Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-07-13
From the French.
The VENGEANCE of an Actress.

The Vengeance OF an Actress.
sThis crown is quite fresh, Marianna," said
Count Sposi, pointing to wreath of flowers
which lay upon the table, almost buried amid a
heap that were already faded.
This remark was addressed to Marina, at that
time the idol of Venice, the principal cantatrice
of the Theatre de Ia France, who lay extended
upon couch, surrounded by party Of about
ten of the Siclian nobility, in her own bo4doir.
sWhen was it bestowed!' continued the
Count Sposi.
"It was thrown upon the stage last night,
after the opera of the. Semiramide."
sand this one, gentle Alsace!'
81 received it three evenings since, after the
performance of the Cenerentola"
"And has it faded already!" asked the Able
Faynetti, who was an ineprovisatore, "faded like
its predecessors? faded az the one Of last night
will be tomorrow"
"And what consequence will that BET" cried
Sposi; 81 has not Marina one that will never
fade-does not all Venice worship her!"
Marina thanked the Count with melancholy
SMILE "Venice," said she, "Venice loves me,
but that is all; three months ago she idolized
me; if my name appeared in the bills ofthe day,
it filled the city with joy; and when evening
came, and appeared upon the stage, thunders
of applause shook the house. commenced
singing, and all would be hushed to DEATH
like silence; OH their kindness penetrated to
my inmost soul.".
"And all this is still the same" said the Mar
quis Rolli, who was accounted the handsomest
man in Italy.
"You think so, Marquis!' replied Marina !;
aalas! it rises no longer from enthusiasm, but
from habit"
at is true," said Count Sposi, sthat Bellina
is very beautiful and sings most dvlnely, but
"You find it so, Count" interrupted the can
tatrice, with much quickness; "why, then, are
you not at the theatre this evening, to applaud
this divine songstress! Perhaps It's your pity
for the fallen star which prevented you from
paying your homage to the rising one, and to
which am indebted for the honor of your At
tendence this evening. Oh! l hate her! l
hate her only as an Italian can hate! Often
times when have heard the theatre filled with
applause on her appearance, dark thoughts have
filled my brain /; thoughts of blood have flashed
across my burning Imagination. stabbed my
rival in love when / was seventeen. am
twenty.foar to-day, and Bellina is my rival in
fame"
: aCalm yourself, Marina. Why do you call
yourself fallen! You are. yet the queen Of song
You have only shared the throne with another"
"Count, q throne 10 like heart, it cannot be
divided"
us your cause then SO desperate, that you
are abandoned by all the world! Are you not
surrounded by the principal of the nobility
even at this hour, when your rival is PERFORM
ing her most difficult task at the Farnicew
Il thank you, my lords, you have sacrificed
this evening to my whims; tomorrow you will
join the common herd at the feet Of Bellina."
sSignora, do not reproach Us thus; are you
not still tho loved, cherished, and beautiful
friend of bis grace the Duke of Aquavita, the
most powerful noble in Venice!"
aThe Duke of Aquavita loved me, because
Venice loved me; he followed me- because it
was the mode 20 to do; was queen, he there
fore would be king; and you call this love,
Count Sposi. Since the triumph Of Bellini, her
name has been upon the Dukes lips constantly;
|. had some words with him upon the subject
eight days ago; have not seen him since, but
doubtless he is at the feet Of Bellina"
Marina's voice faltered, and her eyes fllsd
with tears.
And this coronet," pursued the Count,
awhich but yesterday adorned the brow Of the
gentle Alsace-"
At this juncture, n. Rulleman entered the
he was German, and man Of
sense and spirit; he had been m inhabitant Of
Venice about year; his opinions being rather
liberal, and the frankness, nay, almost trudenesa.
with which they were expressed, obtained for
him the name Of the philosopher.
He sntarsd At the moment Tho Count was
speaking Of the co5onet