The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-12-12

Dut dt iasL pDt udy sue Iouscu H'fStI w
nod TO me, and then her flower came. Dhy
after day my flower went forth to Join i,
and with varying fortunes the two hswcro
sailed away as of yore.
But the darkest day of all to me was
when a good looking young gondolier,
standing right end uppermost in his gon-
dola (for | could see him in the h,sb)
work, d his cra:: al5ngside the house and
stood talking to her rs she sat on the bal
cony. They seemed to speak as old friends
indeed, as we'll as could make out, he
held ner by the hand during the whole Of
their interview, which lasted quite half an
hour. Eventually he pushed If, and left
my heart heavy within me. But [ soon
took heart of gra e, for so soon as he was
cut of sight the little maid threw two
flowers growing ON the same stem-an
allegory of which could make nothing,
until it broke upon me that she m can't to
convey TO me that he and she were brother
and sister, and that had no cause to be
sad. And thereupon | nodded to her
cheerily, and she nodded to me and laugh
ed aloud, and laughed in return, and all
went on again as before.
Then came dark and 4, cay time, for
it became necessary that | should unGergo
treatment that confined me absolutely to
my bed for many days, and | worried and
fretted TO think that the little maid and
cuU!d see each other Eo longer. and worse
still, that she would think that had zone
away without even having hinted 10 Aer
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 absolutely Wild and
impracticabe in the morning. Oae day
and it was bright day indred for luc--
the old woman who attended me told me
that gondoller had inquired whether the
English sigror had gone away or had died |;
and so | learned that the little maid had
Lean anxious about me, and that she hat
sent her brother to inquire, dud The
brother had no doubt taken to her the
reason of my protrdcted absence from the
window.
From that day, and ever after, during
my three weeks Of bed keeping, ti)wer
was found every morning on the ledge of
my window. which was within easy reach
OF any one In boat. and when at last a
day came when | could be novel 'ook
my accustomed place on the sofa al the
window, and the little maid saw ne and
stood on her head so to sp-nk, and clauped
her hands upside down with delight that
was as eloquent as any ri-ht end up de-
light could possibly he. s. the hrs' time
the gondolier passed my window | 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 sis tr
for their kind thoughts about me during
my retreat, and then learned from him
that her name was Angela, and that ahe
was the best and purest maiden cl all
Venice. and that any one might think
himself happy indeed whu cJuId call ner
lister, hlt that he vas happier even than
her brother, for he was to be married tn
her, and indeed they were to be married
the next day.
Therenpon my heart seemed to swell u
hrrsting, and the blood ru> he'd through my
veins so that could hear il and no hing
else fer little while. managed at last to
sCammer forth some words of awkward
congratuatou, aad ne left me. singing
merrlly. after asking permission 10 ".lng
| his bride to zee me on tue morrow as they
returned from church.
For" said he, my Angela has known
YOU for very long-lvry since she vas a
child, aud she has often sfoS"n 10 me oi
the poor Enpl,shman who lay al d.' long
for years and years on sofa at a window
and she had said over and over again how
dearly she w,,had shat she could speak tc
him and comfort him, and one day, wher
you threw hJwer into the canal. shc
asked me whether she might throw an
other, and tlld her yes, for he wor d un,
derstand that it meant sympathy wit" one
who was sorely file ed. "
And go learned that il was pity, anc
not love, except, indeed, such love as i,
akin to pity, that prompted her to Interest
herself in my welfare. and there was al
end of it all
For the two flowers that thought wer,
on enc stem were two TO Ssrs tied toe thel
(but could not tell that). and they w"r,
meant To Indicate that she and ihe g"udo
! lier were atii inced lovers. and my ex
pressed pleasure at this symbol delights
her. for she took it to mean that rejoicec
in her happiness.
And the next lay The condolier c,mt
with train of other gondoliers. all decked
in their holiday garh, and in his gonaola
sat Angcla. happy and hlushing ut her
happiness. Then he and she entered the
house IL which dwell and came into iny
room land it was strange indeed, after 20
MANY years of invertion, to see her with
her heal above he feet). and then soc
wished m. happiness and II eady restnr.
alton tn good health (which could never
he), and |, in broken words ard with tears
in my eyes, gave her the little cruelty hat
had stood on my bed or nv table for 50
many years. And Angela took it revcren:
lv, and Gro sed herself, and kissed il. 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 distanc, as the shadows
OF the Sundown closed around mel felt
they were singing the requiem of the only
love that had ever entered my heart w
5. Gilbert.