The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-01-20
THE NECRoMANCER.

pies, with certain Lorenzo del Mantle,
Chevalier of the order of St. Stephen, a
voting and rich cavalier of the first family
in the Kingdom, who loaded me with ia
YOURS and appeared to entertain great re-
spect for my mysteries. He informed me
that the Marchese del Mamie, his father, was
a jealous believer in Cu6ala, and would think
himself fortunate if so great Philosopher
Gas he was pleased to name me) dwelt un-
der his roof, and that perhaps my assist
ance might be of great service to himself.
His father resided at his residence at the sea,
about miles from Naples, where in almost
total solitude, he mourned the death of be-
loved son, bereft from him by cruel fate
The history of it was thus
This Lorenzo was the younger son and
was designed for the church; the family es-
tates devolving on the elder brother. Jero-
nymo, so the elder brother was named, had
returned home from his travels, about seven
wears before this circumstance occurred, to
cement with the holy daughter OF the noble
Count of Cotti, a union which had been
planned in the infancy of the parties, in or
der TO unite the immense wealth OF the two
families. Notwithstanding this match had
been contracted without consulting the par
ties most interested, yet it was in perfect har-
mony with their wishes. Jeronymo del Man
tc and Antoniette Cotti had lived together
from their infancy, and during this time
their hearts had become united by the dear
est ties of love; and after an absence of four
years, Jeronymo returned to the arms OF
his bride more faithful and ardent than when
he had left her. The joys of reunion were :
not yet over, and the preparations for the
wedding were progressing when the bride-
groom-disappear He often spent whole
evenings at country-house near the sea
and amused himself with sailing in boat.
One evening he remained very long, of his
servants none were missing, consequently
none could have accompanied him. 1t grew
highland he came not. The next MORN
ing, noon and night had elapsed and still no
Jcronymo. Already the most dreadful ap-
prehcnsions were entertained, when news
arrived that the preceding day an Algerinc
Corsar had landed and dragged into capti-
vty several of the inhabitants Immediate
w two gallcys we're manned, commanded
bv the Marchese and his younger son, de-
termined to hazard life for the recovery Of
his son. On the third morning they per-
ceived the Corsair and was so near that
Lorenzo thought he saw signal OF his
brother, when suddenly storm arose:
The pirate escaped and the shattered gall
leys with difficulty reached Malta, where
they were forced to anchor. 1t is scarcely
possible to conceive the grief of the family;
in dispair the father tore out his hoary locks,
fears were had for the life of the Young
countcss.-Five years were spent in frutless
embellishments sums were offered for
his ransom, but no one appeared to claim
them; and finally it was believed that he
and the whole crew had persisted in the
storm. Although this was not certainty,
yet there were but faint hopes to the con-
trary, and those who were weakened by ev-
cry new fruitless search ; SO that the old
Marchese saw his family about to become
extinct, unless he hazarded doing an injus-
tce to his elder son (should he be living) by
placing the younger in his situation the OBJ
ject of both families would be gained. An
toniette might be the wife of Lorenzo or Je-
onymo.-UninAucnce by the hopes of
wealth, unmoved by the most lovely OF her
sex, whose hand he was to receive, Loren
20 who was to obtain these benefits, was
most strongly opposed to it; dreading with
the honorable sentiments, lest he might in
jure brother who might be yet living. Isnot
the fate of my dear brother he would say
s'tlreadful enough, but must deprive him of
all he holds most dear. Oh how could
pray for his return, if his wife rested in my
arms? If we are deprived of him forever,
how can we honor his memory more than by
leaving vacant the void his death has oc-
casioned; by sacrificing all our hopes ON his
grave and regarding all that belonged to him
as sacred'' But all the efforts of brotherly
delicacy were insufficient in reconciling the
aged Marchese to the idea of seeing race
that fiourished for more than 90oyears be-
come extinct, and all that Lorenzo could OBJ
tain was respite Of two years before he
must lead to the altar the bride OF his broth
er-During this time the former searches
and enquiries were continued and Lorenzo
himself made several voyages, but all with
the same f,uitless success. Antoniette'S
situation was the most terrible conflict be-
tween duty and inclination, hatred and as
constituent. The disinterestett magnanim-
ity of brotherly love affected her, and she
was forced to reverence a m an whom she
could not love and against whom her hatred
daily increased. With pain he beheld her
health destroyed by gret-graduallyp pity i'll
led its place, and finally it changed into We
hement love. Yet he alone protected her
and opposed the intended match.
'Such was the situation OF AFFAIRS, con-
tinued the Sicilian, ''when visited the Chev-
aler at his residence, | forgot to mention
that had become celebrated i'll that neigh
borhood through several extraordinary OPP
erations, which paved my way to the conf
dence of the old Marchese. AS l made good