly g klld.

Ou gdh pply dd blv b -

d. Bd, yu kw wll I d h w ldy

pblm bw h w ml.


16/37

The Miners Lady

18

But I dont have any problem with the Panettas, and I

d why I huld.

Dante wanted very much to get his brother to acknowledge

the truth. It matters little whether or not you agree with

the two amilies being at odds. The act is, Father believes

lyly u mly.

Wh bu lyly h ? Wh bu lg

lv p lk h Gd Bk y? Wh bu h?

Dante had never been much or religious nonsense. Heblvd Gd. H v blvd h H hd S md

Ju wh dd h m ll

mkd. Wh h dd blv w h h

k pl h huh. A hd v b bl ll,

huh w uul hg d hg ly: hpg

gul up h wk-mdd.Im gg gu wh yu bu lg. Im

even going to challenge you on the whole concept o trying to

be at peace in a world lled with warring people. Dante took

the seat opposite his brother while their grandmother scurried

ud pu upp h bl. Bu yu kw hw u

ather eels regarding amily. Family is everything. For you

k ud wh h lk pug k h bk.

That has never been my intention. Orlando met Dantes

gz. Yu kw h. I lv my mly, bu I lv Ibll,

.

Ora ragazzi, said their Nonna Barbato in her native Ital-

. Il pap sar qui presto.

D qud h huld. Sh w gh. Th h

wuld b h y mm, d wuld v h

hm wll hv hm qu h du.


17/37

Tracie Peter son

19

Im y, Old. Im y h yu lv h, d Im

y h hg v m .

Ju h hy uld h h h pg h b

ud h bk d. Bh yug m ghd h

chairs as i they were boys awaiting parental inspection.

Nonna put the last o the ood on the table and took her seat.

Vittorio Calarco rubbed his hands together and entered

h kh. Th wd h b . Hpully wll g

hd z d h muk hy ll d wll hd up.D uld hlp bu ml. H h d bl

h dy k. H k d m h mg p

and no one else . . . except his mother-in-law. Nonna Barbato

insisted the men take their boots o beore entering the house,

and even Vittorio Calarco was obedient. O course, Dante

kw h h hd b dpd up h ld wmsince losing his wie in childbirth. Nonna had been newly

wdwd, d h p Am h dugh

newborn and eight-year-old sons gave her a new lease on

l. D h hd uggld d h my uh

p, bu wh h hlp mly h hd mgd bg

N Am ly wk hd bud D d

Old mh.

Their ather took a seat at the table and reached or his

bwl zuppa de zucca, h v pumpk up. N

wggld g d dmhd hm. F w py, h

d h lwy dd.

H h gv d. Wh N d hy wuld py

, hy pyd.

N d g h d, h pud h h

u py h mly. Sh kd gv h


18/37

The Miners Lady

20

h m, pldg wh Gd h p. D

kw h v bdd wll wh h h, bu h ud

somewhat comorting. Even i he wasnt given to praying

hml, w kw h m l w g

up py h bhl.

Am, d N.

Dante and Orlando murmured the word in return, but

h h ly gud d hd g h up.

Supper was always a time or Nonna to share the latestinormation rom amily or the ongoing aairs o neighbors.

Dantes ather would chime in on politics and matters o

h w, whl D d Old pkd up h v-

wh hy hd mhg dd. Ad lwy, w

Italian. Nonna could speak English, though not well. She

dd vulg lgug. I w whA T Bb pk wh h lld h Am

gbl.

Ely w w my l, bu h d

w pdmly ld by Slv-Au d Il.

Nonna knew every man, woman, and child in their neighbor-

hood and thought it her duty to keep up on the details o their

lives. Oten the women washed clothes or sewed together,

d whl hy dd hy ld w m h ld uy

pk pblm wh h ml. N hd bm

mhg mh mg h wm, d h hld

h p wh h uhy qu.

The Dicellos have a new baby, Nonna announced. A

, hlhy by. Sh xdd -ld gl vg

bowl to Dante. You should marry and have children, Dante.

Gd, bu yu wy-v y ld. Wll p h


19/37

Tracie Peter son

21

time a man should settle down. You need children o your

w y h mly m.

Old pd h muh mm h, bu

Dante quickly silenced him. Nonna, you always said that

marriage was the hardest work a man and woman would ever

do. Frankly, the mine exhausts me. I dont have the energy

my.

She laughed and motioned to the bowl hed just taken.

E up d yull hv gy ply. Th yu vagnolotti.

D mld d bg p hml hlhy p-

tion o the ravioli. Each little pasta pocket was lled with

d b d d vgbl. H gdmh

had such a way with the dish that he had to admit hed rather

x hlpg h h hv d.Th bl lk ud wh N llg h v

h m mk wh vl h wm. Sh pk

new amilies moving to the area to accommodate the growing

m duy. A h D h jd .

Papers have already been drawn up to make Ely an incor-

pd w, h ld hm. O h flly hpp,

we will see many more changes. There are plans to put in

w d w l, wll b .

That is good, Nonna said, nodding. She tore o a piece o

bread rom a large round loa. The streets here are terrible.

D pd ly k h v. H

md w ud Old Ibll P.

Dante had had suspicions or some time that his brother was

kg m wh yug ldy, bu v uld h

hv mgd wuld b P.


20/37

The Miners Lady

22

The boy was insane. He had to know the relationship

would never be allowed, and i Orlando insisted, their ather

wuld mply dw hm. Ad h wh? Wuld h w

my d mv wh h mly? Th hm wuld

cause their ather no end o grie, and that in turn would

kl dw D d N.

A h , D d hw h mgh b dl

with the situation. There was always the chance that Isabellas

amily didnt realize what was going on. Perhaps i Danted h bh h m, h uld xpl

what was happening and get their help on the matter. O

course, it wasnt likely that a Panetta would give him the

m dy, muh l l hm.

They say the Pioneer Mine will deliver the same qual-

ity Bessemer ore that the Chandler has, Dante heard hish dl. Ad h h m pg, wll.

I theyre all Bessemer quality, well be making the owners

qu wlhy.

Bm hld h h . Th pblm

with some iron ore was a high percentage o phosphorus.

Hy Bm, Eglh m, hd d wy

bu wy h mpu m mk l. Bu

o this wondrous contribution, the nest ore had been named

hm.

O b h Chdl M d h h Bm

ore was that it didnt require a great deal o processing in

order to make it useul. Not only that, but the vein o ore

hd dud mv ldg dug . Th -

sulted in the ore breaking naturally into pieces very nearly

h gh z h mll, whh lmd h d u


21/37

Tracie Peter son

23

hugh uh . Th, lg wh h h h

ore was readily available and not at all laborious to mineat

least not in the early pit mining yearsproved very valu-

bl h khld. I w d h h m pd u

$100,000 a month net prot. O course, Dante ound that

hd blv, bu h gwh h y d dggg

w m w y d, mu b u.

Dr. Shipman intends to see those terrible houses o ill

pu ld, N dld. H mk gd vllgpd, v h Il.

He is a good man, Father replied, but i they close down

h bhl, hw wll hy ud h w? H gv lugh.

I ly h bugh by h mhl h py Ely

bll. I w wll-kw h h mhl vd h

bhl mhly b h mdm. Thysimply paid a large ne and returned to business. It served

to give the pretense o law and order, make money or the

w, d kp h m hppy.

Bh! N d, wvg hm wy wh h hd. W

wll b b y whu hm.

Well, i they have their way and incorporate the mines into

h y lm, Fh d, hg h bd, hy wll

hv my ugh. Th my v py

what is shipped out o the mines, but the city gets nothing. That

wll hg ugh h p g hugh.

D d h pl d g ud hml hk-

ing about Orlandos situation. His brother had crossed a line

h wuld ly b g h h ld h

truth. So the trick would be to nd a way to get Orlando back

h gh d b h uld b ud u.


22/37

The Miners Lady

24

I could just threaten him, D hugh, h vy ly

smiled. His brother was not easily intimidated. They had

endured many a brawl in their younger days, and Orlando

uld pu up qu gh. H w g d muul lk

Dante, although he was shorter by two or three inches. I

yhg, h ly vd gv h bh dvg

muvg ud D k.

I could bribe him to let her go. But Dante knew that wouldnt

work, either. He knew his brother couldnt be bought o. Notwh h d hml uly lv.

H w ll l hugh wll N hd vd

d. Wh h bh d h g up m h bl,

Dante continued to pick at the pear tart his grandmother

hd pu hm.

Yu lk? h kd Eglh.Dante, surprised by her change o language, glanced around

h m. Sg h h d bh g, h hk h

hd. Im ju wd bu Old.

N wggld g hm. Yu wy muh.

Sh whd bk Il d bg lg h bl.

Yu bh wll b .Lwg h v whp, D pld, N h

kp hkg wh h h d h hd.

His grandmother straightened or a moment and shook her

head. Ah, Dante, the heart it cannot be controlled by anyone

v Gd. I wll h whm wll h. I amore.

I dgu, D d, gg h . Ad

lh.


23/37

Tracie Peter son

25

At seven the next morning, Dante, Orlando, and their

h w bk wk h m. Th h -

hour segments, two shits a day, every day but Sunday. Vittorio

Calarco and his sons were contract miners. They handled

dynamite and nitroglycerinblasting holes in the iron ore

k h h hzl d. Th dgu

job allowed them additional pay, or it required steady hands

and even stronger nerves. Vittorio Calarco preerred it this

wy. H wd ly h m p, hy lldthe big boss, but paid nominal heed to the instructions o the

shit oreman. Luckily Dantes ather liked the man whom he

called Mr. Foreman in a sort o mock salute to the position.

Wh D h dd lk w h h P-

tas worked in the same mine. Dante ervently hoped that

their enemies might transer to another mine. At best theyw wkg h h u h. Bu v

wh v p wk, h ph wuld d

wd wuld b xhgd. Th l w uully ly b-

w h w ph, whl h lly bvd,

whg d wg l m h h dd d

m h lk.

A Fh d ug Old, D uld hlp

but study his brother. He seemed so careree, so unconcerned

with his deception. Would he truly risk being ostracized rom

h mly h lv wm?

A yu gg hlp u ju d h?

Dante met his athers stern expression. Tell me what

yu w d.

We will drill blasting points here and here, his ather

d, pg. Th dp w mvd pg


24/37

The Miners Lady

26

system that was well suited to the areas ormations. Seg-

ments o ore were taken out parallel to the drit or horizontal

shat, creating a sort o stepped appearance at the top o

the stopethe ever-expanding hollow created by the mining

work. Underground iron miners always tried to let gravity

wk hm, ug h vhd upwd mhd. Th

llwd h ll h bm h p, d m

h wuld b pd hu d ldd h

ld blw h h wk . I w duwork, oten reerred to as caving. Eventually all o the ore

wuld b md h , d h Cl wuld bl

the surrounding rock to ll in the stope. The process went on

d d v muh pbl.

D d gv muh hugh h dg hy

d, hugh hy w my. Wll h p l-lapsed without warning. Blasts could go of prematurely,

although the Calarcos had not been victim o that due to

h h vgl vyhg h dd. O u,

just because they were careul didnt mean everyone else was.

Th w ply w muk wh hd d h

k.

F w lwy d h m, bu w -

d wh h mhy m h ud juy

d dh. D hd m l g d bu

bg l h w h uudg.

Th pl dydm, h h dmhd.

A knot o ear and embarrassment sat in his gut at his

h wd. H kw b. Sy, D d.

Fh hdd hm wd ll u. Sy wll g

yu blw up, .


25/37

Tracie Peter son

27

D m h bh uu gz. Wh quk g

Orlando went back to work, mindless o what was truly

bothering his older brother. They would simply have to settle

h l, D dmd, d puhd h pblm h

bk h md.


26/37


27/37

29

chapter 3

Mama, were going to Cormacks store to pick up that thread

you wanted to make lace, Isabella told their mother. Do

yu d yhg l?

Chantel pulled on a wool coat she had just unpacked rom

h g h gh b. Th w ug. Th had been handed down to her long beore her gure had lled

out, and it was well past time to replace it with something new.

Maybe she would sell some o her lace and order a new coat.

W d m ug, Mm d, lkg h lg

hugh h w l w h. Ad w

purchase more eggs rom Stanleys boardinghouse. Theyhv h b gg.

S, Mama. Isabella kissed her mother on the cheek. And

d yu w m pu u k my?

Mama went to the cupboard and pulled down a tin marked

Tea. Chl kw h p, lk m mmg, dd

trust the banks. They hid their money around the house rather

h u g. Th ld wm pulld u m

hg m h d hdd Ibll. Py h

gg d hg h ug u u. Tll M. Cmk


28/37

The Miners Lady

30

hg h lk hd, wll. Tll hm wll m m-

w yu pp g pd d l h u.

With that, the girls exited the house. Chantel secured a

wl b p h ully pd bw h. Th m-

pu hd dppd g.

A l h d hd w, Ibll d, yg h

w b.

Chantel waited until they were a bit down the road to ques-

tion her sister. What are you up to, Isabella? You seemedvy g u h d.

Isabella threw Chantel a grin. I am going to meet Orlando

bhd h . Bg hw Fdy, Old h wll

hv m h m mg, bu Old d

D wll lv h h ly. Thy lwy p w

or their Nonna on their way home. I want you to come along I d yu kp D upd h Old

lp wy m m.

Chantel rowned. Shed not seen the older Calarco son

m m. Wh d yu m, kp hm upd?

You know, talk to him. Goodness, Chantel, you would

hk yud v hd v wh yug m.

Ad h w pk m?

Isabella rolled her eyes. Im sure you can nd a way to

gu hm. I hm, ll l l.

Sh lkd Ibll dbl. Wh dd yu bm

vg?

Ibll lughd. I vg, ju h wy .

L m I hd my d p D d k hm

hlp h y k p. I d wh I hv

d m my lv.


29/37

Tracie Peter son

31

Well, i it keeps you away rom the mines, Im all or that.

Most o the time Orlando can get away without arousing

suspicion, but sometimes Dante seems to stick to him like

glue. Ive told Orlando it isnt a problem even i he cant meet

m. Ill ll hw up. I lk I hv wlk vy .

Lvg w hd dvg. I w mpl ugh

to walk to the stores and acquire the needed merchandise.

There was no need or a horse or carriage, both o which

required more upkeep and expense than Chantels parentswd pd. M h m wlkd wk h

same reason, and only the wealthier store owners and ofcials

hd h d bugg.

Tdy h w w bulg. Mg w w lwy

y pl, wh h hum d umbl mh-

y, blg, d ldg. Th mg dy h wuld d h hu w, d h h w wuld lly g

buy. Th whl wuld ud d h gh h wk

wuld mk h wy h m. Whl hy k v h

k hd, h dy h wk wuld mk h wy

home through town, and those who still had money rom last

wk py wuld qu h ll bu puh

d, lqu, d h plu. F p, m yhg

uld b hd. Chl hd v Fh u. Th

w lg umb F lvg d wkg Ely, d

m Fh huhld pd m m u. I

seemed only right that someone should utilize their popular-

y d mk bu .

Chl kw h mh w l h hu

have her unmarried daughters on the towns streets when the

m w gg wk, hy hd ud h hy


30/37

The Miners Lady

32

wuld mk bk b h whl blw gl h d

o the shit. Not only that, but the days were becoming shorter

as winter approached, and already the skies were blending

vg wlgh.

There have been so many changes in the past year, Chantel

murmured. And the biggest change o all was Isabellas plans

to marry. Chantel shook her head. Wasnt it just yesterday

h h plyd wh dll?

They made their way to the general store and hurried insideto escape the brisk wind. Well, i it isnt the Panetta sisters,

h lk dld. I hd hd yu w bk hm, M

Chl. Th ld m mld. I upp yull b d-

g m hd g w.

Chl ud h ml. Idd. Mm d h hd

m blk lk hd dd. Sh l d wuldhv m by w.

Y, mm. I w gg hv dlvd h dd

d M Ibll v . I hv d h bk

m. W h yhg l yu w dg?

Ibll uhd h lv. Im gg lp

u bk. I w b lg. I D hw up h, b u

d kp hm buy. D g h ug.

She had no chance to protest, so Chantel merely looked

back at the clerk. Mama wanted some sugar. She asked that

yu pu h d h hd u u. Shll l up

mw Pp pd. Chl hugh h .

Oh d I d g w . D yu hv y k

gh w?

I d. Th vl ld h

the store. He pointed to the display window. I also have


31/37

Tracie Peter son

33

m w hg w ju g . Chm wll b h,

d w hv m lvly m g.

Chantel nodded and made her way to the ront. She looked

over some embroidered gloves, several lovely enamel brooches,

d w m b h hd h d p.

She turned and recognized Orlando Calarco, but he didnt

v m h. Id, h hud wd h bk

o the store, disappearing out the same way Isabella had

gone. Chantel stood transxed or a moment, then turnedh bk l m m. Sh d

hd g wh w kg pl u bk. Fug

Christmas and her brothers instead, Chantel decided the

heavy leather gloves and warm woolen caps might well be

mhg h bh wuld d. Sh hd bugh h

amily member a Christmas present rom Italy, but somethingpl mgh wll b ppd, wll. Shd pk

Mm bu d wh h d Pp hd pld.

She looked the coats over and ound a dark burgundy wool

that suited her well. It was trimmed in black and looked to be

ju h z. Sh wuld hv h lk hld h. Tkg

it to the counter, she checked the price and winced. It was

ly dll. Sh wuld hv ll gd mu

h g hlp h .

Here you are, the clerk said, returning with her sugar

d hd.

Chantel handed him the coat. I wonder i you would hold

this or me. I need to sell some tatting and make certain Papa

approves the purchase o this expensive an item. She smiled.

I kw h wll, bu lwy b k.

Th lk mld. I wll u yu . I ld


32/37

The Miners Lady

34

be without a good coat, and I see that one is getting quite

w. Yu k w, d I wll pu p u

yu. Wh yu g yu g my, yu py m.

Chl hkd hm d wd whl h ldd ly

into a box and tied it of with string. When he brought it

bk h u, h pld h bx bd h ug d

hd. S hw w yu p bd? W gd?

I w wdul. I vy muh jyd pdg h y

with my Nonna and Nonno in Italy. They have a lovely houseup on a hill that looks down over the little town where we

wlkd h mk d huh. I w qu buul.

Ad wm?

I h umm, w pd. W w . . . wll . . .

w. W hd b w, bu g dl. Wh h

wh w , hwv, w w ud muh p-bl. I ud vy hd lv.

You arent sorry to have returned to Ely, are you? he asked

wh h dm h . Yu kw, w hv

some very nice things to ofer here, as well. Lake Shagawa

w h m gd m h umm, d h

vy ly hk ugh bg w kg. Ad yu

might want to know theres a new ladies snowshoe club

h md ju l w. Th yug ld pl ug

gh d g w wlk.

Chl pkd up h ug d hd d mld. Im

muh h ld. I p h, uy dy, myl.

Just then three women entered the store, chattering up

a storm about some problem they were seeking to resolve.

Chl gbbd h bx d k h ppuy

lp u h lk wlmd h ld d ud hml


33/37

Tracie Peter son

35

dw h . Sh hd ll bu g h gd

k, hwv, wh h wlkd gh D Cl.

Pd m. Im y, h d, glg up m

his surprised expression. For a moment his eatures were

welcoming, but just as quickly they changed as he recog-

zd h.

M P, h d. Th wd udd d.

Mr. Calarco. She eyed him with a alse sense o condence.

H dk y md uz h lkg m w. Chl l h p bg lp. Sh kw

h wuld hv k hg h u. Sh hld h

p h ywy.

Ive just returned rom Italy. She knew it wouldnt matter

hm, bu h ud. Hv yu v md h p?

He shook his head. Been busy working since I was sixteen.I d hv m uh luxu.

Sh gv hm u d kwldgm. Wll,

a luxury to be certain. I very much enjoyed the time with

mly.

H d hg mm, h gv hug. I yu

d md, Im lkg my bh.

Yu bh? Chl qud. I mm g

yu hv bh.

Theres no need or you to either remember or orget it. As

you will recall, our amilies are not exactly on speaking terms.

Sh gv lugh. Wll, w dg h pkg,

I suppose weve broken with that tradition. I always elt it

w lly , ywy.

Yu wuld. Iv y kw P h mly

h m wy w Cl d.


34/37

The Miners Lady

36

Chantel elt her ire rise. Now, just a minute, Mr. Calarco.

My mly vy hbl . I mply l h Gd

desire or us to live at peace with one another is ar more

hbl.

You sound like my brother. He pushed past her to go

h .

Then hes a good deal smarter than you, she called ater

him, remembering Isabellas comment to irritate Dante i all

l ld.Dante turned and narrowed his eyes. You sound as i

youd like to perpetuate the eud. Insulting me certainly isnt

y wy mk d.

Chl huggd. I w mpg ul yu, bu

to speak the truth. I believe Gods Word makes it clear we

b gudg, bu h b hbud.

Will you preach an entire sermon here in the cold? he

kd, h v dppg m.

Knowing she had to do whatever she could to keep him

m hg u Old, Chl mld. M. Cl,

I m hdly phg. N, I m mply g h m

ulld h w huld b dd. Ou ml mgh

hv hd ubl h p, bu h ly d

to continue that now. America is the land o new beginnings.

Php wll k w g pu d u d-

. Eplly w.

Whats so special about now? Dante replied, looking

h ddly.

Chl w mmly k gud. Th w

wy h wuld by h u. Eplly w . . .


35/37

Tracie Peter son

37

that you and I . . . She tried hard to regain control o her

thoughts. Especially now that you and I have met like this . . .

and discussed the matter. She squared her shoulders and

looked at him with what she hoped was an air o condence.

He shook his head. I thought perhaps you were going

y w h yu h dud my yug bh

hkg h huld my h.

H y wdd, d y dl ugh h h.

Im glad youre not attempting to tell me you know noth-ing about it, Dante continued. Lying wouldnt t with your

d llw h Gd Bk.

Chl dw dp bh. I hv l. P-

hp, hwv, yu huld d h mgh hv b

yu bh wh d my . Sh k p l.

A ll, h yug d .Ha! he replied, leaning orward, his ace very near to

h. I hdly mhg yu mly wuld b

ml wh.

How dare you? Chantel rose on tiptoe to better ace

hm. I d yu lv bhp bw u. Ad

d yu h ul my mly.

Miss Panetta, I neither want your olive branches, nor your

p. I m gg b h by u .

Our ancestors? Must you continue to hide behind them?

Chantel realized shed probably gone too ar. Dantes ace

ddd, d h pkd h dx g g h hul-

der. Im not hiding behind anyone, and Id thank you to

remember it. You have a sharp tongue, Miss Panetta, and

Ill m h b bd by yu gdg wh yu

pv gh d wg.


36/37

The Miners Lady

38

Chl! Th yu , Ibll d, mg m b-

hd h . Sh k hld Chl m. Gd,

lk lk yu bugh u h .

I dd w , Chl pld.

Ibll ddd kwgly d lvd h h

other purchases. We need to get this sugar home to Mama.

The sisters exchanged a brie glance, and Isabella smiled and

gv d. M. Cl, gd dy.

Chl dd gh Ibll pulld h lg dw hboardwalk. She couldnt resist one backward glance, however.

I w mk lk. D d bk, d ju

mm Chl d h mgh ully m hm.

Dante was dumbounded by the open way Chantel Panettabaited him. He was urther surprised by the act that hed

ll . N dub hd b ud by h

u h yug lv. H kkd h d-

jmb d ll bu gwld wh Old ppd, lkg

ll h wld hg w m.

H hld up mll k. Thy hd h m N

wd. W g hm w.

Dante grabbed his brother by the lapel o his coat and

slammed him up against the wall. You were meeting her

g, w yu? D v hk l m, h -

ud whu gvg h bh h w. I ju

p h l w mu gug wh h .

Orlando looked at his brother or a moment, then shrugged.

D wd pumml hm h mg d.

Lk I ld yu, h h p. I I hv , Ill g M.


37/37

Tracie Peter son

Panetta himsel. I kind o doubt he knows anything about

h m.

You wouldnt dare, Orlando countered, pulling away

m h bh hld.

I yu d p g hd p ll h

about wanting to marry herI will. Dante turned or home.

Ju I d.

Documents

The Miner's Lady