Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-10-30
HAND ANDHEART.

|
ice Her steps were weak and uneven, anG
at intervals, she looked around with hur
rled, frightful glance. She paused on the
centre of the bridge, and looked down with a
shudder on the clear, blue waters of the
Adrlatic; then closing her eyes, and mur;
muring family, "Antonio! my Antonio!
Adieu!' she prepared to throw herself over
tine parapet. Just as she was falling, man
rushed forward, seized her with a powerful
grasp, and draWning her back, said, '.Girl
destroy not thy life which Providence has
given thee. If you are unhappy, enter your
church, kneel on its hallowed 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 60! must die!"
| In another moment she tottered and fell to
the ground, where she lay without sense or
motion. Her preserver raised her head, and
in order to give her air, drew back the veil
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 sum-
| med up in a few words: an avaricious father,
poor lover, mutual but unhappy love.
Vainly did Maria plead with her father, a
| rich innkeeper of Venice, the cause of her
lover, Antonio Barbarigo, the handsome gon-
dolier plying beneath the Bridge of Sighs.
At length, this evening, her father, Gianet-
TIM, 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
1rractN6 n nf nno1tt in chi
eide.
The person who had saved her led her
gently to her home, and having given her up
to her father, seated himself in an obscure
corner of the hostelry. Gianettini received
his child with rude reproaches, and bidding
her to retire to her own apartment and betake
herself to her spinning, he cast a suspicious
glance at the person who had brought her
home, whose stout, manly figure and firm
countenance, however, deferred the inn
keeper from addressing him in hostile
manner.
AS Maria turned to depart young Condo
lier appeared at the door, and furtively ap-
preaching her, said, "dearest, dearest!"
Gianettini rushed forward, shouting, ''Out
of this out of my house, fellow!"
The young man did not stir.
"Have you fnished?" he said, in good
humored tone. "Wherefore these hard
words? Have you never loved, Signor Gia-
nettini? Have you totally forgotten the feel
ings of your youth? Know you not that
since was ten years old and Maria five, we
have loved each other fondly? Will you not,
then, allow us to hallow your old age with
our tears?"
81 don't want to have parcel of beggars
for my children" said Gianettini roughly.
''Beggars!" replied the young man, You
surely forget yourself
"Not l, indeed" returned the father. 81
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 daughter. Your
position is too mean"
Certainly, you are rich," replied the
young man, ''but what hinders that should
not become so too? A stout arm, brave
heart, an honest soul, will, with the help of
Heaven, do much"
GA fools dream!"
"Nay," said Antonio, sit is sober sense
Prince Lorepzo de Medici was merchant;
Duke Giacomo Sforza, coward
The man in the corner had hearkened at
tentiyely to this dialogue. He rose, and
touching Barbarigo's shoulder, said: swell
spoken, gondolier! Courage brings success
and struggles conquest Maria shall be thy
wife"
"Never!" cried Gianettini.
"Master Jew" said the unknown, turning |
disdainfully towards him, eff this youth |
could lay down six hundred pistoles, would |
you object to the marriage2"
''Be that as it may, you must remember |
that he is now little better than pauper."
"Pshaw!" said the unknown; "babblers |
are more tiresome than thieves. Before to-
morrow you shall handle that sum-"
So saying he drew from his pocket piece
of parchment and a crayon, and turning to-
wards table began rapidly to sketch mans
hand. 1t was represented open, impatient,
with followed palm, rs if expecting shower
of gold pieces 1t had, SO to speak, SEN
suous, avaricious expression; and enc of the
fingers was encircled with massive ring.
"'Tis my hand" cried Gianettini.
s'And your history" said the artist.
Giving the sketch to Antonio, its author
desired him to carry it to Pietro Benvols,
librarian at the Palace of st. Mark, and de-
mand in exchange for it six hundred pistoles.
.'Six hundred fools heads!" cried the in
keeper. II would not give zecchin for
it,"
Without speaking the artist turned haught-
lily away. ai4.
The gOndOlier took the parchment, and
looked with astonishment at its guise. he
then turned doubtfully towards Maria; but
glance from her soft dark eyes reassured
him, and he set Out on his mission.
With folded arms end a moody brow the
artist commenced pacing up and down the
large room in the hostelry. casting AZ inte.-
walls scrutinizing glance ON the young girl,
who, now penitent for her intended crime,
was silently praying in = corner. As TOR
he seemed unable to shake on the