The record-union., 1896-02-15

1
thoughts.
Upon the third day after Christine
brought to me this bitter news the crisis
of the sick mans illness came. I had
sat at his bedside from the setting OF
the sun until dawn, and had grown
weary with my watching About the
hour of o'clock, when I was about
doing in my chair, what should hap
pen but that Paolo drew a deep breath,
which called me to my senses instantly,
and | had scarce walked to his bed
when he opened his eyes and cried, in
voice that was little more than a
whisper, for Christine
Paolo, said I, God be thanked for
this. Take drink to your lips
!" Is it thou, Nicolo?' said he, looking
up with the eyes of a man still dream
ing.
. No other, Paolo, said / pressing the
drink upon him.
Where have I been? How did
come here?' he asked, trying TO raise
| himself in the bed
We found you in the garden of
Manin, the painter. but think of none
of those things now
He lay back for moment, with a
look of fear on his face. Then he said:
Manin, the painter-oh, yes-and
Girolamo Capello Is it thou, Nicolo?'
Again l told him that it was.
Then listen, said he. My sword
broke-the sword that was shaped by
thee
!" 'Paolo.' said I, what word is this?'
AS / say, cried he. In the morn
ing it was bright as the mirror above
us, but when I drew it in the garden
it was black and burned
Did you put off yours while you
were there? / asked.
laid my belt at the foot of the
lime tree when we sat to food said he.
| 1T was the work of the hag Giovanna
and of Girolamo. Doubt it not But
thou shalt shape me another, Nicolo,
that l may cut his heart out
i said nothing to him, so full was I
Of my anger, and presently he spoke
again Of Christine.
g Is it well with her?' he asked And
I lied to him.
:" 1t is WELL, said I. Talk no more
now, Paolo; only sleep
He obeyed me, being a child in
strength, and soon he lay in deep slum-
Der most pleasant to see. Nor did I,
when little Christine came running in
an hour later, let her hear of it, or ap-
proach him, for she was wild in her
| grief and not to be held back from
weeping.
:" 'Nicolo,' said she, tomorrow they
will wed me; tomorrow, Nicolo, shall
be in Girolamo's arms. Thou wilt lose
me, Nicolo; I shall die, dear cousin; I
shall never touch Paolo's lips again
" Thy father has returned, then?' said
l.
!" He was here at sundown,' said she,
and even now has gone to speak with
the priests
".
s'It is bitter thing, old friend, to see
child in sorrow. 1t is more bitter if
that child has loved you all her life
with great love. have never known
so sad a moment as that; never one in
which I stood so perplexed and helpless
And there were but twenty hours be-
fore me-twenty hours in which to save
little Christine for her lover; to deal
with Girolamo as justly as he should be
dealt with
You would think, it may be, that
L
had gone out at once to do as best
might for the child who called me
cousin and for my own good name. But
it was only in the hour before sundown
that put my cloak about me and called
Michele to bring the gondola to the
steps. To his question Where do we
go?' I could for the moment find no an
swer; but then, and in no way curiously
for sethoughts flash upon our minds
when we court them least-I cried:
To the house of Manin, the painter
"He nodded his head, and, our own
canal being blocked by boat that lay
stuck for want of tide, we went out by
the Piazza, and SO to the open water
before the Dogana. 1t was now near
fifteen days since I had ventured from
my own house, and plainly as Christine
had told me that men cried out upon my
work, was struck as by a blow when
a number of urchins, playing before the
new church, called after me:
:. There goes Nicolo that makes his
swords of wood!'
Did you hear that, Michele?' said /.
7 am Nicolo that makes the swords of
wood!'
l.
days and more, excellency,' said he. oh,
we are merry souls in Venice. Listen to
that, now.
HE pointed to a gondola in which sat
three young men known to me one
the son of a Senator, and all persons of
much account. But these fellows, so
soon as the boat was near to us, began
to rail as the boys had done.
Iof
makes the rotting swordsi Master
Nicolo, I will send you a load of
branches, nay, on my honor, l have
them in my garden. Excellent Nicolo
that Andrea taught, I play Arlecchino
at carnival, make a wand for mel
'I listened to them with bitter
thoughts, but when I hao borne with
it silently for some time, rose in my
seat and answered them.
'Sirs,' said 1, restraining the anger
1 felt, if there be any among you that
would know more of the work of Nicolo
Ferrara, he will step with you 90 the
nearest private place, and there teach
you both the quality of his blades and
the manner in which they should be
held
"At this, they drew away quickly, and
I heard no more of them. We had now
come up the canal before Manin,s
house; and being at my destination, and
strung to great anger with the insult
put upon me, had the sudden thought
that l would drag from the hag Gio-
wanna the whole story of Paolo's mis-
hap. To which end. and after l had
seen that no one moved about the house,
| rang the great bell above the porch,
and it being then almost full dark, |
dro1u my cloak about my face and