The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-27
UNDER THE ARCH.


| the doge a great group Of men and women
| we're gathered and threatening vengeance
| on somebody in their midst.
/ On the stone tagging Of the canal bank
| and surrounded by the crowd lay a cursinc
4 man. his clothes dripping with water.
I Near him and held tightly by two men
| is small goblinlike piece of humanity
with a torn dress His age exceeds 60
His height, not more than 81 feet, his
long dark hair falling over his broad
shoulders and his small, black, twinkIing
eyes give this small fellow the appearance
Of a Supernatural goblin Of the old school
t'Oh, if I was only strong enough If I
could only get this water out of nv ears
and eyes, wouldn't have vengeanosr'
shouts the man on the stones in a raging
voice
Don't tell you all twas but an accl-
dent?' cries out the dwarf, who has no
friends in the crowd
Throw him into the canal. He shall
drown, as he well nigh caused AIatteo to
do
That is the peoples cry, and they are
lifting the little dwarf up to cast into the
waters of the canal
At that instant woman pushes her way
through the crowd and cries out;
tfHold, you wretchesl' ~
The men turn and set the dwarf on his
feet again, still holding him.
Sonora Valdois, " murmurs the popu-
lace in surprise.
eyes, - answered the lady, who is quite
young and handsome. What do you with
yon dWarf?'i
"A little devil, sonora, F" said one of the
gondola men, who in a foul and mali
cious manner did cast into yon canal this
poor and innocent fellow
- Twas false, p stOutly denied the dwarf
'tThat base coward meaning the wet
man for three days has done naught but
heavily 'gainst me as I stood on the bank
of this canal Without looking, I pushed
him aside, and the first I knew was his
cry for heIp as he tumbled into the water.
The people rescued him. and They want
to murder me for what accidentally did -
''What is your naIne?'' the lady asked.
HBraganta, sonora, - the dwarf replied
''You must release this fellow, - the lady
said.
''But, sonora, he is the pest OF the city.
We must cast him into the canal -
Sonora Valdois, making sudden move
ment, catches the dwarf and has him at
her side.
Now, at your LIES peril, touch himP'
cried the brave woman to the revengeful
populace.
She turns quickly, pushes the dwarf be-
fore her, and both quickly descend the
water stairs and enter the senorais gon-
dola, which rapidly disappears under one
of the arches Of the doge's palace.
Night on the Grand canal of Venice
Sonora Valdois, sitting in her gondola,
accompanied by Lueretia, her maid, en-
joys the beauty of the night.
The great bell of St. Marie, peaIing out
midnight, makes the sonora s maid ask:
Had we not better turn to home, So
nora? lis midnight
That is early for a light night like
this. Why, you re not afraidS" And the
lady laughs.
The gondola, passing through a dark,
long arch under one of the palaces, comes
to a sudden stop, and the gOndolier's
white, blood smeared face floats on the
canal waters, a knife just then being driv-
en- into his heart and throat by a strange
dark man, who a moment after leap into
the gondola.
Don cry outl'' he says savagely, cor
III drive this dagger into your hearth
fRuffian, - cried Sonora Valdois, what
want you here?''
~ want gold-I want those priceless
rubies and those diamonds, and that gold
cross, which alone is q fortune" cried the
rObber.
You shall have nothing. III call for
help"
You die theni' And the robber pre-
sented his dagger. 81 am resolved to pos
sess them
During this occurrence the gondola re-
mained in the deep, dark shadow of the
palace arch. The man made step toward
the lady and put his hand on her wrist,
and with his other hand he grasped the
golden cross from her neck.
Sonora Faldois gave a piercing scream.
With fierce cry the robber turned upon
her and raised the dagger to strike But
g small man with flowing hair came
through the gondola opening, a strong arm
gresped the uplifted dagger, and after a
struggle the robber was forced out OF the
gondola and went with q splash into the
waters of the canal, where he died in in
tense torture.
Sonora FaIdois uttered cry of joy and
surprise:
"BragantaP'
Eyes, lady, - cried her preseryer Hear
ing a sudden cry Of distress, hurried
across TO this arch, saw that villain at
tempt your life and was just in time"
Generous man, you have saved my
life"
you saved mine this morning. 7 have
but repaid the debt. Z"
''For this nights service, good Bragan-
ia, you shall be well rewarded. My IA
Tiers gratitude will be unbounded. You
must accompany me TO the palace
And through the clear moonlight skim
med the gondoIa, nor did il stop till they
arrived at the white water stairs that led
up to the palace Of Valdois, Mercedes ia
Tiers home
From that night Braganta was installed
in Signor Valdois' palace, whose gratitude
for delivering his daughter from death
was great. So the remainder of the
dwarf days were happy and long in the
palace of Valdois.-Exchange