Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-15

man Ill the person of Splro 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 Mir. Mildmay was fas- oinated 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- bery and crimes of violence are almost unknown in Venice; but, for all that, he was always, though without his knowledge, accompanied on his walk ing excursions by the stealthy and un- suspected Antonio. who kept out of sight, but in readiness to come to his as- sistance should the necessity arise
 Toward spring Antonio thought it best to have his wife's mother die, but to his surprise NIT. Mildmay did not offer to pay tho old lady's funeral ex- penscs. 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 if she were capa- ble of carrying her resentment so 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 in a twilight gloom. If he wishes q light strong enough to read by, he burns petroleum. It 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 tho dearest. Now, in spite of all tho care which n timid person may lavish on lamp burning cheap petroleum it is nearly certain sooner or later to accomplish its mission of set ting somebody or something on fire, and Antonio's petroleum, which was rather moro explosive than gunpowdcr, unac- countably spared the inmates of the casa Mildmay until the month of March, when 1t suddenly asserted itself.
 It happened ill this way: One even ing Mrs. Mildmay took lamp in her 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 savc herself she dropped tho lamp. It broke, and in an Instant she was ill blaze.
 Antonio was ill the antCroom. IT door was open. and he saw tho accidcn. He sprang to Mrs Mildmay' assistance He did not attempt to avoid tho flames but rushed directly through the pool of blazing oil. burning his feet and ankles horribly. He seized Mrs Mildmay and tore away her dress with his bare hands | He had nothing to wrap around her, for he was wearing no coat at the time, but he claspcd her close in his arms and smothcred the flames that had caught her pctticoat by pressing her against his bosom. She escaped with nothing worse than slightly burned finger, but Antonio's hands, arms. feet and ankles were burned to the bone By this time Mir. Mildmay, who had been in his study, heard his wife calling for help and made his appearance.
 | Antonio asked the parOna'S pCrmis- sion to sit down for moment and then tainted away. The cook was called and sent for tine doctor She met Antonio's brother ill the Callc, close to the house, and sent him up stairs With his help Antonio was carried to Mrs. Mildmay's bedroom and laid on the bed. and be- fore the doctor came the wounded man rcgaincd consciousness and thanked tho Mildmays for their cure of him. The doctor. after dressing the wounds, said that the. man might very probably 1 recover. but Antonio announced that he was about tn die. on hearing which de cision the doctor changed his mind
 When q Venetian of the lower class gives up and says he is going to die, '" said the doctor, mo medical science can save him. Your man will die be- fore morning if Inc has really lost all hope There. he says he wants priest ! You might as well order his coffin at once. can do nothing to save him. -
 "Paron,' said Antonio presently, would you. in your great goodness, permit my wife to come to sec me for the last timc:''
 "You shall have anything you want. my brave fellow" replied MT. Mild may, but I thought your wife was dcad.''
 II was mistaken about it, said An tonic. ''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 k still alive. May she bring my little boy with hcr:''
 Tell her to bring anybody you may want to scc." replied his master. but 1 certainly thought your little boy was buried last January"
 The parOn iS mistaken. if he will pardon me for saying so. It was my little girl who died. Was it not so. Spiro:''
 Spiro confirmed Antonio's statement.
 like q loyal brother who k afraid uf nc fraternal lie. and Mir. Mildmay had not
 the heart to trouble the sufferer with
 any raorc doubts of his vcracity.
 Antonio was duly confessed and re-
 ccivcd dissolution. Did You tell the
 father about the candlCs:' whispered Spiro after the priest had gone.
 II thought, answered Antonio "that perhaps the Madonna had not vel noticed that they wcrc not wax, ana that it would not be wise to tell her ot it just as one is going where she is"
 In the early morning Antonio diod
 with tho smile of an innocent little
 child on his face "I have served tho dear paron faithfully" he said just n, , he died. II know he will take care ot , my wife and child, and he will talk, , Spiro as his gondolier. ''
 MT. Mildmay religiously carried ou
 Antonio's dying request. He installed Splro III the plice ol the uchu Ihal' al' he settled an annuity on Zanzc, tho dis consulate widow. He gave Antonio ;
 grave all to himself ill San Michele anC , a beautiful white marble tombstone i, with the epitaph. Brave, Faithful ant ! Honest" He came to know somcwha , later how Antonio had enriched himscl . at his expense, but he said to his wife , After all. my dear, Antonio wa
 strictly honest according to his owl l oodn I tLi,,l- hnrn l-nn,,.r, sn,nn E,,r.