The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-12

swell trailing behind them caused
Floretta's boat to rock gently.
Thoroughly terrified, Floretta'sa
strength deserted her, and the oar slip
ped from her grasp. As it did so the
gondola gave sudden lurch, and the
old Cremona was precipitated into the
waves. Her wild screams rent the air,
but no boats were near and no mortal
heard those cries of woe.
At last she became calm, for close
to the boat, so near that she could
almost touch it, aoated the violin, ris-
ing and falling with the undulations
of the water.
Breathing a prayer, the dismayed
child leaned far out over the side of
the boat
Her eager fingers touched the pre-
cious instrument, they closed upon it,
she drew it towards her, when sud
denly there was wild cry, slight
splash, and Floretta disappeared
beneath the shimmering waves.
=
Clad in magnificent ball gown and
sparkling with rare jewels, Maria
stood in her room surveying herself
in large mirror. A peculiar smile
fitted across her lips. My appearance
will please my father" she said, but
| desire the sombre garb of the num-
She entered her oratory and sank
upon her knees, her fiimsy dress
spreading its trailing length about her.
The thought of Floretta flashed across
her active mind and that in turn
suggested her father, the proud Count
Farinni, who, led away by worldiness,
violently opposed his daughters wish
to enter a convent, and desired to
marry her to a nobleman of her own
rank.
AS she kne1t in prayer she was
startled by hand being laid upon
her shoulder, and turning with start
she beheld the Count gazing down
upon her.
do not kneel in prayer" he said
curtly, tonight all Venice must kneel
to you. The whole city shall see what
beautiful daughter / possess, and
do her homage"
REFRESHING shutter Maria allowed
him to place cloak about her and
suffering him to lead her to the waiting
gondola.
''To the Palace of the Duke" said
| the Count, and the boat was soon
skimming lightly over the water.
Maria gazed pensively across the
the silvered lagoon. A dark object
suddenly fioated within view and the
! moonlight streamed over the white up
turned face.
A stified shreak escaped her lips.
| "Floretta!" she cried. "Floretta!" and
| springing to her feet she stretched
| forth her hands towards the body OF
the dead child.
The gondolier drew the dripping
form from the relentless water. One
/ hand grasped the violin, but life had
long since been extinct. Regardless
of her silk and gems, Maria clasped the
| still, wet figure in her arms.
The angry Count uttered an impreca,
ton. Are you mad?" he cried. What
is this dead beggar to your
"Take me home, father she said
gently, and there was light in her
eyes which he had never seen before
| He turned to the gondolier and said
I"We shall not go to the ball tonight
q Il
Two days later the body of Floretta
was committed to the earth, and in the
same grave was lain the wasted form
of her father. He had been found dead
lin his humble home, and Maria's char
ity made possible an adequate and re,
spectacle burial.
One month afterward all Venice was
aroused to learn that the beautiful, and
talented Countess Maria Farrina had
Pronounced the world, and had entered
the -novitiate of an austere order OF
nuns.
About year later the Count forsooR
his evil ways and became a devout
churchman.
On feast days when the church calls
to her aid all earthly adjuncts for 9
BETTING celebration of the Holy
Sacrifice, the sweet strains Of an ole
Cremona sounded through the chape
of the convent where Maria was pre-
pairing to make her VOWS.
Il AS their dulcet tones would reacf
the expected ears of a fair young
novice, her thoughts would revert tt
the tragedy of the lagoon, and sh'
would offer up prayer for the souls
of the two people who had been in
strumental in her obtaining her voca
} tion.
II. M SheheD in MI. Angel Magazine.
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