The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-21
In the Fall of the Campanile
By Clinton Dangerheld.

| GAS If our redwood trees and some Of our
| canyons weren't worth a thousand bell
towers he muttered wrathfully Then,
| suddenly, he grasped the arm of by.
stander and, pointing eagerly to the cam
panile demanded In his usual curt Italian
If that" had always been there.
| THAT proved to be a crack yawning
| in the campanile itself. In his surprise
and horror the Venetian overlooked the
slight to his dignity. - .-rz.,.
"Signore, no. he said anxiously. "The
authorities must be informed
! The authorities were informed and "a
careful inspection resulted in the dis
covery that this supreme treasure Of Italy
was in danger. So at least said tfe city
rnagnates, but old Jacopo refused to be
Leve. -. ~
| when thy bones and mine have been
century decayed,' he said scornfully to
| Hardness, 1.-The campanile will stand
| there"
So thought most of those in the city,
but yet they paid some heed to the warn
ings Of the guards set by the city council
and generally avoided the piazza. Not SO
old Jacopo. He felt as certain of the
security of the tower as did the pigeons
drifting to and fro beside 1t in the mel
low italian sunlight. The Monday fol-
lowing the discovery Of the crack he was
persistently lingering near the Campantle,
though much irritated by the presence Of
Tessa's lover, who continued to urge his
suit.
That the American had found this flaw
In the tower annoyed the guide bitterly,
and he turned the deafest of ears to all
the young mans pleading; SO deaf indeed,
that at first he took the ominous crack
ing sound rising sharply from the tower
for an explosion elsewhere in the city.
But at Harkness' cry he whirled around
and faced the awful sight Of the Campo
nile crashing down toward them both.
In full reach of the sinking angel he
stood gaping. Then two powerful arms
lifted him like a feather, and the Ameri-
can ran for both their lives
| AS Hardness put it, ut was a narrow
shave" When the dust from the fallen
stones settled, the two found themselves
standing, unframed indeed, but not six
feet from the crushed figure Of the once
mighty angel.
Jacopo suffered the young sailor to lead
him home. still with the stunnde air Of
one who could not understand what had
happened. He made no answer to any
questions except to say stupidity that he
was not hurt and, in spite Of Tessas anx-
1ous rninistrations, refused all food for
nearly two days, lying languidly on his
simple pallet.
At last he ate, but the food held no sa-
Ivor. The physical terror he had suffered.
combined with his bitter grief over the
fall of his beloved tower, were too much
for his feeble resources. Hourly Tessa
saw him fading, but at last, with fash
of his old energy, he sat up and called
the girl and Hardness to him.
Il said you should marry no man who
did not dwell In the shadow of the tower
Tessa m1o," he said quietly, but where
may such man be found now? Shadow
indeed the Campanile throws no longer,
and the lowest building in the city Is
higher than the labors of the masters!
Never again shall thou and I, my daugh-
ter, let our boat drift in the blue waters
Of the bay and watch the setting sun
lay a crown Of splendid rays on the bright
angel-that angel who for countless years
has watched the white sails Of the Vene-
tian craft come and go! Never. again
but l grow confused Wed her, Ameri-
can, since she loves thee. IT'S the old
marvel-how a maids heart is stronger
than her native la11d'' His mind began
to wander. s'Oh aye-tle pigeons, sig
more. It is easy to feed them. They are
ALWAYS tame! See how they wheel down
J ward, signore. There sits one upon the
bronze doors. Such doors you cannot find
elsewhere, and when one enters through
} them
The old voice traiied off into dying
: whisper, for other doors had opened, and
through them Jacopo had passed.