The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-02-24
miscellaneous.
The CrayOn Sketch,

One evening, in the year 1920, Il female,
completely enveloped in long, black mantle,
was walking t. Yards the bridge of Rialto in
Venice. Her steps were weak and uneven,
and, at intervals, she looked around with q
hurried, frightened glance.
She paused at the centre of the bridge, and
looked down with shudder on the clear, blue
waters Ofthe Adriatic; then, closing her eyes
and murmuring family, Antonio, my Anto
hio, adleuH' she prepared to throw hcrselfover
the parapet
Just as she was falling a man rushed for
ward, seized her with powerful grasp, and
drawing her back, said "Girl, destroy not the
life which God has given you. If you are
unhappy enter your church, kneel on its hal
lowed pavement, pour out your sorrow, and
thank your Maker that you have been pre-
served from rushing uncalled into His pre-.
sence."
The girl impatiently tried 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 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 Won
der and admiration as she was gradually re-
stored
BY degrees she told him who she was and
where she lived. Her history might be sum-
med up in few words: An ayarcious faith.
or, poor lover, a mutual but unhappy lover.
Vainly had Maria pleaded with her father,
a rich inn-keeper of Venice, the cause of her
lover. Antonio Barbargo, the handsomest
gondolier plying beneath the Bridge of Signs.
AT length, this evening, her father, Gianet
TIM forgot himself so far as to strike his
daughter with some violence and she, with a
far more cuipable neglect of her duty, flew
wildly from home, and, rs we have seen, was
arrested on the verge of suicide.
The person who had saved her led her gent
ly to her home, and having given her up to
her father, seated himself in an obscure cor
Her of the hosiery. Gianettini received his
child with rude reproaches; and, bidding her
to retire to her own apartment and betake
herself to her spinning, he cast suspicious
glance at the person who had brought her
home, whose stout, manly figure and firm
countenance, however, deferred the inn-keep-
er from addressing him in hostile manner
AS Maria turned TO depart young gon-
dolier appeared at the door, and furtively
approaching her, said Dearest dearest ~
Gianettni rushed forward shouting: "Out
of this Out of my house, beggar"
Have you finished" he said, in a good. hui
mored tone "Wherefore these hard words !?
Have you never loved, Signor Gianettni
Have you totally forgotten the feelings ofyour
youth? Know you not that since was ten
years old, and Maria five we have loved each
other fondly? viii you not then allow us
to hallow your old age with our grateful
blessings; or shall we water your path with
our tearsY
"Idon't want to have parcel ofbeggars for
my grandchildren said Giannettini, rough
ly.
"Certainly, you are rich, replied the young
man; "but what binders that | should not
become SO, too? A stout arm, brave heart,
an honest soul, will, with the help of heaven,
do much"
"a fools dream !"
may" said Antonio, 'it is sober SENSE
Prince Lorenzo de Medici was merchant;
Duke Giacomb Sforza cowherd."
The man in the corner had hearkened atten-
lively to this dialogue. He rose, and touch
ing Barbarigo's shoulder, said :"Well spoken,
gondoier Courage brings success, and strug-
Cling conquest Maria shall be thy wife ~
"Neverw cried Gianettini
"Well," said the unknown, turning disdain-
fully toward him, eff this youth could Law
down 600 pistoles, would you object to the
marriagc?"
"Be that as it may, you must remember
that he is now little better than pauper."
"Pshaw!" said the unknown, "babblers are
more tircsome than thieves. Before to-mor-
row you shall handle that sum-"
So saying he drew from his pocket piece
of parchment and crayon, and turning to-
wards table, began rapidly to sketch a mans
hand. 1t was repr,sen open, impatient,
with hollow palm, as if expecting shower
ofgold pieces. 1t had, so to speak, sensual,
avaricious expression, and one of the fingers
was encircled with a massive ring.
otis my hand p cried Giantetini.
"And your history" said the artist.
Giving the sketch to Antonio, the author
desired him TO carry it TO Pietro Benvolo, IL
brarian at the palace at st. Mark, and demand
in exchange for it 600 pistoles.
six hundred fools heads !" cried the inn
keeper. II would not give zecchin for it,"
Without speaking the artist turned haugh-
tily away.
The gondolier took the parchment and
looked with establishment at its guise. lie
then turned doubtfully to Maria, but glance
from her soft dark eyes treasured him and he
set out on his mission.
With folded arms and Il moody brow the
artist commenced pacing up and down the
large room in the hostelry, casting at inter-
walls a scrutinizing glance on the young girl,
who, now pentent for her intended crime,
was silently praying in q corner AS for CHA.
nettini, he seemed unable to shake off the
strange ascendancy gained over him by his
unknown visitor, his habitual effrontery fail
ed 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 hand bag and letter The bag contain
ed 900 pistoles, and the letter was addressed
to the artist, and prayed him to honor the IL