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

trusted to his handsome face to enable him tc
capture party of foreign ladies, his profits
had to be divided with the owner of the gon-
dola, and were thus painfully small. The
ragheffo brought him few francs per month
and he picked up other small sums by serv-
ing as second oar, whenever tourists could
be convinced that second oar was necessary
Still, Antonio was desperately poor, and he
and his young wife were often uncomfort-
ably hungry.
Now, if the Madonna would only send him
an EnglIshman, even if it were only for a
single year, Antonio could easily save enough
money to buy himself beautiful gondola,
besides livinr in the lap of luxury. His
brother Spiro had owned an Englishman for
only seven months and half, and already
he was capitalist with his own gondoIa,
and, figure it to yourself!-with 400 francs in
the savings bank! And Spiro had done
nothing to deserve this blessing, for he was
notoriOusly an unbeliever, and never went
inside church except when he was escort
ing English ladies, when, of course, he pray ed
with fervor at the most conspicuous shrine,
which was worth at least 10 extra soldi of
6uona mdno. Whereas Antonia was deeply
religious, and at least once year gave a
wax candle to the Blessed Virgin of Santa
Maria ZobenigO. "But patience!" said
Antonio daily to himself. Some day the
Madonna will grow weary, and will say,
Give that Antonio an EnglishmaD, so that
can have little peace and quiet And
then the Englishman will appear, and
Antonio's fortune will be made"
VI course Antonio knew of every foreigner
who came to Venice with the intention of
making prolonged stay. There is no de-
tective police in the world that can be COM
pared with the Venetian gondolier in learn
ing the ways and purposes of tourists. To
know all about the foreigner is at once his
business and his capital.
Now, it fell out that one day Antonio
learned that an Englishman and his wife, a
young couple, who bad every appearance of
sweet temper and seant knowledge of the
world, had arrived at the Albergo Luna, aud
had told the porter that they intended to
take house and hive forever in Venice.
The porter was an intimate friend of An
tonic, and had beeni promised handsome
commission on any foreigner whom he might
place in AntOnio's hands. Within an hour
after receiving thef precious Information,
Antonio had put on his best shirt, had said
10 AYES at lightning speed, had promised
the Blessed Virgin two half-pound wax
candles in case'he should land this desirable
Englshman, and was back again at the
Luna and waiting TO waylay his prey.
The porter presented Antonio, and asserted
that, as combination of professional skill
and moral beauty, Antonio was simply
unique. Mr.. Mildmay, the Englishman in
question, was pleased with Antonio's clean
shirt, and Mrs. Midmay was captivated by
his chestnut curls, and the frank, innocent
expression of the young fellows face. He
was hired on the spot with the new gondola
which he prOie~sed to own, for $50 francs per
month, including his board. He was to
bring his gOndola and his recommendations
to the hotel to be inspected that afternoon,
and was to begin his duties on the following
day, the Mildmays having already secured
an apartment in advance of their arrival in
Venice
The long-hoped-for fortune had arrived at
last. He is a man of excellent heart, the
parom," said Antonio to the porter. He
will be as wax in my hands; already love
him and the sweet parona. You shall have
your snare of him, my Zuane. No one can
say that am not q just man."
Antonio hurried at once from the hotel
with note from the porter to dealer in
gondolas, certifying that the bearer had
secured most eligible Englishman. He
had to pay heavy price for the hire by the
month of a nearly new gOndola, but the pay
ments were to form part of the purchase
money, and Antonio did not grudge the
price. Then he stopped at his house to show
the new gondola to his wife, and tell her the
blessed news, and then, armed with his
baptismal certificate, and an old letter from
a notary, informing him that the funeral ex-
penses of his father must be paid or serious