The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-10

Thou knowest," said the old gondolier, that
when man has not had Christian burial his ghost
will wander everywhere trying to find some one who
will give him a comfortable grave. Now Nardo must
have been carried and it is my opinion that
night he will back and haunt YOU
Go away, Bartolo." cried Sandro. There are
such things as ghosts. When man dies either
that is end of hin else he goes far away
that he find his way back Besides, 1
should be in the least afraid of ghost. even if
there who to see II am not
afraid of live need not be afraid of dead Ones
when you say there ghosts replied Bar
toIo you forget the picture in the academy, which
proves that the blessed Sts Mark and Nicholas and
George appeared to a fisherman, and made him row
them S. Andrea If there ghosts Of saints
there must be ghosts of sinners.
Not at ALL said Sandro. The saints and 1
don't deny that there may be saints, though have
never seen one, can of course, work miracles, and
consequently they make CHESTS Of themselves If
they want to. But Nardo not saint, every
one will agree So whatever st. Mark and his COM
rades may have done has nothing to do with what
Nardo or cannot do Besides, not sure
about that story of the saints and the fisherman.
True, there is the picture, but any one could have
painted it. What want to know is where is the ring
that the ghost of ST Mark gave to the fisherman
Show that ring, and perhaps 1 may believe the
story
Just then a loud clap of thunder shook the wall
of the Osteria, and two Of the younger gondolers
crossed themselves You see SandrO,S said the old
gondoer solemnly 1T does not do to say blasphem-
Gus things about st. Mark There is going to be a
storm and who knows that it is not sent to rebuke
thee? There a man whom knew, man much
of thy age and appearance; he, too, was an un6e-
lever, and he said night at the traghetto of s.
Toma. in the presence of four five Of us, that he
lark tO he a
cause he did not send German travellers Venice
cept in the spring Ten days later that man played
eight sold in the lottery, putting two sodi on each
of four numbers. What happened? Why, every one
Of those numbers won; and the man was fit to xiii
himself because he had not played the quaterno.
Instead of winning few lire he might have Il
. fortune That shows that it is dangerous speak
lightly of the blessed saints
L have nothing say against the saints
turned Sandro who did not very much I'M
pressed by the others narrative. 81 let them alone
and 1 expect them to let me alone But ghosts
a different thing. Now, don't centesimo for
all the ghosts in purgatory In the first place there
isn't any purgatory; in the second place there
ghosts and in the third place if Nardo has ghost
looking for me, I shall be glad see him here or
anywhere else and will agree to offer him bottle
of wine, and to share it with him.
For heavens sake, Sandrot@ cried young gon-
and wicked words. Who can tell who is listening?
Above all, don't talk in that way Where there is
thunderstorm growing. 1t is black midnight
outside. myself don't always believe in everything
when the shines, but when it is dark this and
the thunder may strike at any minute believe every
thing"
\ fresh thundercap that seemed to rush from
side of the heavens Venice to the other and
back again, if it in search of some one COM
IaH +I1ao
turned Sandro more with unabashed spirits re-
sumed his sceptca comments ghosts
You wretchedly superstitious-all of YOU"
he said Il don't much mind your ideas about re-
hg1on, for unless you waste much money In
masses and other"-
Another crash, that sounded as if the Osterfa
itself had been struck or smashed into a million Of
pieces interrupted Sandro and when he was able to
continue his remarks he did not take the trouble to
mend his broken sentence
AS 1 was saying he continued, 81 don't ind
fault with you for believing in religion and saints
and all such things for if you to be children you
have right to suit yourselves But that you should
believe in ghosts, and be afraid Of them trying
to my temper. Consider little. How can a ghost
hurt you? He carries a knife no man ever
yet pretended to have seen a ghost with knife He
can't hit YOU for lie is thin as so much smoke and
You might as well expect a Whit of Tonis cigar TO
AulC you-WHlcn Is STRONG enough III all cOnScln G
to hit you between the eyes and knock you down If
there are ghosts, they as harmless as so many
girls and for my part 1 should as soon think of be-
ing afraid of a tWO-months-old girl baby
Wait till you ghost said old Bartoo; won
will sing a different song then If ghost were 10
appear to you tonight-and it is an excellent night
Tor ghosts believe that you would be the worst
frightened In Venice"
You think l would be frightenedr cried Sandro
angrly. You are an cd man, and l am peaceable
one, or should have something say to you on that
question of being afraid But will tell Won what
Should Go II were to see ghost. should welcome
him as if he my oldest friend / should saw 10
him: Come and have bottle with me- and fell mo
all about the place where you live Then would
Put my arm in his and sing him something to raise
his spirits and unless he was as solemn as RartoIo
we should have as jolly evening as can be had in
Venice
The door opened, and a stranger entered He
was evidently gondolier, and very wet one II
was quite natural that he should be wet since r.
had been raining torrents for the last half bo, but
he had apparently had unexpected bath in tho