Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-08-08

age, were themes of universal praise,
and more than one rich person of the
Veneto entrcated his examination, and
were submitted to his treatment.
And-eis saw but little of him in the
daytime, but most evenings in prima
sera they met in the Palazzo Larani.
gra. Then Da,ner spoke little, but he
spoke with effect; and, when he was
silent, it seemed to this young mistress
of the house that his silence was odi-
ously eloquent, for it appeared always
to say TO her: "What mindless crea-
ture you are! What mindless crea-
ture you lover
"You play with your happiness" said
her duenna, angrily, to her.
Il do not play, indeed she answered,
seriously, but said no more.
! Evcn 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 Damcr's 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 morbid fancy-she knew that;
but SIC 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
chilliness 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 fed.
| He went out one day to make some
| purchases 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 desired it, to
Trieste. The indulgent kindliness 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, sandalo, in
| which there was one person alone,
| fouled his own in the narrow channel,
and that solitary person was Damer.
81 was just going to your apart
ments," cried Andreis, while his gon-
dolier swore as his PROV grazed the
wall of Palazzo Narni.
II am going to the hospital, and shall
not be at home till dark" replied
Damer, ungraciously.
Il 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
Andreis, in tone which implied that
wherever he chose to go was no busi-
ness Of anyone's. 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," an
swered Damer, without saying where
he was going or what he intended to
do. ''Send yours to her docks in Mes
sina, if you do not require her your
self"
"You might be little more polite"
said Andreis, half angrily, half jcsting-
ly. Il should be glad to do you any
services"
Poor men cannot accept such serv-
ices"
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. Il fear l cannot stay to gos-
SIP" he added. II am already rather
late FOR conference at the hospital"
They were about to part-Damer to
pass underneath the bridge, Andrcis
to pursue his way to coppcrsmith's
workshop, when a weak, infantine 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 sportive 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, q little boy who lay lam
guidly and notionless 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 shrili cry.
into the water. The others, frightened
at what had bcfallen them, gathered
together, whimpering and afraid, ilrcso-
Lutte and incapable. The fallen child
disappeared. The water hcreabouts is
thick and dark, and sewage flows un-
checked into it. 1t was in that instant
of his fall that his cry, and the shrielks