Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-05-28
THE BAG OF GOLD.
BY ALFRED CRowouTL.

raw kissed the dark waters OF the many
canals which intersect that mart of mer-
chants, as the gay gondolas passed and
repassed, ripping the smooth surface with
their prows and Unlike oars, they appear
ed like the shining scales Of huge serpents,
undulatng and sporting among her marble
palaces.
In one Of the remotest corners OF the
place dweIt the usurer Giuseppe Vadoni,
Rumor reported him as rich as Cr9sus;
but he had one gem in his possession
which he valued above his gold, his only
daughter, Blanca, jewel without flaw
Serenades were nightly performed under
the balcony OF his residence, and all the gal
lants OF Venice endeay ored to win the at
tention Of the helress Of Valdoni
Of all the suitors who sought the lovely
Blanca, none found favor in her eyes but
Ludoyico, the gay, bold, reckless Ludoyico.
In person he was eminently handsome,
and in her estimation, who had only the
opportunity Of Judging OF a lover by sight,
he was Us above all his competitors. She
loved him! ay, aud with tervor which is
only known in southern ciimes.
Truth TO say, Ludovco was an incon-
slant man, u gambler and u bankrupt in
every virtue.
1t was midnight, and Blanca, with n
palptallng heart, was watching IN the bal
conv. Ludoyico came alone in u gondola
She threw to him a bag of gold, and was
about to descend, and to place herself under
shc protection Of her sutton.
dearest, best-JeIoved Blanca" said the
dsccyer. ''to-morr0u at this hour | will be
near and bear you away, il survive the
disappointment of tonight. Everything
will then be ready Tor my bride. Farwel!''
Aud he rowed briskly away from the
startled danlsel, who had for his sake
BETRAYED the confidence Of her father by
abstractug tho bag OF gold.
Cold and heartless as was Ludoylco, he
felt a pang Is he lost sight of the contiding
and att ctionate Blanca. But thought
he. with plausible sophistry, ''has she not
robbed her own fatherl And shall keep
,tai,h viii one who has proved taithless TO
him who gave hes being! Worthless
waaton!'
The gallant, having reached his destina-
zion, hastily moorcd his gondola, and
eagerly clulching the bag of gold, conceal
ed II beueath his cloak, and hurried home
wards. Passing beneath da k colonadc,
rcposng in the stu shadow OF the moon,
and calculating in his own mind the worth
nf the ducants OF which be had so unworthi-
" possessed himself, he sac startled by APP
s,ruaching footsteps, and. turning round,
observed three men close upon nj; tack
They were evidently bent upon over;aking
him, and, encountered by his cloak and
the weight Of his treasure, he was unable
10 repel their sanguinary attack, and drop
sed li!cless at the feet of The brigands,
yierced with many wounds. The bag OF
gold chlnked upon the pavement; they
seiz. the weghty prize, and, rushing
!! um the spot, turned into the Piazza di
SJ,n Marco, thensa crossing the Rialto,
they encountered the nightwatch, who
surrounded and captured them.
They were searched, speedily deprived
of their newly acquired treasure, and con
ducled forihw it'll 10 the guard-hous", where
being recognised by the authorities as IN
drtIeeHi Characters, and being examined
separately, giving different account OF
their objects and pursuits; they were Jock
morning by the magistrate.
They would willingly have relinquished
there plumber to bride their capIors; tut
the latter were too numerous 10 act dis.
hoaestly without the fear Of detection, al
though, under other circumstances, and tol
such consideration, they might willingly
have refruined from pressing The charge
The magistrate before whom the cul
prits were ushered on the following morn
ing was a stern man, and possessed grea
influence in the state OK Venice.
fortunately for ye," said he addressing
the prisoners, There is no proof that yol
have obtained this bag with violence; bu
we may reasonably infer that such plunde
was not fIched from the lawful possesso
while he retained life. Justice, ever a,so
ciated with divine mercy, and of which We
are the unworthy dispenser, charitably
gives you the benefit of our ignorance anC
the want of evidence. Your lives are
spared, and may you repent of your evi
deeds. We attach the property in behalf
OF the rightful owner; and in the mean time
consign YOU to Imprisonment, IN ords
that, should any evidence hereafter arts
in YOUR favor, you may have the beneht
it. Away with theml"
The prisoners were removed, and IN
nishtwatch who had captured then. wer'
literally rewarded. The bag of gold re
manned with the magistrate, who was to-
much much occupied with official bushes
to set on foot inquiries respecting the law
iul possessor. He placed the treasure IL
his strong chest. When the investigation
took place, his two nephews were present
and contemplated the bag. which appeared
10 have some talismanic influence upon al
who gazed upon il, with an irresistible de
sire OF appropriation. They laughed a
idea OF It's being locked up, and consigned
10 the same fate Us the prisoners. In there
liberal philosophy they determined tha
distribution was far wiser ,han accumula
lion; and with q virtue that is so uncommor
in the world, ;hey had long practised wha
they had preached. In the exercise of thi
moral principle they had both become
Jeaplv indebted, and, with that ferven
generosity known only TO tho heart o
vou,h fbnv Iougpd 10 Hnuldate there liabili