The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-17

Cd by the mans sorrow and the quiet
heroism with which he bore 1T He gave
him the days holiday and 90 francs to-
ward the funeral expenses 81 his child.
When Antonio appeared Til the morn
ing, quiet, sad, bat ~scrupulously anx-
ions to do his whole duty, the MiIdmays
felt that they really loved the silent and
stricken man.
Misfortune seemed suddenly 10 have
run amuck at Antonio. A week after
the death Of his child he announced in
his usual quiet way that his wife was
dead. 1t was very sudden, ID he said.
He did not know exactly what was the
disease. but he thought it was rheuma-
tism. The Mildmays thought it strange
that rheumatism should have carried
Off . woman only % years old, but
strange things happen in Venice, and
the climate Is unquestionably damp.
Antonio asked for . half holiday to at
tend the funeral, and he added that un
less the paron could advance him 900
francs OF his wages he should be unable
to save his wife from being buried in
the common ditch. OF course this could
never be permitted, and Antonio re-
ceived the 400 francs, and Mrs, Mild
may told her husband that il he should
think Of deducting it from the unhappy
mans wages she could never respect
him again.
For o time the darts Of death spared
| the household Of Antonio The gondola
made its alleged monthly visit to the
at Mr.. Mildmay's expense, and the
amount OF repairs and paint which
it needed did seem Unexpectedly large.
But Antonio Yves not foolishly grasp
ing. So long as he doubled his wages
by tradesmen's commissions and by
little devices connected with the keep
ing of the gondola he felt that he
was combining thrift with prudence.
He made, however, one serious mis-
take, OF which he afterward repented
when Ii was too late. Instead of Civ
ing the Madonna the two wax candles
which he had promised her he gave her
two stearine candles, trusting that she
would not notice the difference. It was
not in keeping with his honest and re-
ligious character, and there were times
when the recollection Of 10 made him
feel uneasy.
As the winter wore on Antonio's de-
votion to his employers never slackened.
Beyond the commissions which it is but
just and right that the faithful Condo
lier should exact from those dogs of
tradesmen, even II they did charge the
same commissions i'm his masters bills,
he was t~ireless in protecting the Mild
mays from imposition. Herwas never
too tired to do anything that ne was
asked TO do, and although, when his
brother Spiro was temporarily ont of
employment, Antonio discovered that
there was nearly always too much wind
TO render it safe TO take the gondola ont
with . single oarsman, and that he
would, therefore, furnish q second oars
man in the person Of Spiro at his mas
ter's expense, he never intimated that
he was not ready to row hour after hour
while the Mildmays explored the city
and the lagoon. Mr.. Mildmay was fas-
cinated by the narrow Venetian streets
and spent hours exploring alone every
part Of the city. He was probably per-
fectly safe in SO doing, for highway rob-
berry and crimes of violence + almost
unknown I'm Venice; but, for all that;
he was always, though without his
knowledge, accompanied ON his walk
ing excursions by the stealthy and I'm
suspected Antonio, who kept out of
sight, bat in readiness to come to his ".
sistance should the necessity arise.
Toward spring Antonio thought II
best to have his wife's mother die, but
to his surprise Nj. Mildmay did NOT
offer to pay the old lady's funeral ex-
penses. He drew the line at mothers-in-
law, and Antonio received only his half
holiday to accompany the corpse to the
cemetery. This miscarriage made An
tonic think more than ever of that fail
ure to keep his promise TO the Madonna
in the matter of the wax candles, and
he sometimes wondered III she were capa.
BILE of carrying her resentment 30 far as
to take his Englishman from him.
There Is gas in Venice, but the judi.
cious householder does not use it, save
when he desires to enshroud his rooms
i'm a twilight gloom. III he wishes Q
light strong enough TO read by, he burns
petroleum. 1t was, of course, Antonio
who supplied the petroleum to the Mild.
may household, and equally, OF course,
he bought the poorest quality and
charged for the dearest. Now, in spite
Of all the care which q timid person
may lavish on q lamp burning CHEAP
petroleum it is nearly certain sooner OF
later TO accomplish its mission Of set.
ting somebody or something ON fire, and
Antonio's petroleum, which was rather
more explosive than gunpowder, unac,
countably spared the inmates Of the casa
Mildmay until the month OF March,
when it suddenly asserted itself.
II happened in this way: One ever
ing Mrs. Mildmay took q lamp in hen
hand and started to cross the wide and
slippery floor of her drawing room.
The rug on which she trod moved under
her, and In the effort to save herself shs
dropped the lamp. It broke, and in al
instant she was in q blaze.