Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-07-28
THE MISER'S HAND.

lNuifb WIN huiibNss htNhN"Ns
glance. She paused on the center % the
bridge AMI look~i down with q shudier
ou th. clear. blue waters ~ the Adriatic:
then closing her eyes and murmuring
family. "Antoniol my Antonio. Adieu'''
,hc prrar,d a. throw herself over the
larapst
Just as shc was falling man rushed
forward. s-iEei her with q powerful
grasp. ani. drawing her back. saidi
Girl destroy not thy life which rrovi.
denc. ha. given thc-. n tbou art un.
happy cutcr thy church. knc.l on its
haliowcd pavement. pour out thy sor'
row and thank thy Maker that thou hast
l-rn preserved frvm crime-frOm rush.
ing uncallc,i into hi pr-.ncc'-
The girl impaticnuy tried 20 shake
ud ia. strong. kind hand that hcld her,
and said LIT me go, imusi die'-
In another moment she ioticrri and
fcll to the ground. where shc lay with
ou, sense OF motion. Her pr,~crycr
raissl her bead. anil. In order 90 give
her air. ir,w hack the veil which con.
cealcd her FEATURES They were very
lovely. and the man gaI~i on her with
wonder anl admiration hs she was grai'
nally RESTORED.
By degr-- she told him who she was
and wh~rr .he lived. Her history nigh,
L. summe-l up In few wor,is: An
ayariciou- father. I'Or lover. mutual
bui unhappy love.
vainly did Mara plead with her IA
ther. q rich innke.prr ~ Venice, the
cans. of her lover. Antonio Barbarigo,
the handsome gundolicr beneath the
Bridge ~ Sighs. 80 length this evening
her father. Giancttini. forgot himself -
far ~ a. strike his daughter with -otne
violence. AMI shc. with far more culp
able neglect 10 her duty. ran wildly frum
home. AMI. a. We have s.cu. was arrrsi.
81 ius, on ,h. verge ~ committing sui'
eide.
The I-raon who hal sa,-,i her lei her
gently a. her home. AMI, having given
h.r up 90 her father. stated him-.f IN
an ol~curu corner - the ho-,-lry. Gis-
n.ttini rccciyci hi- child with rude ~
pr,achc.. and Bidding her retire to her
own Apartment And l-takc her-'lf to her
spinning. be- cast = suspicious glanc. ai
th. I.rson who brought her home.
whose stout. manly figure and hrn
counienanc-. however. deferred the inn.
k-.I-r from addressing him In hostile
manner.
AZ Maria turnci Ia depart q young
guudOlisr apt-ars,l st the door AMI fur.
lively approaching her. aid. "Dcaro-,'
dearest"
GiAncttini rushed forward. shouting:
"out 20 this, out % my house. Eel.
low
tn. young man dii NO, stir.
Have you iinishe,ly' hc s.,id. In q gooi
humor,d tone. "whcrrfop thcs. hard
Words Have you never loved, Sign0r
Gianettinp Have you totally forgotten
the feelings % your YOUTH Know You
not that sinc. was ten years old and
Mara Eve We have loy-l each other
fondly' VIII YOU not, then. allow us to
hallow Your old Az with our tearsr
II don't want 90 have . Iarccl 81 bsg-
gar for my children" aid Gianettini
roughly.
"Dggar.'- replied the young nan.
You surely forget your-slf. :
"SOt I. indc'si." returned the father.
Il rrfuse my consent Therefore gri
you gone.
"Dui h-ar the for one moment.
pleaded III. gundolicr.
"vns useless. again rrI-a, that
such n you shall never we'd my daugh'
ter. Your I.~i,ion u ,oo mean.
Certainly. You are rich, rrpli~i th.
young man. "but what hindcrs that
should l-come ~ too, A stout arm. Q
brave heart. an honest soul will. with
the help of heaven. DO much"
~ fol-. lrvaml-
Nay aid Antonio. lit l. sober ssnse.
Primo. LorvnIo lie M-iici was q mer'
chant. Duke Giacomo siorxa q cowherd.
The man In the corner hal hcarkenc!
attontiycly 90 this dialogue. lie ru-s
anil. touching Barbsrigo's shoulder. Said
"weIl spoken. gOndoll.r. Courage brings
sucors-. aud struggles bring conquest..
Maria shall h. my wife.
"Seyer!' crici Gianettini.
Master Jew slid the unknown.
turning di-dAinfully toward him, III
this youth could lay down o0o pistoles
would you object to the Marriage
.'Be that ~ u may. you must r-inem'
bsr that he Is now little better than a
pauper.-
"Pshaw!- aid the unknown; 'hab-
blers are more tir,soine than thieves.
Before tomorrow you shall handle that
sum"
~ saying he drew from his pocket a
,iccs of parchment and crayon, and
turning toward a table began rapidly "a
sketch q man. hand. II was reprc-snt-
ci open. impatient, with hollow palm,
n. II expecting . shower of gold pieces
Il hal, 80 io speak. q sensuous, ayan'
cious expression. AMI one of the hngers
was encircled with a massive ring.
"srs my hand" cried Gianettini.
And your history" saii the artist.
Giving the sketch a. Antonio, IL au
thor desired him TO carry u Ia Pi-,rc
Brnyois, librarian nj the palace Of 81.
Mark, and demand In exchange for u Gcc
pistoles.
.six hundred fools heads" cried ths
innkeeper. II would not give recchin
for It,"
without speaking the artist turned
hauchtily awav.
The gondolier took the parchment and
looked nj II with Astonishment. He then
turned doubtfully toward Maria. but
glance from her roft dark eyes reas
sur,si him. and he set out on his mission
With folded arms and moody brow
the artist commenced pacing up and
down the large room In the hostelry
casting at intervals scrutiniring glance
ut the young girl. who, now penitent fo'
her Intended crime. was silently praying
| In q corner. As for GiAnettini. he SEEM
ed unable TO shake OF the strange ascen
dancy gained over him by his unknown
visitor; his habitual effrontery failed
him, and for the frst time In his life b
dared not break silence.
An hour passed. Then hasty. 3oyou'
steps were heard. and Antonio appeared
bearing In his hand bag and . letter
The bag contained 600 Tastoles, and tn.
letter was addressed 10 the artist and
psayed him 10 honor ths senator viii
Q Wait.
"Take these coins and weigh them,
said the unknown. ~ he threw the bal
toward 0ianettini.
Antonio B.rbarigo stood before b b