The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-11-25
Hand and Hearts.

Hand and Hearts.
Ono evening in the year 1920 wo.
man. enveloped in long black mantle,
was walking toward the bridge of the
ltialto in Venice. Her steps were welk
and uneven, and at times she looked
around with hurried, frightened glance
She paused on the centre of the bridge,
and looked down with a shudder on the
clear blue waters of the Adriatic the n
closing her eyes and murmuripg, Anton
10 Antonio Adieu y she prepared t,
throw herself over the parapet. Just as
she was falling, man rushed forward,
seized her with a powerful grasp, and
drawing her back. said, Girl. destroy not
thy life which Providence has given thee.
If you are unhappy, enter your church,
kueel on its hollow pavement, pour out
your sorrow, aud thank your Maker that
you have been preserved from crime
from rushing unNlled into His presence !!
The girl impatientlJ tried to shake off
the strong, kind hand that held her. and
said, Let me go must die =
la another moment she tottored and
fell to the ground, where she lay without
sense or motion. Her preserver raised
her head, and in order to give air. drew
back the veil which concealed her fea.
lures They were very lovely. and the
man gazed on her with wonder and ad.
miration, as she was gradually restored.
BY degrees she told him who she was
| nd uhar oho u
be summoned up in few words an av-
arcous father, poor lover mutual but
unhappy love.
Vsinly did Maria plead with hor faith.
er, rich innkeeper Of Venice, the cause
Of her lover, Antonio Barbarigo, the
handsome gondolier plying beneath the
Bridge of Sighs At length this evening
her father Gianettni, forgot himself 80
far as to strike his daughter with some
violence /; and she with far more culpa.
BILE neglect Of her duty, ran wildly from
home. and as We have seen, was arrested
on the verge Of committing suicide.
The person who saved her led her gen.
tly to her house, and having given her up
to her father, seated himself in an obscure
corner Of the ho,telry. Gianettini re.
ceived his child with rude reproaches, and
bidding her retire to her own apartment
and bstake herself to her spinning, he
cast suspicious glance at the person who
had brought her home, whose stout, man .
ly figure and firm countepance, however
deferred the innkeeper from addressing
him in hostile manner.
AS Maria turned to depart young
gondoler appeared at the door. and fur.
lively approaching her said, Dearest
Dearest =
, Gianettini rushed forward shouting,
. Out of this Out Of my house fellow =
, The young man did not stir
Have you finished p he said iu good.
humored tone. Wherefore these hard
} words? Have you never loved, Siguor
s Gianettiui ? Have you totally forgotten
the feelings Of your youth Know you
not that since | was ten years old and
Maria 6ve,we have loved each other fond
lyI Will you not then allow US to hal
low your old age with our tears?'
a., Il don't want to have parcel of beg
' gars for my Children said Gianettini
roughly,
Beggars replied the young mau
You surely forget yourself
!, Not |, indeed returned the father
Il refuse my consent. Therefore get yol
gone
, But hear me for one moment, pleaded
y the gondolier
;, ''ris useless. | again repeat tha
. . such as you shall never wed my daugh
= ter. Your position is too mean
y Certainly you are rich replied thu
. young man, but what huders that
should not become so too? A stout arm
a brave heart, an honest soul, will, will
the help OF Heaven. do much
= a FOOLS dream =
y Nay said Antonio, lit is sober sense
4 Prince Lorenz de Medici was merchant
= = Duke Giacomo Sforza. a coward.
y The man in the corner had hearkene,
q 'c attenrively to this dialogue. He rose
:, !" and touching Barbarigo's shoulder said
!, , 'Wcll spoken, ,gondoler Courage b,ius
:. success and struggles conquest. Mari
! shall be thy wife
Never = cried Gianettini.
', Master Jew said the unknown. turn
!. ing disdainfully toward him, if thi
. . youth could lay down 600 pistoles, ,woul
So =, you object to the marriage? p
"s BE that as it may, you must remem
- bor that he is now little better than
D pauper'
r. 'Pshaw " said the unknown, 'babber
"A are more tiresome than thieves. Befor
"a "a tomorrow you shall handle that sum-
- " So saying he drew from his pocket
Il piece Of parchment and a crayon. an
- turning toward table began rapidly I
80 80 sketch mans hand 1t was open, i'm
II patient, with followed palm, as if expect
If ing shower Of gold pieces 1t had. 6
an an to speak, sensuous. avaricions EXPIRE.
70 sion. and one Of the fingers was encircle
with massive ring,
''Tis my hand = cried Gianettini.
&c. And your history said the artist.
he Giving tho sketch to Antonio, its al
he thor desired him to carry it to Pietl
Benyols, librarian at the Palace Of S