The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-17

| Antonio asked the pdroRa's permission to
| sit down for a moment, and then tainted
away. The cook was called and sent for
| the doctor. She met AntOniO'S brother in
| the cdlEe, close to the house, and sent him
upstairs. With his help Antonio was car
ried TO Mrs Mildmay's bedroom and laid on
the bed, and before the doctor came the
wounded man had regained consciousness
and had thanked the Nildmays for their
care of him.
The doctor, after dressing the wounds, said
that the man might very probably recover.
But Antonio announced that he was about
to die, on hearing which decision the doctor
changed his mind.
when Venetian Of the lower class gives
up and says he is going to die" said the doc
tor, no medical science can save him Your
man will die before morning if ne has really
lost all hope. There he says he wants
priest. You might as well order his coffin at
once. l can do nothing to save him"
"PdrOn," said Antonio, presently, would
you, in your great goodness. permit my wife
to come TO see me for the last time?"
You shall have anything you want, my
brave fellow" replied Mr.. Mildmay, but
thought your wife was dead"
Il was mistaken about it." said Antonio.
It was her twin sister who died, and they
were so much alike that their own mother
could not tell them apart. No, my poor
wife is still alive. May she bring my little
boy with her?"
"Tell her to bring anybody you may
want to see," replied his master, "but GER
tainly thought your little boy was buried
last January
The parOn is mistaken, If he will pardon
me for saying so. 1t was my little girl who
died. Was it not go, Spiro?"
Spiro confirmed Antono's statement, like
a loyal brother who is afraid of no fraternal
lie, and Mr.. Mildmay had not the heart to
trouble the sufferer with any more suggested
doubts of his veracity.
Antonio was duly confessed and received
absolution. Did you tell the father about
the candles?n whispered Spiro after the
priest had gone.
81 thought" answered Antonio "that
perhaps the Madonna had not yet noticed
that they were not wax, and that it would
not be wise to tell of her of it, just as one is
going where she isn
In the early morning Antonio died. His
family, and Mr.. and Mrs. Mildmay, were at
his bedside. He died bravely, with the
smile of an innocent little child on his face.
81 have served the dear pdron faithfully"
he said, Just as he died. '' know he will
take care of my wife and child. And he will
take Spiro as his gOndoiier."
Mr. Mildmay religiously carried out
Antonio's dying request. Heinstalled Spiro
in the place of the dead man, and he settled
an annuity on Zanze, the disconsolate widow.
He gave Antonio a grave all to himself in
San Michele, and beautiful white marble
tombstone, with the epitaph, Brave, Faith
full, and Honest" He came to know some
what later how Antonio had enriched him
self at his expense, but he said to his wife:
" After all, my dear, Antonio was strictly
honest according to his own code. / think
l have known some Englishmen of unblem-
ished reputation, whose honesty, according
to the English code, could not be compared
with that of the poor boy who gave his life
for yours. ."-!SraHd Magazine, By permissiOB
of Iaternnti0nnL NeIrs ComnnnH