Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-09-09


dreaded herself the effect OF the iata
ordeal 10 which the attachment oI
those who sought her hand was &c
be subjected. Nevertheless, she did
not attempt TO soften the picture oi
the spectacle which she told him he
would behold, even while she con-
fessed her own dread OF the effect il
would produce upon his affection.
But he answered that he loved her
heart, and not her person, and that
NO reality could exceed what he had
already pictured TO himself, and TO
which his heart already reconciled
his imagination. Fully satisfied, at
last, OF The sincerity and devotion
Of his love, a love The more highly
TO be priced from the nature Of the
qualities upon which it was be
slowed, she consented 10 the bridal,
though she said that she would not
endanger its completion by revealing
TO him the fatal secret Of her lace
until after he should have become
irrevocably her husband. He might
then see all, even though he should
on the instant fly from her in horror
and disgust. She would, az least,
have once been his wife; and should,
at least, have acquired the title, both
TO the happiness Of bearing his name,
and 10 that ol bestowing upon him a
large share of that wealth, the fatal
possession OF which had attracted
go many suiiors unworthy of il and
of her. In a word, the marriage
contract was signed, the lady insist
ing on bestowing upon her reluctant
husband half of her enormous es-
tates.
whenever you no longer suffer
me-" she said, "to be your wife, !
shall have, in the death 10 which that
sentence will doom me, the comfort
OF having made happy with riches
the only man | have ever loved, or
could love, and he will, at least, re-
pay me with a few tears TO my
memory"
The nuptial day at last arrives.
This singular ceremony is completed,
in the midst OF an extraordinary
magnifcence and splendor. The
fatal veil which hid the mysterious
face Of the Crozza di MOriO, glistens
with diamonds. The parties return
from The church, and the husband
kneeis before his wife, 10 encounter
that dread ordeal which none have
before encountered and proved equal
to endure. She raised her hand TO
unclasp the fastening Of her mask.
What an instant for the tremUling
husband, whose heart almost ceases
10 beat, and whose countenance be-
comes stamped with q deadly pale
ness, as il already in reflection OF
that which he is about to behold!
The mask at last falls. and one in
stantaneous glance suffices TO reveal
20 him the whole mysteay OF the
Crozza d. Lorio. Through tears Of
happiness, it is & face Of almost an
gelic beauty that is smiling upon
him!
The truth was, that this single
and eccentric creature had carried
out the caprice OF wearing two
masks, the under one representing
indeed a skull-her object being 10
protect herself from the arts Of
those unworlhy sufto:s, whose al
tractions would Be her enormous
wealth alone, and to make choice OF
one who should love her as she
would be beloved, for her mind and
heart alone. She had also made a
glove for one hand, curiously fash
ioned 10 resemble the hand Of a
skeleton. With these she had ef-
fectually frightened off all those
upon whom, with her quick powers
of discernment of character, she
had no disposition TO bestow that
hand. She had come to Palermo
from Naples, having come originally
from France, where, as | have before
said, she was born Of Russian
parents. This curious history Of the
Crozzd di Morio, or "Death's Head,n
has already moved the genius of all
the authors Of Sicily, besides having
served as theme for the celebrated
poets Of the large Italian theatres.