The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-24
BEFORE THE SHRINE.

The sun had barely risen out of the sea
| when tho sexton opened the doors of the
pretty church Of San Giacomo on the little
island of Chioggia, which the Canal
Grande separates from Venice. 1t was
holy week, and the pious islanders gathered
for early mass
The space within was cold and gray.
The sun had not yet climbed the height of
the stained glass windows of the holy cdi-
fee. A thin cloud of incense floated
around the marble pillars. The perpetual
light glowed i'm deep red bowl before the
Image of the Madonna, and the worshipors
began to I'LL the worm eaten, wooden
| pews.
They were nearly all women, for tho
| young and hardy men Of Chioggia are
| out on the sea, saying their morning pray
ers under the dome of the sky. BY the
side of tho wife of some poor fisherman
kneels tho judges spouse in elegant attire.
Not far from her sits the pilots daughter
muffed in fleecy shawls to ward off the
draft that comes In between the chinks
and cracks in the windows and doors.
In the first pow before the image of the
Madonna crouched on this morning in
holy week n slender young woman of ex-
traordinary beauty. She was oblivious of
her surroundings. Her head was bowed
over her folded hands, and from her eyes
a tear trickled now and then. She did not
see the old vegetable huckster perched on
a stool the sexton had provided expressly
for her, because she could no longer kreel
Nobody needed the girl, except this old
crone. who watched her curiously. The
young woman's rich black hair betrayed
her. 1t was Lucia, handsome, dark eyed
Lucia, her cousin Enrichetta's only daugh-
ter. The silver bracelet around tho dim
pied wrist was hers. The old woman
would have known her anywhere with
that trinket on her arm.
Lucia seemed in great despair Sora
Biagia wondered. Could it DO true, what
tho woman of Chioggia were saying, that
Lucia was in love with the fair haired
German painter who had employed her
for his model? Had she been faithless to
Filippo, who had asked her to marry him,
and whose wife she had promised to be-
Now the Tedesco has gone his way, and
she kneels in despair before the image of
the Madonna-the old, old story
Sora Biagia had always been fond of
Lucia, and her heart ached for the sorrow
ing creature, but of late the girl had made
no confidante of her old relative When
mass was over and the people dispersed,
the old woman waited patiently for Lucia,
who was still lost in deyout prayer. AT
last she arose. brushed the wavy strains of
her black hair from her forehead, and cast
q last imploring look upon the image of
the Madonna.
"Hey, Lucia" cried Sora Biagia
On the church steps behind her stood the
old woman.
what will you have?' queried the girl
with low, oppressed voice.
II am sorry Lucia mia," whispered
Sora Biagia, laying her hand on the young
woman's shoulder. Il wish could help
you. Don't take it too much to heart! If
Filippo loves you, he'll come back to marry
you, believe me, Lucia!'
But he cannot, Sora Biagia," moaned
the girl. "He cannot come back TO me.
Filippo is dead, drowned-and am the
cause of his death"
She buried her face in her hands and
sobbed pitifully.
"Oh, Holy Virgin, murmured the old
woman, crossing herself. "You do not
know what you are talking about. You
are losing your mind!"
"It's true, only too true," cried Lucia
vehemently II will tell you all, Sora
Biagia. Filippo was jealous of the stranger
for whom l sat ms model. / was foolish
to flirt with him, but have never wronged
Filippo-the Holy Mother knows! 1t vexed
me to have him SO sure of me, and when
he told me that he was the only man
could ever love i laughed at him. Then
he came back and asked me to marry him.
But was obstinate, Sora Biagia, and said
that would think about 1t. We had
quarrel and parted in anger, yet wo love
each other dearly. Filippo went to sea
again, though it was his intention to re-
main Mt home after onr marriage. Last
night came the news that the Speranze
was wrecked in the English channel She
was Filippos boat and everybody on board
was lost. am not weeping for the stran
ger, Sora Biagia, but for Filippo, whom I
will never soc again!'
The girl broke completely down, sobbing
out her grief on the old woman's shoulder.
"Are you sure that all the crew were
lost, Lucia? I see old Sor Frediano, the
pilot, standing in his door. He is sure to
know. Hey, Sor Frediano, hey! Any
news from the Speranza?"
1.-THE Speranza's gone, but word has just
been received that the crew was saved.
They are on their way home now"
A cry Of JOY broke from Lucia's lips.
Half laughing, half weeping, sho sank
upon the stone steps Of the church.
Ahou busO hNuiu my " oAouoh
ma. have not sent him to his death"
On Easter morning there wns great re-
joicing on the pretty little island of Chi
oggia The crew from the Speranza camo
home just rs the Easter bells called the
worshipers to church.
On the wharf, near enough for the wa.
ter to dampen her pretty shoes, stood Lucia
with Sora Biagia.
As the boat drew near that brought the
young lover home the old woman asked:
"What will you say to Filippo should be
ask you again to become his wife!r'
"Not a single word, Sora Biagia.
will throw my arms around his neck and
kiss him. He will know
At Whitsuntide Filippo and Lucia were
married before the image of the Madonna,
at whose shrine the girl hnd poured out
her grief and implorod her help.-St Louis
Republic.