Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-12-26
MaCHsEI. ANGELO.

mantle, was Walking toward the Drldgt
Of the Rialto in Venice. Her steps wer,
weak and uneven, and, at intervals
| she looked around with hurried
| frightened glance. She paused on tllt
centre of the bridge, and looked dow
with shndder on the clear, blue wa
ters of the Adriatic; then closing hel
eyes, and murmuring family, "Anto
MO! my Antonio! Adieu!D she pre-
pared to throw herself over the para
pet. Just as she was falling, a man
rushed forward, seized her with a
powerful grasp, and drawing her back
said, "Girl! destroy not thy life which
Providence has given thee. Ifyou are
unhappy, enter Your church, kneel on
it's hallowed pavement, pour out your
sorrow, and thank your Maker that
you have been preserved from crime
from rushing uncalled for into His
presence!"
The girl impatiently tried to shake
off the strong, kind hand that held
her, and said, "Let me go! must die p
In another moment she tottered and
fell to the ground, where she lay with
out sense or motion. Her preseryer
raised her head, and, in order to give
her air, drew back the veil which con-
cealed 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 avaricious 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 player be-
meath the Bridge of Signs. At length,
this evening, her father, Gianettini,
forgot himself SO far as to strike his
daughter with some violence; and she
with far more culpable neglect of herr
duty, ran wildly from home, and, as
we have seen, was arrested just on the
verge of committing suicide.
The person who had saved her led
her gently to her home, and, having
given her up to her father, seated him
self in an obscure corner of the host
elry. Gianettini received his child
with rude approaches, and, bidding
her retire to her own apartment and
oetake herself to her spinning, he cast
! suspicious glance at the person who
lad brought her home, whose stout,
manly figure and firm countenance, T
however, deferred the innkeeper from
addressing him in a hostile manner.
As Maria turned to depart a young
.ondolier appeared at the door, and
approached her, said, 'Dear-
st! dearestp
Gianettini rushed forward, shouting,
Out of this! out of my house, fellowm
The young man did not stir.
"Have you fnished?" said he, in a
God humored tone. Wherefore these
ard words? Have you never loved,
ignor Gianettini Have you totally t.
orgotten the feelings of your youth?
NOW you not that since / was ten
ears old and Maria five, we have low
d each other fondly? VIII you not,
hen, allow us to hallow your old age
18th our tears?"
III don't want to have parcel of
eggars for my Children" said Gianet-
nj roughly.
"Beggars!n replied the young man.
You surely forget YOURSELF
"Not [, indeed, Returned the father.
I refuse my consent. Therefore get
on gone"
"But hear me for one moment" {
loaded the gondolier.
"Tis useless. / again repeat that {
1ch as you shall never we'd my daugh-
II. Your position is too mean" 1
"Certainly, yon are rich," replied z
re young man, "but what hinders s
lat | should not become so too? A t
out arm, a brave heart, an honest
,ul, will, with the help of Heaven, do {
luch.n II
+" A fools dreamn s
" Nay" said Antonio, Tit is sober {
ense. Prince Lorenzo de Medici was |
merchant; Duke Giacomo Sforza, a y
)ward.n Il
The man in the corner had hardened i
to this dialogue. He rose, t
nd touching Barbarigo's shoulder, !
lid: dwell spoken gondolier! Cour- t
sc brings success and struggles con- {
uest. Maria shall be thy T;fe.7
" Never!" cried Gianettini.
" Master jew" said the unknown, G
lrning disdainfully towards him, 1sif t
his youth could lay down six hundred I
istoles, would you object to the mar
agean
"Be that as it may, you must re- 5
lember that he is now little better
han pauper."
"Pshaw!n said the unknown, "bab- J
lers are more tiresome than thieves.
efore to morrow you shall handle the !
lm.n ii X
So saying he drew from his pocket a {
iece of parchment and a crayon, and {
lrning toward table began rapidly |
} sketch mans hand. Tt was repre- J
ented open, impatient, with followed
aim, as if expecting shower of gold
ieces. 1t had, so to speak, a sensu- !
us, avaricious expression; and one of !
le fingers was encircled with mas
i've ring. II
"TTis my hand,r cried Gianettini. !
0And your history said the artist. {
Giving the sketch to Antonio, it's !