Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-06-16
THE WHITE GONDOLA,
CHAPTER |.
A Story of Old Venice.


latter part of the seventeenth CEN
fury, when all Venice was looking
joyfully forward to the annual festl'
val, Carlo Matranza, a powerful mem
Der of the Council, impatiently STROBE
to and fro In q room OF his palace,
which fronted on the Campo San Ste
fano.
He was d proud, erect, handsome
gray-haired man of sixty: his large
piercing black eyes flashed an angry
lool at his daughter as he said.
"Is It not enough that ! should be
thwarted In tho affairs OF the Council
without being troubled with your
lovers and your girllsh whimsT
But, | am In no haste for hus-
band, father"
But there is n husband in haste
for you. Sig. Palombo comes here to-
day. And"
"Ah, Sig. palombo!' the girl gasped,
under her breath, u shade of aversion
clouding her beautiful features.
"And the noble young Briton, Lord
Wilfred. lIa! your face changes from
Icy January to growing June at the
mention of tho naxen-haired English
man. He has your heart"
MAY, father; my heart Is free.
! will accept no man without your
wiser council"
Bah! the crimson messenger from
your heart CLOVIS In your cheek and
bellies your tongue. But Sig. Palom-
DO was your first sultor; to him, In all
Justice, | owe your hand"
His daughters face turned pale
again, as she sank on a couch resign
eddy Sig. Matranza observed her
closely for some moments, and then
exclaimed.
by my faith, Annlta, believe you
love this tawny Briton past curing!
And yet he Ia not half the man
Palombo Is
He In man of noble birth, more
pleasing In stature, and--younger."
"And coward, no doubt Those
wheaton faced men are rarely stout Of
heart"
NAY, father: that ! will stake my
life upon" Annitas eyes flashed M
she defended him,
"Those English mobiles, ! have
heard make british husbands; they
are sots and prongates--that, too
without the taste or delicncy OF our
nation"
"There are good and worthy men
among them"
"Ha, ha! Therefore, Lord Wiltred
must be one" he said, ironically.
80 my heart tells me-"
"Ah, now we have It! Your heart
swings to him as daffodil to the sun
Well, we'll, my child, II can pacify
Signor Palombo, you shall have your
way"
"Ah, good father, think: Signol
Palombo has twice my years; Lore
Wilfred Ia but
give and twenty-a mere youth
He may love dozen as well as you
ere he reach Palombo's years"
80 he love me first, care not"
Are you sure he loves you, child?'
His eyes have spoken with 4
heavenly truth more convincing thar
words"
Hum! Well, we'll, Annita, trust II
your father. Hank! Whose gondol,
rests below" the signor asked, as h,
heard the cry Of gondoler in tn,
campo below.
Annita FASTENED to the easement t,
see. 1T Is Signor palombo, father.
Then leave me, child. we hav
Council business to discuss"
The girl affectionately kissed he
father and left the chamber.
Signor Palombo, as he entered, wa
seen to be short, plump, swarth
man OF forty, with dgnifled stru
that struggled to make up for hi
want Of stature, He had small darl
crafty eyes, with thick. black eye
brows, and beard which was u
coarse and graceful as that Of will
goat. After exchanging the usug
compliments of the day, the pei
fumed little egotist asked:
what think you OF our defeat |
the Council?"
1T was SO near victory, Signc
Palombo, we must try again"
Beaten by two votos-only two"
rs It not pity? Here is our hapr
festival coming, the one day OF Il
year when all should be Joyous ar
gay. And yet by an ancient despot
decree, our gondolas must still rema
as dark and gloomy as n felon
shroud."
while the Doge and his pampert