The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-27


spoke with effect; and. when he was
silent. it seemed TO this young mistress
of the house that his silence was obi
ously eloquent, for 1t appeared always
to say to her: What mindless crea-
ture you are! What mindless crea-
ture you love-"
You play with your happiness" said
her duenna, angrily. to her.
II do not play, indeed" she answered,
| seriously, but said no more.
Even in broad daylight, and on the
sunlit waters of the lagoon. as she saw
in the distance the foundry flames and
| factory smoke of the Fondamente,
where Damers tower stood, she shud-
dered in the hot midsummer noon. 1t
seemed as If even from that distance
the eyes of the strange Englishman
could see her and lay silence on her
lips and terror on her heart, 1t was
but a morbid fancy-she knew that.
but she could not shake off the impress
sion. Even when far out on the green
waves of the Adriatic, when Venice had
long dropped away out of sight, the
chillness and oppression of the hallu-
cination remained with her,
AS summer drew on Andreis decided
If he could not persuade her to promise
herself to him in Venice he would fol-
low her to the hills above Cadara, and
there decide his fate. He had little
doubt that he would succeed before the
summer should have wholly fled.
He went out one day to make some
purchases of glass and metal works for
! which one of his sisters had written
him. He thought that when they were
completed 1t would be but courtesy to
go and tell Damer that he himself was
about to leave the city. and offer him
his yacht to go in, If he desired 1t, to
Trieste The indulgent kindness of
Andreis made him wish to part
friends with man to whom he consid-
cred that he owed his life.
He bade his gondolier steer north
wards to the Fondamente. In passing
the Ponte del Paradise, a sandalo, In
which there was one person alone,
fouled his own in the narrow channel,
and that solitary person was DameN
II was just going to your apart
ments," cried Andreis while his gon-
doler swore as his prov gra2ed the
wall of PalaZ2o Narni.
Il am going to the hospital, and shall
not be at home till dark replied
Damer. ungraciously.
Il was coming to tell You that l am
about to leave Venice"
And are going to GoritZ, no doubt
said Damer, with a dark brief smile.
Il may be and | may not" replied
Andreis, in a tone whcih implied that
wherever he chose to go was no bust
ness of anyone's. Anyhow. | am lee
to say that the schooner is entirely al
your disposition If YOU remain here. Oh
if you cross to Trieste"
Thanks. Yachts are rich mems toy.
for which | have no USE" answered
Damer without saying where he wa!
, going or what he intended to do. "Sent
yours to her docks in Messina, if yol
do not require her yourself"
: You might be a little more polite,
/ said Andreis. half angrily. half jesting
ly. II should be glad to do you an!
!. services"
Poor men cannot accept such ser
vices"
t why do you constantly speak o
your poverty? You have intellect; tha
is much rarer than riches"
And much less esteemed" sal,
Damer, with that brief. duh smil
which always depressed and troubled
Andreis. II fear / cannot stay to gos
: sip" he added II am already rathe
late for a conference at the hospital"
: They We're about to part-Damer t.
. pass underneath the bridge, Andres
to pursue his way to a coppersmith
workshop, when a weak, infantine or!
smote on their ears, echoed by othe
. shrilier childish voices.
Some children We're playing on tn
( black barges which were laden will
firewood and coal They We're small
| creatures half naked in the warm ali
and sportive as young rabbits. The!
, ran. leaped, climbed the plies Of fuel
! caught each other in mimic wrestling
. and screamed with glad laughter. Their
, was only one who did not join in tn,
games, a little boy who lay languidl!
, and mutiOnleSS on some sacks, anC
watched the others with heavy eyes.
, As their gondola passed under thai
wall the sporting children, growing
wilder and more reckless, rushed II
: their course past and over the LITTLE
= sick boy and jostled him SO roughly
2 the barge, and he fell, with Il shrill cry
into the water. The others. frightened
, at what had befallen them, gathered
together. whimpering and afraid, ir
, resolute and incapable. The fallel
child disappeared The water here
abouts is thick and dark. and sewag,
flows unchecked into 1t. 1t was in tina
instant of his fall that his cry, hi'
shrieks of his companions, rose shrillI
on the morning silence. In seconC
Andreis had sprung from the gOndola
dived for the child, who had driftet
underneath the barge, and brought hin
up in his arms. He was a child of som,
years old with pretty pale face ant
naked limbs; his small curly head fel
in exhaustion on the young man!
shoulder, his ragged clothes were drip
ping.
Damer looked at him with profes
sional insight. THAT boy is ill.," h,
said to Andrels you had better pu
him out of your arms" ;,
Poor little man. said Andreis
gently, holding the child closer "Wha
shall we do with him? We canno
leave him here with only these chill
dren."
4 "You are wet through yourself. Yol
= must go to your hotel" said Damer.
Andres was still standing in tn
Y water At that moment a woman ros
!