The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-12
THE MISER'S HAND.
pY ERNEsrus eALEsrRA.

]
black mantle. was walking toward the
fridge OF the Rialto. in Venice. Her
steps were weak and uneven, and at
intervals she looked around with a
hurried, frightened glance.
she paused at the center of the
bridge, and looked down with a shud-
Ter on the clear blue waters of the
! Adriatic; then, closing her eyes, and /
mwmuring family, '-Antonio-my An
ionic adieu!" she prepared to throw
herself over the parapet.
Just as she was falling man rushed /
| forward, seized her with a powerful /
grasp and. drawing her back. said;
@Girl. destroy not the life which has /
been given you! If you are unhappy, [
enter your church, kneel on its hall I
lowed pavement, pour out your sorrow /
and thank your Maker that you have
beer preserved from rushing into His
presence,'
The girl tried impatiently to shake
of the strong, kind hand that held her,
and said
/ let me go! must die in peace!'
In another moment she tottered and
fell to the ground. where she lay with
out sense or notion Her preseryer
raised her head, and, in order to give
her air. drew back the veil which con-
cealed her features. They were love
IL. and the man gazed on her with won
der and admiration as she was gradu-
/ ally restored
By degrees she told him who she
Ras ana where she lived Her history
might be summed Up in few words;
An ayarieious father. a poor lover,
mutual bet unhappy love yainly had
Maria pleaded with her father, a rich
innkeeper in Venice. the cause of her
lover Antonio Barbarigo, the hand
soonest gondolier plying beneath the
Bridge Of Sighs,
The person who had saved her led
her gently to her home. and having
given her UP to her father. seated him
self In an obscure corner of the host
eiry.
!. Giannettini received his child with
rude reproaches; and, bidding her re-
. tire TO her own apartment, he cast a
+ Suspicious EAd.AtE at AIE RElSOn nAO
had brought her home. whose athletic
manly figure and firm countenance,
however. deferred the innkeerer from
addressing him III hostile manner,
1 AS Maria turned to depart, a young
i gondolier appeared at the door, and,
! furtively approaching her, said:
!. Dearest Dearest"
Giannettini rushed forward shout
! ing.
:. Get out of this! out of my house
boggar."
The young man did not stir.
Il Have you finished he said. in q
] good -hunaored tone Wherefore these
hard words? Have you never loved
Signor Giannettini? Have you totally
forgotten the feelings of your youth
Know you not that, since was ter
years old and Maria five, we have
!, loved each other fondly? Will yot
y not, then. allow us to hallow your OLE
age with grateful blessings, or must W.
water your path with tears?''
II don't want to have a crowd D
i lsggars for my grandchildren SAT-
y Giannettini, roughly.
Certainly you are rich, replied tn
young man; hut what binders that
~ shotld not become 50. too? A stou
y arm, brave heart, an honest SOU
b. will. with the help of Heaven, d
much"
III The man in the corner had heark
j. ened attentively to the dialogue II
I, arose. and, touching Barbarigo's shou
n der, said:
IL wen spoken, gondolier Courag
ut brings success and perseverance cor
RI, quest. Maria shall be thy wife"
,ss "Neyerl" cried Giannetitni
bal "WelI," said the unknown, turnin
itz disdainfully toward him. IF this yout
ke. could lay down coo pistoles would yc
"a. object to the MARRIAGE"
da. Re that as 1t may. you must remen
esq Der that he Is now little better than
by pauper."
10 "Pshaw!" said the unknown: "ba
by bIers are more tiresome than thieve
Before tomorrow you shall hand
that sum
So saying, he drcw from his pocket
les piece Of parchment and crsyon, an
lie turning to table. began rapidly
nts sketch mans hand 1t was represer
ep, ed open, impatient, with hollow
nth palm, as ii expecting a shower Of &c
Ioi pieces, It had. 50 to speak an ava
md cious expression and one Of the f
leir gers was cncircled with massive rii
thI IT'S my handl cried Giannettini
OK And yom history" said the arti
Ian Giving the sketch to Antonio,
author desired him to carry II to Pie
Benvolo librarian at the Palace Of
am Mark and demand in exchange for
ltny coo pistoles
MS An hour passed then hasty. ioyt
OF steps we're heard, and Antonio
e Is peared. bearing In his hand a bag.
pun- "Take these coins and weigh thel
St. said the unknown, as he threw the
toward Giannettini
Antonio Barbarigo stood before
benefactor, pale and trembling "
MaS joy
'ne, zone favor more. he said; "who
at ..e,,o,