Democratic messenger., 1903-01-24
A String of Beads
and a Queen of the AdriatiC.
Charming Love Story of Old Venice e p edSe
and the Falling of a House of Cards.

Nello thought himself lucky indeed
| to find the little Rosa at home in her
grannie's tiny room.
Come out OH the canal? OF course
she would.
| Her laughter sounded softly rs an
accompaniment to the swish of the
| oar in the water Nello, from his
place as Gondolier on the graceful
craft. looked down on the little figure
cnvelopcd in the thin. black -fringed
Venetian shawl The night was warm
| and she tossed it aside.
Il shall have done with this when
! am in Paris with the signora."
Nothing will ever become you so
well. Rosa, as your shawl"
Her laughter rippled again.
mo. it is black and ugly; I love
bright colors.''
They had reached the Rio Santa
Maria della Salute. He guided the
Sondola to the low steps, and came
down from the poppe.
''See, Rosa" he repeated. dangling
the corals before her eyes. they are
the color of your lips; and you will
Wear them as 4 pledge
She held ont her hand.
Isl. will wear them"
Her eyes were sparkling. But had
Nello been less in love himself he
would have questioned the light that
shone there.
He gave the beads to her. murmur-
ing again:
''As n pledge. And you will come to
me when l write that your home is
ready for you:"
Yes. yes
She leaned over the boats side to
see the effect in the rejecting wafer.
1t was evidently satisfactory. for she
turned TO him with adorable canGo:
Il shall wear them often." she said:
that is. If the signora will allow me.
And if she will not. shall take them
out OF my little trunk. and look AZ them
when am alone. because"
"Because:' said Nello. huncrly.
Because" she added. airily. they
are so pretty"
lie was sitting by her side now on
L.
My uncle has promised TO give me 4
share in the carpenters shop when l
am twenty-five" he said: "ard then l
shall write. And You Will come TO me.
little one:"
"Yes. yes" she asserted. eagerly.
She lcnged TO be alone with her new
treasure. His insistence annoyed he-
4
The short. sharp Venetian w:ntcr
came and passed: the months sped on.
rounded their circle and commeTced
another year. The year that was horn
was to be full of happiness for Nello
LiscouraZ. Was not his uncle dead,
and he the owner of his shop. the en-
ployer of three workmen? But more
than all. was he not even now awaiting
the crown of his joy. Rosa Ricordo?
For once the hum of his busy lathe
was silent; the merry Pietro nudged
his fellow, and whispered that the mas
ter was moonstruck. his head turned
since the good fortune had come to
| him.
Nello needed them not; he was LOOK
ing out toward the Grand Canal. and
| listening with love-sharpened ears for
n sound above the lively chatter OF
Mere Ricordo. for the cry of the post
man who was to bring him the answer
from the girl he loved
1t was sound that came but seldom
in that narrow way. The simple folk.
whose horizon was bounded by tSose
sunbakcd walls. held little come cree
with the outside world. whose mes
sages of love. or life. or death We're
flashed across wide seas or carried in
the bosoms OF snortin. trains.
She had written him once-a gay,
careless lettcr-to tell him how happy
she was. what brave sights she saw.
The signora was kind TO her. she her.
self was becoming a signo-a-she wore
4 hiatt
Now her answer tarried. He hardly
dared TO think how many suns had
risen, burned and died. and given way
TO the paler beauties OF the moon. since
had sent her the good news had told
of the home that awaited her, and
'nded her OF her promise.
stified sigh he turned back
shop, and bent to his work
sf- 3
but child" he told him
.I..fl coGl