The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-11-14
HAND AND HEART,

One evening in the year 1920 wo
man, enveloped in long black mantle,
was walking toward the bridge of the
Rialto in Venice. Her steps were weak
and uneven, and at times she looked
around with a hurried, frightened
glance. She paused on the center of
the bridge, and looked down with a
shudder on the clear, blue waters of the
Adriatic then closing her eyes and
murmuring, "Antonio my Antonio !
Adieu ~ she prepared to threw herself
over the parapet. Just as she was
falling, a man rushed forward, seized
her with a powerful grasp, and draw
ing her back, said, "Girl, destroy not
thy life which Providence has given
thee. If you are unhappy, ente: your
church, kneel on its hollow pavement,
pour out your sorrow, and thank your
Maker that you have been preserved
from crime-from rushing uncalled into
His presence
The girl impatiently tried to shake
off the strong, kind hand that held her,
and said, "Let me go l must die ~
In another moment she tottered and
fell to the ground, where she lay with
out sense or motion. Her preserver
raised her head, and, in order to give
air, drew back the vail which concealed
her features. They were very lovely,
and the man gazed on her with wonder
and admiration, as she was gradually
restored.
BY degrees she told him who she was
and where she lived Her history
might be summed up in few words;
an ayaricious father, poor lover, a
mutual but unhappy love.
Vainly did Maria plead with her
father, 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, Gianettinl, forgot
himself so far as to strike his daughter
with some violence and she, with far
more culpable neglect of her duty, ran
wildly from home, and, as we have seen,
was arrested on the verge of committing
suicide.
The person who had saved her led her
gently to her house, and, having gwen
her up to her father, seated himself In
an obscure corner of the hosterly. Gla-
nettini received his child with rude
reproaches, ard, bidding her retire to
her own apartment and betake herself
to her spinning, he cast suspicious
glance at the person who had brought
her home, whose stout, manly figure
and firm countenance, however, de-
tered the innkeeper from addressing
him in hostile manner.
As Maria turned to depart young
gondolier appeared at the door, and fur
lively approaching her, said, Dearest!
Dearest :"
Gianettini rushed forward, shouting,
"Out of this Out of my house, fel-
lowr'
The young man did not stir.
Have you finished?' he said, IN
good -humored tone. Wherefore these
hard words? Have you never loved,
Signor Gianettini? Have you totally
forgotten the feelings of your youth ?
Know You not, that since l was 10
year old and Maria 8, we have loved
each other fondIy? VIII you not, then,
allow us to hallow your old aged with
our tears?'
"I don't want to have a parcel of beg
gars for my children" said GianettinI
roughly.
"Beggars r' replied the young man.
"Ydi surely forget yourself"
:" Not ], indeed, " returned the father.
:" refuse my consent. Therefore, get
you gone"
But hear me for one moment,
pleaded the gondolier.
Tis useless. ] again repeat that
such as you shall never wed my daugh-
ter Your position is too mean."
Certainly you are rich" replied the
youny man, "but what binders that /