Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-06-15
The CRAYON SKETCH.


female completely enveloped in a long
black mantle was walking toward the
bridge Of Ratio in Venice. Her steps
were weak and uneven, and at inter
walls she looked around with hurried,
frightened glance.
She paused at the centre Of the
bridge, and looked down with a shud.
der on the clear blue waters of the
Adriatic; then closing her eyes and
murmuring family, Antonio, adieup
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 un-
happy enter 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
of the strong. kind hand that held her,
and said,-
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
heI air. drew back the veil which con.
cealed her features. They were lovely.
and the man gazed on her with wonder
and admiration ~ she was gradually
restored.
BY degrees she told him who she
was and VIII re she lived. Her history
might be summed up in a few words:
An avariciou5 father, a poOr lover,
mutual but unhappy love. Vainly had
Maria pleaded with her father, rich
innkeeper in Venice, the cause of her
lover, Antonio BarbarigO, the hand
soonest gOndolier plying beneath the
Bridge of S CHS. At length, this even
Ing, her father, Giannettini. so far for.
rot himself as to strike his daughter
with some violence; and she, with a
far more culpable neglect of her duty,
led from home and, as we have seen,
was arrested on the verge of suicide.
The person who had sIved her led
her gently to her home, and having
given her up to her father, seated
himself in an obscure corner Of the
hOstelry. Giannettini received his
child with rude Ieproaches; and bid
ding her retire to her own apartment
ne cast n suspicious glance at the per-
son who had brought her home, whose
stout, manly figure and firm counte-
nance, however, deferred the innkeeper
from addressing him in hostile man.
ner.
AZ Mlria turned to depEt young
gOndolier appeared at the door and
furtively approaching her said,-
DEAREST DeaIestP
Giannettini rushed forward shout
ing
"Odt of thisl Out Of my house,
beggarl'
The young man did not stir.
Hive you fiuishedP' he said in q
.gool nuurel tone. Wherefore these
hard words? Have you never loved
Signor Giannettinip Have you totally
forgotten the feelings OF your youth
Know you not that since 1 was ter
years old and Maria five we have
loved each other fondly? Will you
not, then, allow US to hallow your ole
age with grateful blessings, or mus
we water your path with tearsw
~I don't want to have a parcel o
7beggars for nay grandchildren" sale
'GlannettiEi. roughly.
Certainly you are rich" replied tn
young man; "but what hinders that
shonld not become so, tooP A stou
arm. a brave heart, An honest sou
win, with the help of Heaven,
much"
"a fools dreamp
s'Nay." said Antonio" it is sobe
sense. Prince Lorenzo de Medici wa
q merchant; Duke Giacomo Sforzo
cowherd."
The man in the corner had hearl
ened attentively to this dialogue. II
arose. and touching B,rbarigo's shou
der said. "Well spoken, gondolie
Courage brings success and strugglin
conquest Maria shall be thy wife
'sNeverT cried Giannettini.
s'Well," said the unknown. turnin
-disdalnfully toward him, "if this youl
could lay down six hundred pistole
would you object to the marrisgeT"
BE that as it may, you must r
member that he. Is now little bett,
than q pauper."
~Pshawr' said the unknown, 'ba
blers are more tiresome than thieve
Before tomorrow you shall handle tn
sam"
So saying. he drew from his pocket
piece Of parchment and a crayon, Al
1urning to q table, began rapidly
sketch q mans hand 1t was repr
scented open, impatient, with hollow
palm, - IL expecting shower Of 90