The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-03

JOlncu forces anu uOdIcu away IO9eIueT-
And then every morning and every
evening she threw her flower when I
threw mine and when the two flowers
met she clapped her hands, and
so did l; but when they were
separated, as they sometimes
were, owing to one of them having met |
an obstruction which did OF catch the !
other, she threw up her hands in pref
ty affcctation of despair, which L tried
to initiate, but in an English and unsuc-
cessful fashion. And when they were
rudely run down by a passing gondola
| (Which happened not infrequently) she
pretended to cry and I did the same
Then, in pretty pantomime, she would
point downward to the sky, to tell me that
it was destiny that caused the shipwreck
of our flowers, and l. in pantomime not
half so pretty, would try to convey to
her that destiny would be kinder next
time, and that perhaps tomorrow our
flowers would be more forum nate-and
so the innocent courtship went on.
One day the little maid did not appear
on her balcony and for several days
SAW nothing Of her, and although |
threw my flower as usual no flower
came to keep it company. However,
after time she reappeared dressed in
black and crying often, and then knew
that the poor child's mother was dead;
as far as | knew she was alone in the
world. The flowers car no moro for
several days, nor did she show any sign
of recognition, but kept her eyes on her
work, except when she placed her hand
kerchicf to them. And opposite to her
was the old Iady's chair, and | could see
that from time to time she would lay
down her work and gaze at it, and then
a flood of tears would come to her re-
lief But at last one day she reused
herself to mol to me, and then her flower
came. Day after day my flower went
forth to Join it, and with varying for
tunes the two flowers sailed away as Of
yore,
But the darkest day of all to me was
when a good looking young gondollcr,
standing right end uppermost in his
condola for 1 could see him in the
fcsh worked his craft alongside the
house and stood talking to her as she
, sat on the balcony. They seemed to
, speak as old fricnds-In deed, as we'll as
| could make out, he held her by the
: hand during the whole of their inter
view, which lasted quite half an hour.
e Eventually he pushed off, and left my
l heart heavy within me. But | soon
5 took heart of grace, for as soon as he
I was out Of sight the little maid threw
n two flowers growing on the same stem
IN aIIcrorv Of which [ could make
t nothing, until it broke upon me that
4 she meant to convey to me that he and
:, she were brother and sister, and that
had no cause to be sad. And there
Y uDon nodded to her checrily, and she
Y nodded to me and laughed aloud, and
: lauohed in return, and all went OF
;, again as before.
: for it became necessary that l shoul(
J. undergo treatment that confined m
" absolutely to my bed for many days
n. and I worried and frettcd to think tha
| the little maid and l could sec eacI
e. other no longer and worse still, tina
v she would think that / had gone ava
10 without even having limited to her tha
" [ was going. Aud lay awake at nigh
&c wondering how I could let her kno7
in the truth, and fifty plans fitted throug
ir my brain, all appearing to be feasibl
w enough at night, but absolutely vii
s. and impracticable in the morning. On
n day-and it was bright day indee
n for mc--the old woman who tended N
id told me that n gondolicr had inquire
ID whether the English signOr had gon
If, awav or had died; and so l learned thu
an the little maid had been anxious abol
in me, and that she had sent her brotht
adj to INQUIRE, and the brother had I
to doubt taken to her the reason of n
MT protracted absence from the window.
&C From that day, and ever after, durin
a nv three weeks Of bed keeping, flow
ad was found every morning on the eds
ed of nv window, which was within ca
ke reach of anyone in a boat; and when
of last day came when l could be move
zee I took my accustomed place on the so
10 at the window, and the little maid sa
- me and stood on her head, so to spea
p and that was as eloquent as any rig
Il end up delight could possibly be.
d the first time the Gondolier passed n
hit window l beckoncd to him, and
nd pushed up alongside and told me, wi
to many bright smiles, that he was gl
indeed to see me we'll again. Then
in thanked him and his sister for the
ed kind thoughts about me during my I
do treat and l then learned from him th
20, her name was Angela, and that she W
my the best and purest naidcn in all Venlt
nd and that anyone might think hims'
tie happy indeed who could call her sist'
,no but that he was happier even than /
ion brother for he was to be married to HI
Il | o.5 ;,6oad thov were to be mar ri