Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-10

out of sight the little maid threw two
flowers growing on the same stem-an
allegory Of which | could make nothing,
until ii 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 thereupon | nodded 10 her
cheerily, and she nodded to me and laugh
ed aloud, and | laughed In return, ard all
went on again as before.
Then came dark and dreary time, for
it became necessary that should undergo
treatment that confined me absolutely to
my bed for many days, and | worried and
fretted to think that the little maid and
could see each other no longer. and worse
still, that she would think that had gone
away without even having limited to her
that | was going. And lay awake at
night wondering how | could let her know
the truth, and fifty plans fitted through
my brain, all appearing to be feasible
enough at night, but bsolutely wild and
impracticable liz the morning. One day
and it was bright day indeed for me
the old woman who attended me told me
that gondol1er 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, Hover
was found every morning on the ledge OF
nay window. which was within easy reach
of any one IN boat, and when at last
day came when [ could be moved | took
my accustomed place On the sofa at the
window, and the little maid saw me and
stood on her head, so to speak, and clapped
her hands upside down with delight that
was as eloquent as any r., ht end up de-
light could possibly be. So the first time
the gondolier passed my window L beck
oned to him, and he pushed up alongside
and told me, with many bright smiles,
that he was glad indeed to see me well
again Then thanked him and his sister
for their kind thoughts about me during
my retreat, and | then learned from him
that her name was Angela, and that she
was the best and purest maiden OF all
Venice, and that any one might think
himself happy indeed who could call her
sister, but that he was happier even than
her brother, for he was to be married to
her, and 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 little while. | managed at last to
stammer forth some words of awkward
congratulations, and he left me, singing
merrlly, after asking permission to bring
his bride to see me on the morrow as they
returned from church
For" said he, my Angela has known
you for very long-every since she was
child, and she has often spoken TO me of
the poor Englishman who lay all day long
for years and years on a sofa at window,
and she had said over and over again how
dearly she wished shat she could speak to
him and comfort him, and one day, when
you threw a flower into the canal, she
asked me whether she might throw an
other, and | told her yes, for he would un-
der5tand that it meant sympathy with one
who was sorely afflicted"
And so l learned that it was pity, and
not love, except, indeed, such love as is
akin to pity, that prompted her to interest
herself in my welfare, and there was an
end of it all.
For the two flowers that | thought were
on one stem were two flo wers tied together
(but could not tell that, and they were
meant to indicate that she and the Condo
lier were affi&nced lovers, and my ex-
pressed pleasure at this symbol delighted
her, for she took it to mean that | rejoiced
In her happiness.
And the next day the gondolier came
with a train of other gondoliers, all decked
in their holiday garb, and in his gondola
sat Angela, happy and blushing at her
happiness. Then he and she entered the
house in which dwell, and came into my
room land it was strange indeed, after so
many years of invertion. to see her With
her head above he feet), and then she
wished me happiness and speedy restor
alton to good health (Which could never
be), and !, in broken words and with tears
in my eyes, gave her the little crucifix that
had stood on my bed or my table for so
many years. And Angela took it reverent-
~, and crossed herself, and kissed it, and
so departed with her delighted husband.
And as heard the song of the Condo
liers as they went their way-the song
dying away in the distance as the shadows
of the shutdown closed around mel felt
they were singing the requiem of the only
love that had ever entered my heart.-W.
S. Gilbert.