The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-17
UNDER THE ARCH


On tbs banks OF the Grand canal OF
Venice aud directly facing the palace
Of the doge a great group Of men and
women were gathered and threatening
vengeance on somebody In their midst.
On the stone tagging OF the canal
bank and surrounded by the crowd lay
q cursinE man, his clothes dripping
with water.
Near him and held tightly by two
men Is q small gobllnlIke piece Of hH.
mAnity, with toru dress His age ex.
eeeds twenty. His height. not more
than three aud one-hAlf feet. his dark
hair falling over his broad shoulders
and his small. black. twlnkling eyes
give this small fellow the appearance
Of q supernatural goblin Of the old
school.
"Oh. II | was only strong enOughl II
could only get this water out Of my
ears aud eyes. wouldn't have venRe-
anceF' shouts the man on the stones
in a raging voice,
Don't I tell you all twas but nm
accidentf' cries out the dwarf, who
has no friends IN the crowd
Throw him into the canal. He shall
drown. as he well nigh caused Matteo
70 do"
Hold. y0u wretchesl'
'genora valdOls." muFmura the pOpu-
laca 10 surprise.
"Yea." answered the lady, who IL
quite young and handsome. what do
yon with yon dwarf"
"A little devil. sonora" said one Of
the gondola men. who In foul and
malicious manner did cast into yon
canal this poor and innocent fellow"
Twas false" stoutly denied the
dwarf "That base coward" meaning
the wet man flor three days has
done nauEht but drink. and this morn
lnR did knock most heavily 'sItnst ne
as I stood un the bank Of this canal
without looking. | pushed him aside
and the fiPst | knew was his cry for
help a. he tumbled into the water"
"whAt Il your manner the lads
asked
-Haganta. sonora" the dwarf re
piled.
"You must releass this fellow" the
lady said
"But. sonora. he il the pest OF the
city, We must east hlm Into the
canal"
49,. vata.4. ,.Atr. .,..t.t.,,
movement. catches the dwarf and has
him at her side.
Nov. at your llge's peril. touch
himr' cried the brave woman "a the
FevenEeful populaee,
She turns quickly. pushes the dwarf
hsfore her, aud both quickly descend
tho water stairs and enter the senora's
gondola. which rapidly disappears un.
der one Of the arches Of the aoge's
palace.
Night on the Grand canal of Venice.
eenoFa Valdois. sitting In her gon.
dola. accompanied by Lucretia. her
maid. enjoys the beauty Of the night
The great bell of Sc Marie. peailng
out midnight. makes the senora's maid
aak:
Had We not better turn TO home.
usnoFal sris midnight"
THAT Il early for light nlght like
this Why. you're not afraldY' And
tAe lady laughs
The gOnt0ia. passing through a
dark. bong arch under enc % the pal.
aees. eoaes 10 sudden stop. and ths
gundoliers white. blood sEaeagod face
noats On the canal waters. knife
Just then being driven Into his heart
and thrOat by a strange dark man.
who a moment after leaps Into the
gondola.
"pon't cry cut" be saya savagely.
'aOF IN drive this dagger into your
heartF'
''Rafilan." cried sonora vsldols,
what want you hereT
Il want gOd-I want those priceless |
Fnbles and those diamonds and that |
god cruSA which alone Is a fortune"
cried the n,bber.
You shall have nothing. I'll cali for
halp."
~You die. thenr' Aud the robber
ogessnted bis dagger. Il ann resolved /
10 possess them"
During this occurrence the condola /
'elsalned In the deep. dark shadow Of
he palace arch The man made a
Itep toward the lady and put his hand
n her wrist and with his other hand
rasped tho golden cross IRON her
~