The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-16
THE ORAYON SKETCH.

One evening, in the year 1920, fe-
male completely enveloped in long
black mantle was walking toward the
bridge of Rialto- in Venice Her steps
were weak and uneven, and at intervals
she looked around with hurried, fright
ened glance.
She paused at the centre of the bridge,
| and looked down with a shudder on the
clear blue waters of the Adriatic; then
closing her eyes and murmuring family,
Antonio, adieu!'' she prepared to throw
herself over the parapet.
just as she was falling a man rushed
forward, seized her with a powerful
grasp, and. drawing her back said,-
''Girl, destroy not the life which God
has given you. If you are unhappy en-
ter your church, kneel on its hallowed
pavement, pour out your sorrow and
thank your. Maker that you have been
preserved from rushing uncalled into
his presence
The girl tried impatiently to shake off
the strong, kind hand that held her, and
said
''Let me go! must die in peacer'
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
her features. They were lovely, and the
man gazed on her with wonder and adj
miration as she was gradually restored.
By degrees she told him who she was
and where she lived. Her history might
be summed up in a few words: An avari-
cious father, a poor lover, mutual but
unhappy love. Vainly had Maria plead
ed with her father, rich innkeeper in
Venice, the cause of her lover, Antonio
Barbarigo, the handsomest gondolier
wing beneath the Bridge of Signs.
At length, this evening, her father,
Giannettini, so far forgot himself as to
strike his daughter with some violence;
and she, with a far more culpable neg
lect of her duty, fed from home and, as
we have seen, was arrested on the verge
of 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. Clan
nettini received his child with rude re-
proaches; and bidding her retire to her
own apartment he cast a suspicious
glance at the person who had brought
her home, whose stout, manly figure and
firm countenance, however, deferred
the innkeeper from addressing him in a
hostile manner.
As Maria turned to depart young
gondolier appeared at the door, and fur
lively approaching her said,-
DEAREST Dearest!''
Giannettini rushed forward shouting
''Out of this! Out of my house, beg
CARR
The young man did not stir.
Have YOU finished?' he said in 8
good-humored tone. Wherefore these
hard words? Have YOU never loved, |
Signor Giannettini? Have you totally
forgotten the feelings of your YOUTH |
Know you not that since / was ten years
old and Maria five we have loved each
other fondlyP VIII you not. then, allow
us to hallow your old age with grateful |
blessings. or must we water your path /
with tears?"
II don't want to have parcel of beg
gars for my grandchildren, said Clan !
nettini, roughly.
Certainly You are rich,' replied the |
young man; s.but what binders that l |
should not become so too? A stout arm, |
a brave heart, an honest soul, will, with |
the help of Heaven, do much"
"a fools dreamr'
'.Nay," said Antonio, ''it is sober
sense Prince Lorenzo de Medici was a |
merchant; Duke Giaeomo Sforzo a cow
herd"
The man in the corner had hearkened
attentively to this dialogue. He arose,
and touching Barbarigo's shoulder said,
well spoken, gondolier. Courage
brings success and Struggling conquest.
Maria shall be thy wife!'
..Neverr' cried Giannettini.
Well said the unknown, turning
toward him, if this youth
could lay down six hundred pistoles,
IN, hs1 4
'.Be that rs it may. you must remem-
Der that he is now little better than a
pauper.''
s.Pshawi'' said the unknown, ''bab-
blers are more tiresome than thieves.
Before tomorrow you shall handle that
sum-"
So saving, he drew from his pocket a
piece of parchment and crayon, and,
turning to a table, began rapidly to
sketch q mans hand. 1t was represent
ed open, impatient, with followed palm.
as if expecting q shower of gold pieces.
It had, SO to speak, q sensual, avaricious
and one of the fingers was
encircled with massive ring.
IT'S my handt'' cried Giannettini.
''And your history said the artist
Giving the sketch to Antonio. the au-
thor desired him to carry it to Pietro
Benvolo. librarian at the palace of st.
Mark, and demand in exchange for it
six hundred pistoles. l.
six hundred fools headsf' cried the
innkeeper. Il would not give zecchin
for it,
Without speaking the artist turned
away. 1,
The gondolier took the Parchment
and looked with astonishment at its
mise. He then turned doubtfully to-
yard Maria, but glance from her soft
lark ewes treasured him, and he set out
on his mission.
With folded arms and a moody brow
,he artist commenced pacing up and
down the room in the hosiery, casting
1t intervals scrutinizing glance at the
voung girl who. now penitent Tor her M
corner. AS for Giannettini, he seemed