The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1846-03-25

IposseSSeo, the mysterious interest attaching
jher-compasslon for so unhappy curse, restin
lon the unoffending head of one so matchless i
every other charm--and delight in the singula
lpoweEs of nina and the admirable qualities {
heart she displayed, soon converted the sligE
degree OF curiosity with which he came into
true, fervent and exalted passion For the frs
ltlme, the lady felt herself loved as she would be
tor The first time reciprocated it with still NOR
lavish wealth of affection, and for the first lm,
dreaded herself the effect of the fatal ordeal Il
which the attachment of those who sought he
hand was to be subjected. Nevertheless, she dit
not attempt to soften the picture of the specta
Gle which she told him he would have to behold
even while she confessed her oN dread of the
enect 1t would produce upon his affection. But
ne answered, that he loved her heart, and not hei
person, and that no reality could exceed wha
ne had already pictured to himself, and 10 which
his heart had already fully reconciled his imag
nation. Fully satisfied, at last, of the sincerity
and devotion of his love--a love the more high
" to be priced from the nature of the qualities
upon which it was bestowed, she consented to
the bridal, though she said, that she would not
endanger its completion by revealing to him the
ataI secret OF her face until after he should have
become rrevocably her husband He might
then see all, even though he should on the in
stant fiy from her in horror and disgust. She
would, at least, have once been his wife: and
should, at least, have acquired the title, both to
the happiness of bearing bis name, and to thai
OF bestowlng upon him large share of that
wealth, the fatal possession of which had attract
ed so many snitors unworthy of it and her. In
word, the marriage contract was signed, the
lady insisting on bestowing upon hel reluctant
husband half Of her enormous estates.
"Whenever you will no longer suffer me, :" she
said, "to be your wife, shall have, in the death
TO which that sentence will doom me, the COM
tort OF having made happy with riches the only
man have loved, or could love, and he will, at
least, repay me with few tears tomymemory."
The nuptial day at last arrives. This singu-
lar ceremony is completed in the midst of an
extraordinary magni6cence and spIendor. The
veil which Ind the mysterious face of the CroszaI
dt Morto, glisens with diamonds. The parties
return from the church, and the husband kneels
before his wife, to encounter that dread ordeaI
winch none have before encountered and proved
equal to endure. She raises her hand TO unclasp
The tastenlngs of her mask. What an instant for |
the trembling husband, whose heart almost ceas-
es to beat, and whose countenance becomes
stamped with deadly paleness, as if already in
rehectIon OF that which he is about to behoId!- -
The mask at last fas--and one instantaneous
glance suftces 10 reveal TO him the whole myste-
y OF the Croaaa di Morto. Through tears of
,appness it is face of almost angelic beauty
hat is smiling upon him!
The truth was, that this singular and eccen-
rIc creature had carried out the caprice of wear
ng t'0o masks, the under one representing in
Iced skull--her object being to protect her
eli from the arts ofthose unworthy sutors, whose
TRACTION would be her enormous wealth alone,
nd to make choice of one who should love her
she would be beloved, for her mind and heart
lone. She had also had made glove for one +
and, curiously fashioned to resemble the hand /
skeleton. With these she had effectuaIy q
'ightened off all those upon whom, with her n
ulck powers of discernment of character, she a
ad herself no disposition TO bestow that hand.
he had come to Palermo from Naples having
ome originally from France, where, as have
etore said, she was born of Russian parents q
his curious history of the Croaza di Morto, or Il
Deaths Head" has already moved the genius O
all the authors of Sicily, besides having serv II
as theme for the celebrated poets Of some "
the large Italian theatres