Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-02-08
VOL. XH--No. COZ

! COUHlT yUnun was sent Ipr rom VeUICe W
attend his sick bed. This visitor gradually
Obtained an outline Of the facts from the
sufferer, and then applied to the old Italian
servant in order to arrive at reasonable
explanation. But he s'outly denied oil
knowledge Of any thing that could throw
light upon the matter. Next day the
friend found upon his table n slip of paper.
on which was written in n beautiful female
hand, a request that he would present him
self in the eastermpst arbor Of the garden
at the hour of sesra. He of course did so.
and found there n lady in dark dress. and
! closely vc!led. She said, in fine Italian.
| that she had begged to see him, in order
to repair, if possible, the mischief which,
had been accidentally done. My father,
| she continued. the owner Of this palace. is
of n proud but Impoverished Venetian FAM
| lily. II son is an officer in an Austrian
Regiment, which mas been stationed for
some years in Hungary; and am the old
mans only companion. He is, perhaps.
little peculiar and eccentric in his habits
and character, and all his strongest feelings
are directed towards the memory of his
ancestors whose abode is now occupied by
you' freud. Nothing but necessity would
! have induced him 10 let to a stranger, and
| to reside in small house in the neighbour
hood which we now iuhabl'. He still per-
pc,ua'Iy recurs to the traditional stories Of
his famlly's former greatness and II 10
favorlte point Of belief with him that his
daughter closely resembles the Cclestino
whose picture ia in the gallery, and whose
name she bears. Owing to this fancy, no
is never satisfied unless he secs her dressed
in imitation of the idoIlzed portrait. But.
as he no longer inhabns the house. and
does not choose to present himself to It's
occupicr in light which he considers go
unworthy, be conld CRAFTY his love for the
pictures only by visiting them at night. at
lime when the moon affords light by
which, imperfect as it is, his ancestors ap.
pear to hun distinct and beautiful beings
Nor could he be long con,ented with this
solitary pleasure, but insisted that should
: accompany him. We have more than
once entered through door from the gar
: dens and it was on the last of these coca.
sions that thought heard noise, and
! while listened, the door at the end OF the
. gallery was opened, and then violently
, closed again. On this alarm we lmme-
diately escaped as we had entered, and the
strange consequences 10 your friend have
c been to me source of much regrat. We
n heard Of his illness from our old servant
0 Ant ohio, the only person "ho knew OF our
). nightly visits. To conrlnce you that this
u is the whole secret, have put on the dress
e | then wore, ard you shall Judge for yours
G self OF my resemblance to the picture
y 80 saving, she threw aside her veil and
d mantle, and surprised the stranger with
e the view of her noble eyes, and Of her
r youthful Italian beauty, clothed in the dress
. and rich green silk, which closely initiated
g that of The painted Celestina, Her hearer
:, was amused by the mistake, and delighted
/. by her explanation. He venlurned to ask
e the lady. that when his sick friend should
:. be little recovered. she would complete
n her kindness by enabling him to judge for
J. himself of the beautiful resemblance which
e had so mlsled him. She said that she
Is would willingly do so, and only regretted
e that, from her fathers turn of character, It
n would be almost ia possible to make hun
II assent to any meeting with the present oc-
y cupier of his ancient palace. She, there
d fore, said that it must be again a private
y interview, and might take place at the
Is same spo, on The third day following. Her
l. new acquaintance was compelled to return
ii to Venice, and so could not carry on the
e adventure in his own person But the
ID account which he gave TO his friend soon
'e restored his patient to strength and cheer
o fulness. Immediately after his companions
I, departure he had the green aud shady
pi arbor prepared for the expected meeting.
'e A collation. of choice fruits, sweetmea's,
r. aud vine were set out in silver vessels on a
n, marble table. The ghost seer, dressed
ID according TO his own fancy in the garb oil
i, Venetian cavalier of The old time, waited
Us for his CUES, who did rot fail HIM. He
~ thought her far moro beautiful than the
Of picture. They sat side by side, with the
n glowing feelings of southern and lmagna-
7. tive youth She sang for him and played
IS, on guitar which he had taken care to
DIS place at hund and he felt himself gifted
re with undreamt.o, happiness, They met
ly again more than once, and walked together
d. along the gallery, where he could at leisure
y, compare her with Gorgione's Celestlna,
to and give his own the deliberate preference.
he But he was at last dlsmnyed by hearing
- from her, that she was designed by her
~ father for cunven,ua life, in order to pre-
ps serve the remnant Of his fortune exclusive
he y for his son The Engllshman's decision
e. was soon taken. He, too, was OF noble
re birth, and had wealth enough to make Tor
al tune in his wife unlmportant. He gained
ID, The fathers consent to their marriage, and
re she is now the mistress OF an old English
he country house. She looks on The portraits
n by Vaudyke on lis walls with as muct
IN pleasure as she ever derived from those o
IA. Titan, tor she now tries tn find IN them {
to likeness to more than one young face thu
he often rests upon her knee. OF this new
os generation, the eldest aud lovelest Is called
ng IKE herself, Celestina,'
he CHAPTER VIII.
!ht When Wa'singham had ended, and re
or placed the book, Miss Harccurt took
lal L,,r >, n IL n III n nd fnunl Thai IL WIS q WnI]