Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-27
.H HE whirr Of a lathe fell upon
y the close, hot air of the mar
row Venetian street, the Via

wv the close, nOL ar OIL the uar-
row Venetian street, the Via
Bardo, while the sharp click
Of hammer on chisel marked stronger
note in the Industrial symphony.
Away toward the Grand Canal
blue-bloused fisherman cried his wares,
and Mere Ricordo's shrlll and kindly
chatter rose and fell as children stopped
and bought her cherries and apricots.
1.-THE mother is in good spirits" said
Pietro in the carpenters shop, as he
aeftly inserted his sharp chisel between
a cupid's wing, and carved shred
away to make the feathers still more
downy.
The lathe hummed on, for Nelo, his
comrade, worked by the piece, and
wanted to earn enough to buy those
corals which hung in Zeno's little shop
across the bridge; he did not care to
stop his wheel and gossip.
"She is in good spirits" continued
Pietro, because the American signora
has taken fancy to the little one, and
declares she will take her to Paris and
train her as her maid"
The lathe ceased turing so suddenly
that the banister which was being
carved was almost jerked out; then,
with a touch on the iron clamp to see
all was right, Nello bent to his work
again.
Little Rosa herself is delighted; she
was to have been put to the Venetian
lace school, but prefers to see the
world"
"The child is but SIXTEEN" said an
other worker. "The signora will scarce
have maid so young as that"
"Have 1 not told you," said Pietro,
getting up and strolling toward the
door, "that the signora has taken a
fancy to Rosa? And when these Amer
leans take ideas into their heads they
carry them through. Rosa has pretty
face, and the handsome eyes of the
true Venetian" He rolled o cigarette
with the air of.a connoisseur. MAD
anne likes handsome faces about her,
therefore the pretty Rosa is to accom-.
pany the signora to Paris"
"How soon" twas Nello who spoke
now.
''In fortnight-in a week-in three
days-I do not know! Bah! what does
1t matter? There is the clock of San
Marco striking! Good night, Nello.
You work as If the evil one turned your
wheelr
The merry Pietro passed out into the
street Other workers rose, stretched
their wearied arms, shook their blue
washed blouses free Of chips and
turned homeward. Only Nello worke ed
on, his lathe humming steadily now
that no disturbing tongue voiced news
which interrupted the regularity Of the
guiding hand.
Then followed two days when the
hum of the lathe sounded for longer
hours in succession than ever before
Dare he offer the gift? But he had
not bought it yet-could not, until the
four liras were saved out of the scanty
wage. A fortnight-a week-three days
which? The idle words were full oi
torturing uncertainty.
"The little Rosa will come back O
rich woman; her wages will be thou
sand liras, I hear" said the gosslpinl
EIetTO. she Will save Il uut uOI W ullt
away. and come back when she i.
thirty"
"Thirty! When a woman is not wortl
looking atv'
''True, but then you must look at tn,
dotr' And the workers laughed, al
except Nello, from whose lips came NJ
sound.
At last the day came when the fou
liras were in his hand. He hurried t.
the little shop where those red bead
hung so temptingly, and his heart bea
high with hopes as he touched thei
smooth surface lovingly. How the!
would become the little Rosa! How