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

arm, a brave heart, an honest soul,
will, with the help of Heaven, do much"
"a FOOLS dleam!''
Nay y said Antonio, 1T is sober
sense. Prince Lorenz de Medici was a
merchant; Duke Giacomo Sforza, a
coward"
The man in the corner had heaskened
attentively to this dialogue. He rose,
and touching Barbarigo's shoulder said ::
"Well spoken, gondolier Courage
brings success and struggles conquest.
Maria shall by thy wife
"Never :" cried Gianettini.
Master jew" said the unknown,
turning disdainfully toward him, ''if this
youth could lay down 600 pistoles, would
you object to the marriage ~
BE that as it may, you must re-
member that he is now little better than
a pauper."
"Pshaw ~ said the unknown, "bab-
biers are more tiresome than thieves.
Before tomorrow you shall handle that
sum-"
So saying he drew from his pocket
piece of parchment and crayon, and
turning toward table began rapidly to
sketch a mans hand. 1t was open, i'm
patiant, with followed palm, as if ex-
pecting shower of gold pieces 1t had,
so to speak, a sensuous, avaricious ex-
preston, and one of the fingers was en-
clrcled with massive ring.
"'Tis my hand ~ cried Gianettini.
g And your history" said the artist
Giving the sketch to Antonio, its au-
thor desired him to carry ii to Pietro
Benvols, librarian at the Palace of St.
Mark, and demand in exchange for it
600 pistoles.
"Six hundred fools heads - cried the
innkeeper. d" i would not give a zecchin
for it,
Without speaking the artist turned
haughtily away.
It loOh lIlt anu
looked with astonishment at its guise.
He then turned doubtfully towards
Maria but a glance from her soft
dark eyes reassured him and he set out
on his mission.
/ With folded arms and moody brow
the artist commenced pacing up and
down the large room in the hostelry,
casting at intervals scrltinizing 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 ascend
ency 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, joyous
steps were heard, and Antonio appeared
bearing in his hand bag and letter.
The bag contained 500 pistoles, and the
letter was addressed to the artist, and
PRAYED him to honor the sender with a
visit.
Take these coins and weigh them"
said the unknown, as he threw the bag
towards Gianettini.
Antonio Barbarigo stood before his
benefactor, pale, and trembling with
Joy.
lone favor more" he said. Who
are you?'
"What does it matter ?"
"What dses it matter, say you?' cried
the gondolier; much-much to me
Tell me your name, signor, that l may
love and honor it to the last moment Of
my life"
! "Men call me Michael Angelo"
cit is my turn now," he said, ''to
ask you favor 1t is to permit me to
perpetuate 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. 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 gondolier,
the happy husband of Maria, and Gen
eral of the Venetian Republic. Yet his
brilliant position never rendered him
unmindful of his carly life, and his
heartfelt grutitude, as well as that OF his
wife, accompanied Michael Angelo
Buonarotti to the end of his days.
As to the crayon sketch of the miser's
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 ascertaned, has never since been
recovered. The story of its production,
however, still fingers among the ira
ditions of Venice.
An Indianian says he has cured
valuable horse Of sweeney in this way
Take an old stocking; make little bag