Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-06-22
From the New York Mirror.
ALETTO'S RIDE.


longing, perhaps, for the brightness of upper air,
leap from it's prescribed element. and glitter a
moment among the birds, will there be found
men whose souls revolt against destiny, and make a
fiery pluck n, things above them. But, like The
fish, who drops, painting, with dry scales, back.
ward The aspiring man oiIenes regrets the native
element he has left and. with the failure of his
unnatural effort, drops back, content, to obscury."
Jeremy Taylor.
MY daughter = said the Count Spinola.
The lady so addressed threw off slight
mantle and turned her fair features inQui.
ringly to her father. HeedIess of the
attention he had arrested, the distracted
Count paced up and down the marble
pavement of his hall, and when, a moment
after, francesca came to him for his good.
night kiss he imprinted it silently on her
forehead, and stepped out on the balcony
to pursue, under the aiding light of the
stars, thoughts that were more imperative
than sleep.
There had been fete Of great splendor
in the ducal gardens of the Boboli, and
francesca Spinola had shown there, as
usual, the most radiant and wOrsh'pped
daughter of the nobiliia Of FIorence.-
The melancholy Duke himself (thIs was in
the days of his first marrage) had seemed
even gay in presenting her with flowers
which he had gathered at her side, with
the dew on them, (in an alley glIl,ering
with the diamonds on noble bosoms, and
dewdrops on roses that aoouid slumber
though it was the birth night of q Princess
and marked as was the royal attention to
the envied beauty. it was more easily for
given her than her usual trinmphs-for it
cost no one lover. True to his con ugal
vows, the sad.featured monarch paid to
beauty only the homage exacted alike by
every most admirable work of nature.
The Grand Duke Leopold had not been
the only admlrer whose attentions to Fran
cesca Splnola had been remarked. a
stranger, dressed with magnticcnce that
seemed more fitted for a masquerade than
a court ball, and yet OF a mien that
promised danger to the too nquisitvc, had
entered lone, and, marking out the daugh
ter of the naughty Count from the first.
had procured an introduction, no one knew
how, and sought every opportunity which
the intervals of the dance afforded. to place
himself at her side. Occupied with the
County devors of his rank, the Count was,
for awhile, unaware of what struck almost
every one else, and it was only when the
strangers name was inquired of him by
the Duke, that his dark and jealous eye fell
upon a face whose language of kindng
and uDdisguised admiration child would
have interpreted Alright. 1t was one of
those faces that are of no degree-that
may belong to barbaric king, or to a
Gre,k slave-that no refinement would
imppve, and no servile habits degrade
faces which take their changes from an
iudomitable and powerful soul, and are
beyond the trihing impression of the com.
mo, usages of life. Spinola was offended
with the daring and passionate freedom OF
the strangers gaze upon his daughter; but
hekesitaled to interrupt their conversation
tod rudely. He stayed to exchange a
COMPLIMENT with some fair obstruction m
hisgay across The crowded saloon and, in
thenex, moment, Francesca stood alone.
who left you at this moment, Fran
cesa p asked the Count, with affected
unhncern.
think, Venetian she answered.
And. his name
know not, my fa'her!'
The Counts face flashed.
Who presented him to my darling? ? he
lsled, again forcing himself to composure'
Francesca Golored; and, with downcass
eyes, answered, No one, my father He
,eemed TO know me, and | thought might
,ave forgotten him.
Spipoa turned on his heel, and AFTER a
ew vaiI Inquiries, and as vain search for
he stranger, ordered his attendants, and
hove silently home.
1t was close upon the gray Of the morn
NO, and the Count still leaned over the
stone riding of his balcony. Francesca
had beep gone an hour TO her chamber
"A quite string sounded from the street
below. sNd, moment after; manly and
mellow ioce broke into Venetian barca-
l.. L. Ell, ILL and landnHlnGe