The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-01-17
THE CRAYoN SKETCH.

|. One evening, in the year 1920, fe-
male, completely enveloped in long,
bfacX mantle, Was-W szIKrnt, 60 " sArd 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 atthe center OF the bridge,
and looked down with shudder on tie
clear, blue waters of the Adriatic; then,
closing her eyes and murmuring family,
"Antonio, my Antonio, adieu!' she pre-
pared to throw herself over The parapet.
Just as she was falliag 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 II 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 impatiently tried to shake off
the strong, kind hand that held her, and
said:
"L,t me go! I must die in peace!"
In another moment she tottered aud
tell 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 the veil which con-
ceaed her features. They were lovely,
and the man gszed on her with wonder
and admiration as she was gradually re-
stored. .@lna-,
Bv degrees she told him who she was
and where she lived. Her history might
be summed up In few words: An ava
ricious father, poor lover, mutual
but unhappy love.
.Vsinly had Maria pleaded with her
father, rich inn-keeper of Venice, the
cause Of her lover, Antonio Barbarigo,
the handsomest gondolier plying be-
meath the Bridge of Sighs. At length,
this evening, her father, Gianettini, for
got himself 80 far as 10 strike his daugh-
ter with some violence; and she, with
far more culpable neglect of her duty,
fed wildly from home, and, as We have
seen, was arrested on the verge of sui
eide.
The person who had saved her led
her gently 10 her home, and having CIV
en- her up to her father, seated himself
in an obscure corner of the hosiery
Giannettini received his child with rude
approaches; and, bidding her to retire
to her own apartment and betake her.
self to her spinning. be cast suspicious
glance at the person who had brought
her home, whose stout, manly figure
and firm countenance, however, deferred
the inn-keeper from addressing him in
a hostile manner
AS Maria turned to depart a young
lgondolier appeared at the door, and fur.
lively approaching her, said: dearest
dearest"
| Giannettini rushed forward shouting
"Out of this Out of my house, beg.
gar!" sD
The young man did not stir.
slave you finished :" he said, in .
seod.humored tone "Wherefore thes,
hard wordsp Have you never loved
Signor Giannettini2 Have you total,
forgotten the feelings of your youth P
i Know you not that since ! was 10 year
J old, and Maria 5, We have loved eac
other fondlyf Will you not then allo
8 as to hsllow your old age with ou
0 grateful blessings; or must we waite
your path with our tears 7"
i 81 doA't want to have parcel OF bes
# gars for nv grandchildren" said Giar
nettini, roughly.
|, "Certainly, you are rich" replied Il
), young man; "but what hinders that
!. should not become so, tool A sto
3. arm, brave heart. an honest soul, wi
,l with the help Of heaven, do much"
"a foors dreamm
IN sNay," said Antonio, sit is sob