Connecticut western news., 1888-03-14

other, she threw up her hands in pret- " affectation of despair, which I tried to initiate, but in an English an d unsuc- cessful fashion. And when they were rudely run down by passing gondola (which happened not iufrequently) she pretendcd to cry, and I did the same. Then, in pretty pantomimc, she would point downward to the sky, to tell me that it was destiny that caused the shipwreck of our flowers, and I, 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 fortuuate-and so the innocent courtship went on.
 One day the little maid did not appear on her balcony, and for several days l SAW nothing of her, and although l threw my flower as usual no flower came to keep it company. However, after a time she reappeared dressed in black and crying often, and then knew that the poor child's mother was dead; as far as I knew she was alone in the world. The flowers ca me no more for several days, nor did she show any sign of recognition, but kept her eyes on her work, except when she placed her hand kerchief to them And opposite to her was the old lady's chair, and could see that from time to time she would lay down her work and gaze at it, and then flood of tears would come to her re- lief. But at last one day she reused herself to no1 to me, and then her flower came. Dly 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 good looking young gondolier, standing right end uppermost in his gondola 0or I could see him in the flcsh) worked his craft alongside the house and stood talking to her as shs sat on the balcony. They seemed to speak as old deed, as we'll as could make out, he held her by the hand during tho whole of their inter- view, which lasted quite half an hour. Eventually he pushed off, and left my heart heavy within me- But I soon took heart of grace, for as soon as he was out of sight the little maid threw two flowers growing on the same stem an allegory of which I could make nothing, until it broke upon me that she meant to convey to me that he and she were brother and sister, and that had no cause to be sad. And there upon I nodded to her cheerily, and she nodded to me and laughed aloud, and I laughed in return, and all went on again as before.
 Then came a dark and dreary time, for it became necessary that should undergo treatment that confined me absolutely to my bed for many days, and I worried and fretted to think that the little maid and I could see each other no longer, and worse still, that she would think that I had gone away without even having hinted to her that I was going. And lay awake at night wondering how I could let her know the truth, and fifty plans fitted through my brain, all appearing to be feasible enough at night, but absolutely wild and impracticable in the morning. Ono day-and it was bright day indeed for me--the old woman who tended me told me that gondolicr had inquired whether the English signor had gone away or had died; and so learned that the little maid had been anxious about me, and that she had sent her brother to inquire, and the brother had no doubt taken to her the reason of my protracted absence from the window.
 From that day, and ever after, during my three weeks of bed keeping, a flower was found every morning on the edge of my window, which was within easy reach of anyone in boat; and when at last day came when I could be moved I took my accustomed place on the sofa at the window, and the little maid saw mo and stood on her head, so to speak, and that was as eloquent as any right end up delight could possibly be. Sc the first time the gondolier passed my window I beckoned to him, and he pushed up alongside and told me, with many bright smiles, that he was glad indeed to see me we'll again. Then thanked him and his sister for thei, kind thoughts about me during my re- treat, and then learned from him that her name was Angela, and that she was the lest and rurest alden in all Venice, and that anyone might think himself happy indeed who could call her sister, but that he was happier even than hel brother, for he was to be married to her, aud, indeed, they were to be married the next day.
 Thereupon my heart seemed to swell to bursting, and the blood rushed through my veins so that could hear il and nothing else for while. managed at last to stammer forth some words ot awkward con graduation, and he left me singing merrily, after asking permission to bring his bride to sec me on the mor- row as they returned from church. "For," said he, "my Angela has known you for very long-ever since she was a child, and she has ofter [ spoken to me of the poor Euglishmar who lay all day long for years and years