Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-12-04
ter. Your position is too mean.

|
"A fools dream
ssNay!" said Antonio ''it is sobe
sense. Prince Lorenz de Medici was a
merchant; Duke Giacomo Sforza, !:
coward.
The man in the corner had hearken
ed attentively to this dialogue, He ross
and touching Barbarigos shoulder, said
"Well spoken, gondolier! Courags
brings success and struggles conquest.
"Never," cried Gianetini.
"Master jew" said the unknown
turning disdainfully toward him. Il
this youth could lay down six hundred
pistoles, would you object to the mar
riage?"
'sBe that as it may, you mnst re
member that he is little better no "
than pauper." :.
"Psaw! said the unknown, cha bbler
are more tiresome than thieves. Be
fore to morrow you shall handle thai
sum"
So saying, he drew piece of pareh-
ment and a crayon from his pocket, and
turning toward table, began rapidly
to sketch mans hand. It was open,
impatient, with Followed palm, as if ex-
pecting a shower of gold pieces. 1t
had SO to speak, sensuos, avaricious
expression, and one of the fingers was
encircled with massive ring
"''Tis my hand !" cried Gianetini
"And your history" said the artist.
Giving the sketch to Antonio, its au-
thor desired him to carry it to Pietro
Benvols, Librarian at the palace of St.
Mark, and demand in exchange for ii
six hundred pistolcs. -s
six hundred fools head !" cried the
innkeeper. Il would not give q zecchin
for it,
Without speaking, the artist turned
haughtily away. p.
The gondolier took the parchment
and looked with establishment at its
guise. He then turned doubtfully to-
ward Maria; but a glance from her
soft, dark eyes, treasured him, and be
set out on his mission.
With folded arms and moody brow
the artist commenced pacing up and
down the large room in the bosterly
casting at intervals scrutinizing glance
at the young girl, who, now penitent
for her intended crime, was silently
praying in corner. AS for Gianettini,
he seemed unable to shake off the
strange ascendancy gained over him
by his unknown visitor; his habitual
effrontery failed him; and, for the first
time in his life, he dared. not break the
silence
An hour passed. Then hasty, joy
Gus steps were heard, and Antonio ap
peared bearing i'll his hand bag and
letter. The bag contained six hundred
pistoles, and the letter vas addressed
to the artist, and prayed him to honor
the sender with a visit.
'fTake these coins and weigh them,
said the unknown, as he threw the bag
towards Gianettini.
Antonio Barbarigo stood before
his benefacter, pale and trembling with
joy.
zone favor more" he said. "Who
are you?''
"W hat does it matter?'
"What does it matter, say you?'
cried the gondolier; "much-much to
mel Tell me your name, slgnor, that |
may love and honor it to the last nom
ent of my life"
"Men call me Michael Angelo. -
sit is my turn now" he said, 'sto ask
you a favor. It is to permit me to per
petuate on canvas the lovely features OF
Maria"
- The girl approached; she could not
speak; but she clasped the painters
hand and raised it to her lips. A tear
fell on it; and Michael Angelo, as he
drew back, turned away to conceal his
own emotions.
Twenty years passed on and found
Antonio, the once humble gondoiier,
the happy husband of Maria, and Gen
eral of the Venetian Republic. Yet
his brilliant position never rendered
him unmindful Of his early life, and
his heart felt gratitude, as well as that
of his wife, accompanied Michael
Angelo Buonarotti to the end of his
days.
AS to the crayon sketch Of the misers
hand, it was taken from Italy by sol
der in Napoleon's army, and placed in
the Louvre. During the invasion Of
1914 it was unfortunately lost, and, SO
far as can be ascertained, has never
since been recovered. The story of its
production, however, still fingers among
the traditions of Venice.
The Pittsburg Commercial gives THE
excellent advice In view Of the exist
ing monetary stringepey, every true
woman should .pdeaynr this fall, by