The aegis & intelligencer., 1901-04-19

| luY OIten, ana then / knew CnaI tne p0Of
child's mother was dead, and, as far as
l knew, she was alone in the world. The
flowers came no more for many days, mol
did she show any sign Of recognition, but
kept her eyes on her work, except when
she placed her handkerchief to them
And opposite to her was the old lady's
chair, and I could see that from time to
time she would lay down her work and
gaze at 1t, and then food of tears would
come to her relief. But at last one day
she reused herself to nod to me, and then
her flower came, day, day, day, and my
flower went forth to join 1t, and with
varying fortunes the two flowers sailed
away as Of yore.
But the darkest day Of all to me was
when q good looking young gondolier,
standing right end uppermost in his gon.
dOla-for l could see him In the flesh
worked his craft alongside the house and
stood talking to her as she sat on the bal.
cony. They seemed to speak as old
friends-indeed, as well as could make
out, hs held her BY the hand during the
whole Of their interview, which lasted
| quite half an hour. Eventually he pushed
of and left my heart heavy within me-
But / soon took heart of grace, for as
soon as he was out Of sight the little maid
threw two flowers growing on the same
stem, an allegory Of which could make
nothing until it broke upon me that she
meant to convey to me that he and she
were brother and sister and that had nc
cause to be sad. And thereupon nodded
to her cheerily, and she nodded to me and
laughed aloud, and I laughed In return.
and all went on as before.
Then came q dark and dreary time, fol-
It became necessary that l should under
60 treatment that confined me absolutely
to my bed for many days, and / worried
and fretted to think that the little maid
and L should see each other no longer,
and. worse still. that she would think that
had gone away without even limiting to
her that I was going. And lay awake
at night wondering how / could let her
know the truth. and 30 plans fitted
through my brain, all appearing to be
feasible enough at night, but absolutely
| wild and impracticable in the morning.
One day-and It was a bright day indeed
for me-the old woman who tended me
told me that a gondolier had inquired
whether the English signor had gon'
away or had died, and SO I learned thai
the little maid had been anxious about me
and that she had sent her brother to in
quire, and the brother had no doubt taken
to her the reason Of my protracted alb
sence from the window.
From that day, and ever after during
my three weeks Of Bookkeeping, a flower
was found every morning on the ledge Of
my window, which was within easy reach
Of any one In a boat, and when at last o
day came when could be moved took
my accustomed place on my sofa at the
window, and the little maid saw me and
stood on her head, 30 to speak, and clap
ped her hands upside down with delight
that was as eloquent as my right end up
delight could be. And so the first time
the gondolier passed my window I beck
oned to him, and he pushed up alongside
and told me, with many bright smiles,
that he was glad indeed to see me well
again. Then l thanked him and his SIS
ter for their many kind thoughts about
me during my retreat, and then learned
from him that her name was Angela and
that she was the best and purest maiden
In all Venice and that any one might
think himself happy indeed who could
call her sister, but that he was happier
even than her brother, for he was to be
married to her. and indeed they were to
be married the next day.
Thereupon my heart seemed to swell to
bursting. and the blood rushed through
my veins SO that could hear It and moth
ing else for awhile. I managed at last
to stammer forth some words of awk-
ward congratulation, and he left me,
singing nerrily. after asking permission
to bring his bride to see me on the NOR
row as they returned from church.
For" said be. my Angela has known
you very long. ever since she was a child.
and she has often. spoken to me Of the
poor Englishman who was a good Cath.
ole and who lay all day long for years
and years on q sofa at q window, and she
had said ever and ever again how dearly
she wished she could speak to him and
comfort him. and one day when you
threw flower into the canal she asked
me whether she might throw another.
and told her yes. for he would under
stand chat 1t meant sympathy for one
sorely afflicted"
. And 80 I learned that II was pity and
not love. except indeed such love as II
akin to pity, that prompted her to inter
est Herself In my welfare. and there was
an end Of II all e..
For the two flowers that thought
were on one stem were two flowers tied
together, but I could not tell that, and
they were meant to indicate that she and
the gondoiier were afianced lovers, and
my expressed pleasure at this symbol de-
lighted her. for she took it to mean that I
rejoiced In her happiness.
And the next day the gondolier came
with q train Of other gondoliers, all
decked In their holiday garb. and on his
gondola sat Angela, happy and blushing
at her happiness. Then he and she en-.
tered the house In which ! dwelt and
came into my roon--and It was strange
indeed after 30 many years Of inversion
to see her with her head above her feet
. and then she wished me happiness and a
speedy restoration to good health, which
could never be, and In broken words
and with tears In my eyes gave her the
little silver crucifx that had stood by my
bed or my table for many years. And
Angela took 1t reverently and crossed her
self and kissed It, and 20 departed with
her delighted husband.
And as I heard the song Of the Condo
liers a. they went their way-the song
dying away In the distance as the shsd-
ows Of the sundown closed around mel
felt that they were singing the requiem
Of the only love that had ever entered my