The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-01


mistakably those of Nardo; BESIDES
there was stain on the left breast
which might possibly have been mud,
but which every one believed to be
blood. And it was precisely in the left
breast that Sandro had been obliged to
stab Nardo.
Not a word was said either by the
stranger or by any one of the guests.
They sat in profound silence, except
for the chattering Of the teeth of An
tonic, who, had it been possible for his
bronzed face to change color, would
undoubtedly have been as pale as mar
BILE.
Presently old Bartolo rose up and
walked silently and softly from the
room, waving a farewell to Sandro
that was full Of despairing pity. The
other gondoliers lost no time in follow
ing him; indeed they crowded through
the door as if G fire had broken out in
the Osteria and they were in imminent
danger of a horrible death. Sandro and
the stranger were left alone, each ap-
parently waiting for the other to speak.
every we'll, Nardo," exclaimed San
dro, when he saw that the stranger
was obstinately silent; $50 you've come
back to Venice again. What was the
matter in purgatory? Did they turn
you out because you were not SYM
pathetic-and you know, Nardo, that
you were never sympathetic person
or did you break out, the same as you
did when you were locked up In the
prison at Treviso for stealing from
your brother?"
This allusion to q form Of theft re-
garded among all honest gondoliers as
nothing less than dishonorable was
we'll calculated to draw an angry reply
from Nardo, but he still remained ST.
lent.
81 never believed in ghosts" resum-
ed Sandro, .'but now that see a very
dirty ghost sitting before me and re-
fusing to drink wine know that there
are ghosts and that they are not good
comrades. Drink your wine, Nardo,
and speak up like man. I'm not
afraid Of you now that you are dead
any more than was when you were
alive, but 1 don't like to sit over my
wine with one who does not open his
mouth even to speak"
/: The ghost was not to be taunted into
breaking silence, and gradually that ST.
lence oppressed Sandro. The latter
spoke the truth when he said that he
was not afraid of Nardo, but any one
will admit that it is not cheerful to sit
at table with q ghost who is soaking
wet and disgracefully muddy and who
will neither drink nor speak. but sits
staring as rudely as if he were Ger
man tourist.
| Sandro was irritated by the ghosts
conduct, and under the circumstances
no one can blame him. The best man
who ever lived would be irritated II
the ghost Of q man whom he had had
the misfortune to kill should come back
in a draggled and dirty dress and do
nothing but stare and drip water on
the floor.
"If there is anything that you want,
Nardo," said Sandro, perhaps you will
mention it. If you don't want any
thing, perhaps you will so away and
let me fpish my wine in peace. NO.
body invited you to come here, and it
was just little impertinent for you to
thrust yourself among dinner party
Of honest folk. But you always were
impertinent That was the reason, IL
you remember, why was obliged to
spoil my knife against your ribs"
: The stranger gazed steadily into San
dro's eyes, but he made no sound. Just
then the door opened the breadth Of
hand, and the scared face Of Antonio
!, was visible through the opening. He
had yentured back to see If Sandro
was still alive, and if so, whether he
=, was as badly frightened as the rest OF
the gondoliers had been. Sandro saw
and read the meaning Of Antonio's
face and seized the opportunity to
show his utter fearlessness Of ghosts.
"See here, Nardo," he exclaimed, Il
will do anything that man can do to
please you tonight. What would you
like to have me do? Say the word, and
Lam at your service"
The stranger rose up and, moving
toward the door, from which the ter
rifed Antonio had already vanished,
beckoned slowly to Sandro to follow
him.
"Certainly," said Sandro. Perhaps
you have forgotten that it is still rain
ing dogs, but no matter. A little rain
will not hurt us. Lead the way, and l
will follow-that is, if my legs will let
me, for the wine has loosencd the
Joints Of them till they are like the legs
Of the beggar Of the Campo SAINT An
! gelo, who, we all know, has no legs
| whatever"
There is no doubt that Sandro had
drunk too much wine and that his
brain as we'll as his legs was affected
by it. Still bis courage was undimin-
ished, and he was ready to follow the
! ghost to purgatory or anywhere else.
AS the two passed into the calle and
(: turned to the left, directing their steps
to where q gondola was moored, San
dro saw group Of his late dinner COM
panions gathered at corner, at what
they supposed to be safe distance
from the ghost.
He called to them: "Goodby till we
meet again! l am going to dine in
purgatory with the good Nardo. | will
fell YOU all about it when return"