Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-05-11
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 o 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 man rushed
forward, seized her with 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
air, drew back the veil which concealed
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
andwhere she lived. Her history might
besummed up in few words: An avari-
cious father, poor lover, mutual but
unhappy love. Vainly had Maria plead
ed with her father, a rich innkeeper in
Venice, the cause of her lover, Antonio
Barbarigo, the handsomest gondolier
| ying beneath the Bridge Of Sighs.
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, fled 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. Gian-
nattini received his child with rude re-
proaches; and bidding her retire to her
own apartment he cast 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! Dearestr'
Giannettini rushed forward shouting
''Out of this! Out of my house, beg
garr'
The young man did not stir.
slave you tinishedP" he said in
good-humored tone. Wherefore these
hard wordsp Have YOU never loved,
Signor Giannettinip Have you totally
forgotten the feelings of your YOUTH
Know you not that since Twas ten years
old and Maria five we have loved each
ethsr fondlyp Will you not, then, allow
us to hallow your old age with grateful
blessings, or must we water your path
with tears?'
81 don't want to have parcel of beg
gars for my grandchildren, /" said Clan
nettini, roughly.
Certainly you are rich," replied the
young man; "but what hinders that /
should not become SO toop A stout arm,
a brave heart, an honest soul, will, with
the help Of Heaven, do much"
"A FOOLS dream!''
..Nay,'' said Antonio, ''it is sober
sense. Prince Lorenzo de Medici was a
merchant; Duke Giacomo Sforzo 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!' -4.sl5
"Neverr' cried Giannettini.
swell, y said the unknown, turning
disdainfully toward him, if this youth
could lay down six hundred pistoles,
would you object to the marriagep''
'Be that as it may. you must remem-
Der that he is now little better than o
pdupeT.
"Pshaw!'' said the unknown, s'bab-
blers are more tiresome than thieves.
Before tomorrow you shall handle that
sum-" @ ls
So saying, he drew from his pocket a
piece of parchment and "a crayon, and,
turning to table, began rapidly to
sketch mans hand. 1t was represents
ed open, impatient, with followed palm,
as if expecting shower of gold pieces.
1t had, SO to speak, q sensual, avaricious
expression, and one of the fingers was
encircled with a massive ring.
"'Tis my handp' cried Giannettini.
Sand your history said the artist.
Z. Giving the sketch to Antonio. the au-