Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-10-05

Z
presence
The girl impatiently tried TO shake of
the strong. kind hand that held her,
and said, Let me go. l must die"
In another moment she tottered and
fell TO the ground. where she lay with
out sense or motion. Her preSeryer
raised her head, and, in order TO give
her mir. drew back the veil which con-
cealed her features. They were very
lovely. and the man gazcd on her with
wonder and admiration as she was grad
ually restored.
By degrees she told him who she was
and where she lived. Her history might
be summed up in a few words: an ava
ricious father. poor lover, mutual
but unhappy love.
Vainly did Maria plead with her
father. rich innkeeper of Venice. the
cause of her lover. Antonio Barbarigo,
the handsome gondolier plying beneath
the Bridge of Signs. At length. this
evening her father, Gianettini, forgot
himself so far rs TO strike his daughter
with some violence; and She, with far
more culpable neglect of her duty, ran
wildly from home, and rs we have seen,
was arrested just on the verge of COM
hitting 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.
Giancttini received his child with rude
reproacheS and bidding her to retire TO
her own apartment and betakc herself
10 her spinning. he cast a suspicious
glance at the person who had brought
her home, whose stout, manly figure
and firm countcnance, however, de-
TERED the inkecper from addressing
him i'm hostile manner.
rs Maria turned to depart young
goudolier appeared at the door and fur
lively approaching her said: "DemeSt.
dearest
Gianettini rushed forward. shouting:
"Out of this, out of my house, fellow
The young man did not stir.
"Have You fniShed?" he said, in a
good-humored tone. "Wherefore these
hard wordS2 Have you never loved,
Signor Giancttini? Have YOU totally
forgotten the feelings of Your youth?
Know You not that since / was ten
years old and Maria five, we have loved
each other fondly? VIII you not, then,
allow Us to hallow your old age with our
tearS?'
II don't want TO have a parcel of
bcggerS for my children said Gianet-
tini roughly.
'BcggarS" replied the young man.
you surely forget yourself
Not 1, indeed" returned the father.
Il refuse my consent. Therefore get
you gone
But hear me for one moment, SO
pleaded the gondolier.
'' It's useless. / again repeat that
such as you shall never wed my daugh-
ter. Your position is too mean"
Certainly. you are rich, replied the
young man, "but what binders that
should not become so, too? \ stout
arm. a brave heart, an honest soul, will,
with the help of heaven, do much
~ fools dream
Nay" said Antonio, lit is sober
sense. Prince Lorenzo de Medici was a
merchant: Duke Giacomo Slorza cow
herd"
The man i'm the corner had hearkeucd
attentively TO this dialogue. lie rose
and touching Barbarigo's shoulder said:
well spoken. gondolier Courage
brings success and struggles conquest.
Maria shall be thy wife.
Never" cried Gianettini.
Master jew" said the unknown
turning disdainfully toward him, iii
this youth could lay down COO pistole,
would YOU object to the marriage?'
BE that as it may, you must rcmem
Der that me is now little better than d
pauper'
"Pshaw." said the unknown: "bab
blerS are more tireSome than thieves
Before tomorrow YOU shall handle that
sum-"
So saying me drew from his pocket d
piece of parchment and a crayOn. anC
turning toward a table began rapidly tC
sketch a mans hand. Ii was repre-
sented open, inpatient with hollow
palm, as if expecting a shower of gold
pieces. 1t had, SO TO speak, a SenSu
Gus, ayariciOuS. expression; and one OF
the fingers was cncircled with massive
ring.
It's my hand" cried Giancttini.
And your history" said the artist.
Giving the sketch to Antonio, it,
author desired him TO carry it to PietrC
BcuvolS, librarian at the Palace of St
Mark, and demand in exchange for il
GOO piStoleS.
Six hundred fools heads" cried the
inn-keeper Il would not give zecchir
for it,"
Without speaking the artist turned
haughtily away.
The goudolier took the parchment
and looked with establishment at it;
guise. He then turned doubtfully to-
ward Maria; but a glance from her soft
dark eyes treasured him, and he set out
on his mission.
With folded arms and a moody brow
the artist commenced pacing up and
down the large room in the hostelry,
casting at intervals a Scrutinizing glance
on the young girl, who, now penitent
for her intended crime, was silently
praying in corner. As for Gianet
tint. he seemed unable to shake off the
strange aScendancy gained over him by
his unknown visitor; his habitual eff
frontery failed him. and, for the first
time in his life, he dared not break 81
lcnce.
An hour passed Then hasty. ioyou,
steps were heard, and Antonio appeared
bearing in his hand bag and letter
The bag contained COO piStoleS. and the
letter was addressed to the artist. and
prayed him to honor the Senator with a
visit
Take these coins and weigh them. -
said the unknown, as he threw the bag
toward Gianettini.
Antonio Barbarigo stood before his