Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-05-09
A ROMANCE OF MODERN VENICE.

streets of Venice. Not a breath of
wind ruff1ed the smooth surface of
the lagoon.
Venice was taking its siesta.
Even the gondolas did not disturb the
waters of the lagoon and the canal;
only few tugs were putting along
asthma tically.
SAmong the men and women who ven
tured out was a tall, muscular young
man, Advise 'Garofani. He kept close
to the houses, seeking shade here and
there. AS he passed the little church
of San Francesca di Paola a frown
darkened his'face. The curato had re-
Gently dared TO stop him on the street
and to upbraid him for his wild ca
reer.
LET the old baldhead look after his
own kind he grumbled; ''there are
pie ity of priests in Venice whose lives
are full of scandals. He'd better not
bother me, for there is way of stop
ping his mouth"
ADVISES hang grasped dagger in
his trousers pocket.
Under the shadow of the church
stood the inn of Father Zulian, hoary,
gray stone structure. Over the door
three large pink flowers were painted
above the legend, "The Three Pinks."
Advise kicked a sleeping cat from the
doorstep as he pushed aside the cur
tain to enter the barroom. Behind the
bar stood Meta, the pretty daughter
Of Father Zulian. She was busily en-
gagged washing glasses and bottles.
"Good morning, Meta" said Advise.
The barmaid did not look up from
her work. She pretended not to hear.
, II greeted you, Meta"
'Isheard it," she replied.
''Why do you not answer?' he asked.
Meta slapped her wet hand on the
bar and with look of contempt said:
''Your greeting to me ?-no!"
slave a care, Metal" he cried.
A hooking smile came over her face.
SYou'd better take care that you
don't wake up father. Nothing makes
him angrier than to be disturbed in
his siesta. Then he won't trust you
any more, and a loafer like you can't
pay
Advise wanted to make violent re-
Ply, but feared to awaken Zulian. He
drew his face over the bar and whis-
PCiSQ. why w yOo SPSoh III ~
me, Meta? Do you know that L think
of you day and night, that I love you
with my whole heart, that 1 dream
only of the happiness some day to be
able to.call you mine?''
Dream of whom you please" cried
Meta, iniPatiently, "but leave me
alone"
"Nietta, dear one," he stammered,
grasping her hand.'
She tore herself away and shook her
hand as if to rid it of some uncle IN ami
NAL. do not touch me! Oh, how I
despise you'll"
Alvises brown face became ashy pale,
his teeth buried themselves in his lips.
He clenched his fists. Then he laughed
sneeringly.
81 ought to have known BETTER" he
said, 'for 1 have seen how you care
Via Garibaldi.'
A momentary usefulness came over
Meta. Then she raised her head
proudly and said: "What is it your
business. if ]. do?"
esTake heed" he grumbled, cor you
may rue that you have thwarted me-
Meta. shrugged her shoulders dis
painfully. AT this juncture Father
Zuiian yawned, rubbed his eyes and
looked around. Hello, is that you,
Alvise? Have you come to pay your
debt? It's high time
81 hope you wifi add another bottle
to my bill, Father Zulian," replied AL
wise, smiling. E.
Not another pint declared the
host. s"In my inn. only pure wine is
served, and 1 want to see good money
for it, but if you have none you would
better seek another place in which to
quench your. eternal thirst"
9e"You haven't slept out we'll, Father
Zplian," returned Advise, otherwise
you would not treat one of your best
customers so stability, just because he
happens to be out of money. Well, 1
will soon call again, and then you and
Meta will treat me BETTER
You aSe always welcome when you
have plenty of coin," was Zu,ian's re-
ply.
Meta made a cross and whispered:
"Santa Marie. keep him from me-"
I'm the MO ueI hlelIO SlOOO the
little house of Mother Agnese, the
washerwoman, who lived alone with
her son Carlo. Carlo was a shoe
maker and a fine type of muscu-
lar Italian manhood. Girls from
near and far brought their shoes and
slippers to his little shop in the Rio del
RELIC. With their shoes they brought
their hearts. Carlo had only to say the
word and the prettiest and proudest
among them would not have said no.
He had pleasant smile and witty
word for all of them, but his heart
chung to his mother. He lived only for
her and his work. On, the street and