The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-08

"SICurO !! SAID The Italian, who cOnSd-
cred tho question as expressing insult. or
rather The doubt of there being any lack o'
suitors for so beautiful a young lady as she
described her to he. The family were very
poor, very noble, and very proud. The
marriage Of lhe Countess had given great
satisfaction, as it had put her in position
TO benefit the rest of her connexions.
and does size often have the young Ve-
nctian with her2" said Traf1nrd, anxiously.
"Yes, undoubtedly" replied The Italian.
They correspond frequenll y-at least they
used to do so-but of late there has been a
GOODNESS ] know not why"
"Ohr' thought Trafford. as he hurried
home, "shc has not chained me YETI
lie saw now the reasons Of the untruths
told by Madame de FIcuranges. She cer-
,anly loved him to distraction and, with
the quick perception Of an Italian, had seen
the fame kindIed by her young connexion
But now the spell was broken, and the next
Twelve hours should sec him on his way 10
Venice. He almost felt as if he had bro
ken an appointment there, however unwll-
Iingv.
lie GOT his passport. He, made all his
arrangements hurriedy and secretly; and at
day break he left Paris for Italy, with all
the speed he could For the Countess he
left notc:-
Je pars demain pour Tenise. Jamaise je
ne rcverrais crlIe qW ma indignemeni
trompc. Maintenant desabuse-ic vous
abandonne a annals.
lie reached Venice in an incredibly short
space Of time. lie arrived at the hotel on
the great canal (Lcon Bianco) late in the
evening. He was overpowered with the
fatigue and rapilitv of his Journey, and call.
Ell for wine. lie drank, and sa, at The win
dow half s,upifed, looking ont on the lights
gli,ering from the windows of The neigh
boring palaces He felt he might, perhaps,
on the very morrow, meet, find, The one he
sought so iierceIv. lie stayed up till the
CITY was quiet; and wa chcd, unable to sleep.
Till the gray dawn of the March morning
broke over the still lagunes. Then as soon
a: tho sun rose, ordering gondola, went out
on the canal.
His g g,ndolicr paused for directions. Then
a sense of the wdness of the chase came
over The frenzicd heart Of Trafnrd-of the
idle desperation that had led him so far.
lie answered the man almost savagcy, and
bv his own command was taken 10 SAINT
Marks Place. For The whole day did Jraf-
ford wander about the bridges, alleys and
churches in Venice, il the excitement Of
vain hopes and expectation. lie had, of
course. inquired for the Casa Manfronl. and
had indeed found it easily enongh. But the
house was empty; The inhabitants were gone
on visit for some weeks. In three they
would return. The scrvant-the only at
tcndant, ii appearcd-did not know where
the family were; and so Traffortl had only
to wait.
IIc did. He spent hours opposite the
house. until every stone. and every crevlcc
of the gray front, was impressed and engra.
ven deep on his mcm"ry. When he thought
of the possibility Of the stranger turning cold
ly from his love. he became almost de-
ranged. lie would de-he could die.
Eahcr for her he would willingly die, or
without her he should as certainly die; and
50 davs passed on leading Tratfnrd through
all the widest extravagances Of the mad.
dcsl illusion maniac ever indul gcd himself
with.
Onc evening late. he was watching at his
wind Nv. inr he had taken lodging opposite
the PaIazzp Manfrnn; gontlola flew up to
the doors, and three persons dIscmbarkcd
and entered the h"nSe...a man and two wo-
men. Tralnrd looked as # his life dcpcn'
ded on it. One was young gIrl--at least
the slight frrm told she was 50; she was
yelled according To the fashion of the city;
and, as she left the gnndnla, her back was
turned to TrafIord, so that he could not see
her face or profile.
The whole of that night Tratlord watch
cI the spot he now thought might contain
the treasure he had so long sought in vain.
The moonlight rested as cold as ever on the
closed windows and carved baIconIcs.--
Trafinrd felt tho whole world was for him
ccn,cred within those dim and dismal walls.
EarIv next day. very early, he sat in his
condula beneath the windows. One was
opened, a step was heard on the balcony
above. The morning was fine and warm
and figure in white leaned over the balco'
ms ba!uSlrade and looked out.
"IIah!' said Tratfrrh, in suppressed
voice. clasping his hands convul,ivciy. II