The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-07-05

Msrring Star and Catholic Messenger.
ssw ORLEANS. SUNDAY. JULY $, 1874
A Venetian Tradition Of Michael, Angelo.
One evening in the year 1920, woman,
enveloped in a long black mantle was
walking toward the bridge of the Riaito in
Venice. Her steps were weak and uneven,
and at times she looked around with
hurried, frightened glance. She paused in
the centre Of the bridge and looked down
with shudder on the clear, blue waters
of the Adriatic then closing her eyes and
mumuring family. "My Antonio Adieu J"
she prepared to throw herself over the
parapet. Juet az she was falling, q man
rushed forward, seized her with powerful
grasp, and drawing her back, said, "Girl
destroy not the life which Providence has
given thee. If you are unhappy, enter
your church kneel on the hollow pave
ment, pour out your sorrow, and thank
your Maker that you have been preserved
from crime.
The girl tried to shake off the strong,
kind hand that held her, and said, "Let me
60 I 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 lovely, and the man gazed on
her with wonder and admiration as she
was gradually restored.
By degrees che told him whom she was
and where she lived. Her history may 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 hand
seme young gondolier plying beneath the
Bridge Of Signs. AT length, this evening
her father, Giapettini, forgot himself go far
as to strike his daughter with some vio-
lence and she with a far more culpable
neglect of her 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, seated himself in
an obscure corner of the hoatelry. Clan
ettini received bis child with rude re-
proaches, and, bidding her retire to her
apartment and betake herself to her spin
ming, cast o suspicious glance at the person
who had brought her home, whose stout
manly figure and firm countenance, how
ever deferred the innkeeper from address,
ing him in hostile manner.
AZ Maria turned to depart a young gon-
dolier appeared at the door. and fGrtiveiy
approaching her, said, -"Dearest dear
est I" A.
Giauettini rushed forward shouting,
"Out of this I! out of my house, fellow !"
The young man did not stir.
"Have you finished !" he said, in good
words 2 Have you never loved, Sgnor
. Giapettini 2 Have you totally forgotten
the feelings of your youth Know you
not that, since 1 was ten years old and
Maria Ave, we have loved each other fond
ly? Will you not, then, allow us to hal
low your old age with our tears
81 don't want to have parcel of beg
pars for my cbildrenu said Gianettini
roughly.
sBeggars ~ replied the young man,
: tYeu surely forget yourself.
"Not l. indeed" returned the father. 81
refuse my consent. Therefore, get you
gone"
'But hear me for one moment" pleaded
"'Tis useless, again repeat that such
as you shall never wed my daughter,
Your position is too mean"
"Certainly you are ricb," replied the
young man, "bnt what binders that
should not become SO too A stout arm,
q brave heart, an honest soul, will, with
the help of heaven, do much"
ga FOOLS dream !"
SHAY" said Antonio, sit is sober sense.
Prince Lorepz de Madici was g merchant
Duke Giacomo Storza coward"
The man in the corner had hardened at
tentively to this dialogue. He rose and
touching Barbarigo's shoulder, said Jewell
spoken, gondolier Courage brings sue,
cess and struggles conquest. Maria shall
be thy wife,"
''Neverm cried Gianettini.
"Master jew" said the unknown, turn
ing disdainfully toward him, if this
youth could lay down six hundred pistoles,
would you object to the marriage 7"
"Be that as it may, you must remember
that he is now little better than q pauper."
''Pshaw," said the unknown; "babblers
are more tiresome than thieves. Before
tomorrow you shall handle that sum-"
So saying he drew from his pocket 3
piece of parchment and a crayo1, and
turning toward table began rapidly to
sketch mans hand. It was represented
open, impatient, with hollow palm, as if
expecting a shower of gold pieces. 1t had,
so to speak, a sensuous, avaricious expires
sion and one of the fingers was encircled
with massive ring.
"'Tis my hand" said Gianettini.
"And your history" said the artist
Giving the sketch to Antonio, it's author
desired him to carry it to Pietro Benvols,
librarian at the Palace of st. Mark, and
demand in exchange for it ak hundred