The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-06-05
THE

Zefirino was lot the largest gondolier
was he ever guilty Of winning a prize
in the sandolo races, but he was not a
bit surprised when the very blond 81
g~norina from America picked him out
from the crowd of goDdoliers who were
humping their boats against each other,
calling one another pigs and such like
fanciful names under their breaths, and
shouting to the young lady who stood,
half amazed, half disguised, ON the no.
tel steps.
Zetirino was neat as a pin, young and
good looking. He neither scowled at his
fellows nor pushed his boat far into the
crowd. Rather did he stand proudly on
the high stern with the air Of q man Of
gentle blood whom fate had reduced to
a meager, but not dishonorable, trade.
Yet that was not the reason of his calm
ness and the quiet certainty that she
would select him to be her gondolier
during her stay in Venice.
This calm certainty was begotten Of a
dream into which he had not ventured
far in respect TO its Interpretation, but
the little he had seen was marvellous.
The dream had been long, but certain
things stood out in his memory. At first
he thought that he. the most temperate
Of men, was drinking a very sweet liquid
from a cup Of gold, and became intoxi-
Gated thereby; that meant some great
person would love and enrich him. Then
a face appcared-a very beautiful face,
with blond hair about it-smiling in a
most engaging way; that meant joy and
happiness. Next he vas walking along
a dusty road with the owner of hat face
"a young woman-and he had a sword
In his hand; that was a sign Of success.
Therefore, Zeirino was not at all sur
prised when his white lady came trip
ping down the steps quite unattended
and entered the gondola as coolly as she
might a cab. In the first place foreigners
have a way of doing just what they
please, taking no account whatever of
the social rules of the Venetian upper
class second, Zefirino had heard Vene-
tian ladies discuss American girls a hun
bred times. He learned that they had a
fragile beauty which disappeared early {;
were very bold and impudent, stared at
men as you might at a dog, but could
defend themselves; finally, they and
their race were barbarians, and that was
all about it.
Zefrino was a fine sight as with nerv-
Gus strokes, ~unheeding the sarcasms
showered about him in the Venetian dia-
1not nv hso xx,1 loco fo~&-,oxa n,~o~oJoc
he swept the gondola away from the no.
tel steps, and, putting his best work on
the ~forcola, where the sweep swung
lightly but firmly, shot up the Grand
canal. He knew that this was the first
time the fair stranger had ever enjoyed
the exquisite quiet and steady onward
rush Of a Venetian boat, for he was only
too well>aware that she had come late
the night before on one of the steam
launches from the station.
Not a word had the rose leaf blond ut
tered SO far. She seemed to be stupefed
by the beauty of Venice-or bored be-
yOnd making q motion-and when the
dark arch of the Rialto was passed and
the lovely palaces on the upper stretch
brought no sign from her mute face,
Zefirino was a little angry. He stopped
rowing, leaned forward, and inquired.
Commando"
No; that did not work, either. The
head in a perfect bonnet bent gracious
ly, and one gloved hand was raised with
as much ease as Queen Margherita her
self might have displayed. Zefrino
seized his oars and set to wondering how
he could make her say even a word.
Perhaps she knew little Italian as he
did English. What was his surprise,
then, to hear her call out to stop as they
neared a broad boat full of vegetables
and fruit which was being slowly poled
along, and in very slowly spoken but
not impossible Italian negotiate for
some oranges and pomegranates. 1t was
out Of all order so to do. Bread and wa
ter for a week would have been the or
ton Of a %signorina Of one of the real old
families who dared to do such a thing.
And then the sweet lips uttered "Zefri-
no." and the little hand held out of the
felse window q couple Of oranges to the
%gondolier!
He ran forward a few steps and knelt
on one knee to receive them, muttering
to himself blessings by all the saints,
but was too agitated to say much. Such
a glance as she gave him-such a mis-
chievous, b%ewildering glance! As if she
saw right through his body and knew
that his heart wa humping. The rest
81 the giro, through canals great and
small. back to the hotel was as much q
dream as that on which his hopes were
built. He hardly came to himself until
he was lying on his back on the quay,
trying to think it all over.
The signorina, bless her little era.
cious head, with the prettiest bad &C.
cent in the world, had ordered Zefrinc
to wait Der pleasure that evening Just
before rpoonrise, % that she might bt
taken Oh TO the lagoon opposite the
Piazza. near San 0iorsio, and rec tn