Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30

the Adriatic. when Venice had long dropped
away out of sight, the chilliness and op-
Ser.. u Tue Ha''0e'na''0h renamed with
As summer drew on Andreis decided If he
could not persuade her to promise herself
10 MIN in Venice he would follow 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 fed.
He went out one day to make some pur-
chases Of glass and metal work for which
one OF his sisters had written him. He
thought that when they were completed it
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 de-
sired it, to Trieste. The indulgent kindli-
ness of Andreis made him wish to part
friends with man to whom he considered
that he owed his life.
He babe his gondolier steer northward
to the Fondamente. In passing the Ponte
one person alone. fouled his own in the
narrow channel, and that solitary person
was Damer.
II was just going to your apartments"
cried Andreis, while his gondolier swore as
his Prov grazed the wall of Palazzo Narni,
Il am going to the hospital, and shall
not be at home till dark" replied Damer,
ungraciously.
Y was coming to tell you that am about
to leave Venice"
"And are going to Goritz. no doubt" said
Damer. with dark, brief smile.
Il may be and may not" replied An
dreis, in tone which implied that where
ever he chose to go was no business Of any
ones. Anyhow, am led to say that the
schooner is entirely at your disposition If
you remain here or If you cross to
Trieste"
Thanks. Yachts are rich mems toys for
which l have no USE" answered Damer,
what he intended to do. Send yours to
her docks in Messina if you do not require
her yourself"
You might be little mere polite" said
should be glad to do you any services"
Poor men cannot accept such services"
why do you constantly speak of your
poverty? You have intellect; that is much
rarer than riches"
"And much less esteemed" said Damer
with that brief. dull smile which always
depressed and troubled Andreis. 81 fear
cannot stay to gossip" he added. II am
already rather late for a conference at the
hospital"
They were about to part-Damer to pass
underneath the bridge. Andreis to pursue
his way to coppersmith's workshop.
when weak. infantile cry smote on their
ears, echoed by other shriller childish
voices
Some children were playing on the black
barges which were laden with firewood and
coal. They were small creatures, half
naked in the warm air and sportfve as
young rabbits. They ran, leaped, climbed
the piles of fuel. caught each other in
mimic wrestling and screamed with glad
laughter. There was only one who did not
Join in the games. a little boy who lay LAM
guidy and motionless on some sacks, and
watched the others with heavy eyes.
AS their gondola passed under that wall
the sporting children, growing wilder and
more reckless rushed in their course past
and over the little sick boy. and jostled
him so roughly that they pushed him over
the edge of the barge, and he fell, with a
shrill cry, into the water The others,
frightened at what had befallen them,
gathered together, whimpering and afraid.
irresolute and incapable. The fallen child
disappeared. The water hereabouts is
thick and dark, and sewage flows uncheck-
ed into it. 1t was in that instant of his
fall that his cry and the shrieks of his
lence. In second Andreis had sprung
from the gondola, dived for the child, who
had drifted underneath the barge. and
brought him up in his arms. He was
pale face and naked limbs; his small curly
head fell in exhaustion on the young mans
shoulder; his ragged clothes were dripping.
Damer looked at him with professional
insight THAT boy is ILL.," he said to An
dreis. you had better put him out of your
arms"
Poor little man. said Ardreis. gently
holding the child closer. what shall we
do with him? We cannot leave him here
with only these children"
"You are wet through yourself You
must go to your hotel" said Damer.
Andreis was still standing in the water.
At that moment a woman rose up from
the cabin of the farthest barge and came
leaping wildly from one barge to another.
screaming: "The child! the child! my
Carlinor,
She was his mother. Andreis gave him
to her outstretched arms and slipped some
morey into the little ragged shirt.
81 will come and see how he is In an
hour" he said to her, amidst her prayers
and blessings. "He is not WELL You must
take care of him-not leave him alone"
The child opened his eyes and smiled.
Andreis stopped and kissed him.
go home by yourself. I will stay and
SEQ what Is the matter with him." said