Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-28

OnG evening" III iLlt year lDAOy
woman, enveloped in a long black
mantle, was walking toward the bridge
of the Rialto, in Venice. Her steps
were weak and uneven, and, at inter.
walls, she looked around with a hur-
ried, frightened glance. She paused
on the centre of the bridge, and look
ell down with a shudder on the clear,
blue waters of the Adriatic; then
closing her eyes, and murmuring
family, "Antoni0l my Antonio! A
dieu ~ she prepared to throw herself
over the parapet. just as she was
falling, n man rushed forward, seized
her with a powerful grasp, aud, draw
ing her back, said
"Girl, destroy not thy life which
Providence has given thee! If you
are unhappy, enter your church,
kneel on it's hallOwed pavement, pour
out your sorrow, and thank your Ma
ker that you have been preserved
from crime-from rushing uncalled
into His presence"
The giIl impatiently tried TO shake
of the strong, kind hand that held
her, and said
'Let me 90. 1 must der
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
her air, drew back her 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 histO-
ry might be summed up in a few
words: an avaricious father, a poor
lover, a mutual but unhappy love.
Vainly did Maria plead with her
fathcr-a rich innkeeper of Venice
the cause of her lover, Antonio Bar
barigo, the handsome gondolier ply
ing beneath the Bridge of Signs. At
length, this evening, her father, Gia-
nettini, forgot himself so far as to
strike his daughter with some vio-
lence; and she, with far more cul-
pable neglect of her duty, ran wildly
from home, and, as we have seen, was
arrested Just on the verge of commit
ting suicide.
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. Giauettini received his
child with rude reprOaches, and, bid
ding her retire to her own apartment
and betakgherself to her spinning, he
cast a suspicious glance at the person
who had brought her home, whose
stout, manly figure and firm counte-
nance, however, deferred the innkeep-
eE from addressing him in n hostile
manner.
As Maria turned to depart, n Young
gondolier appeared Mt the door, and,
furtively approaching her, said,-
Dearest, dearest!'
Giauettini rushed forward, shout
"Out of this! Out of my house,
fellow"
The young man did not stir.
"Have you finished?p he said, III a
good-humored tone. Wherefore
these hard words? Have you never
loved, Signor Giauettim? Have you
totally forgotten the feelings of your
youth? Know YOU not that, since l
was ten years old and Maria five, we
have loved each other fondly: VIII
you not, then, allow us to hallow your
your old age with our tcars?'
"I don't want to have a parcel Of
bcggars for my children" said GIa-
nettini, roughly.
"Beggars." replied the young man.
"You surely forget yourself
"Not l, indeed" returned the IA
ther Il refuse my consent. There
fore. get you gomez
but, hear me for one moment, "
pleaded the goudoljcr.
lis useless. L again repeat that
such as you shall never we'd my daugh-
ter. Your position is TOO mem"
Certainly YOU are rich, replied
the Young man, "'but what hindcrs
that l should not become SO too? y
stout arm, brave heart, an honest
soul, will, with the help of Heaven, do
imuch."
"A fools dream!'
NAY" said Antonio; 1T is sober
sense. Prince Lorenzo lie Medici
was n merchant; Duke GiacomO
Sforza, a cowhcrd.'
The man IN the corner had harken-
ell attentively to this dialogue. lie
rose, and touching Barbarigo's shoul-
| der, said
well spoken, gondolier! Courage
brings success. and struggles con-
quest. Maria shall be thy wife"
"Neverw cried Gianettini.
Master jew" said the unknown,
turning disdainfully toward him, I'll
| thls youth could lay down six hun
dred 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.
blers are more tiresome than thieves.
Before tomorrow you shall handle
that sum-
So saying, he drew from his pocket
a piece of parchment and crayon
and turning toward q table begar
rapidly to sketch q mans hand. i
was represented open, impatient, witt
followed palm, as if expecting {
shower of gold pieces. 1t had, so t.
speak, n sensuous, ayaricious expires
sion; and one of the fingers was en-
circled with a massive ring.
'Tis my hand" cried Giauettini.
"And your history" said the artist
Giving the sketch TO Antonio, it
author desired him to carry it to Pie
tro Benvols, librarian at the Palace o
st. Mark, aud demand in exchanQ,