The American patriot., 1855-02-14
The wifc's Revenge.

lily well known to history, whose ustrious name
was all the fortune which the bridegroom possess
ed; but the generous Bclognese, in the ardor of
her attachment, overlooked the poverty of the
lover, in the hope and expectation Of the proper
return to her disintercsted love. M
For year all was happiness: but this summer,
being on an excursion to Venice they formed All
acquaintance with family from Paris. A young
widow of that family very gay, beautiful, and fas-
cinating, and possessing protusion of golden tress
cs which might have done honor to the head OF an
Eve or Ophclia, attracted the attentions OF the
Marquis Della II - Her other charms might
have failed but her beautiful rngets were irresis
tible, and forgetting the attractions OF his young
and lovely marchesa whose rich dark hair would
have We'd with Capelo, Cornaro, or even a
Juliet of the Capulets he become cnsnared by the
fair head of the lively Partisan.
After month, the family, including the gay
widow, returned to Paris, and in another ''littlc
month the marquis received a pressing call to
Rome upon business of importance; and leaving
his lady to return to Milan at her leisure, he took
post for Paris with all possible expedition, where
he had been for a fortnight, before the neglected
marchesa who had returned home, discovered
the singular error in the compass, by which her
husbands course to Rome had been diverted, by
means of a friendly letter apprizing her that her
husband was ncessant in attentions to the 6oldest
of beauties and her constant escort to the Theatre
Italian and other places of am,iscmcnt
The lady called her brother to her counses, and
they concluded to follow the marquis to Paris
without delay Previous to her departure, the
lady was busy in making researches Of a singular
nature The troubled times of Italy during its
intestine broils had furnished traditions and men,
cries of melancholy catastrOphes by steel and
poison and not few were the modes by which
sure and sudden death might be inflicted.
myself was shown, at Ravcnna, in 1916 by
the present Countess of Boissy, Qa. Guicciola
of Lord Byron ono of those poignards with blades
of crystal, manufactured at the Lagunian Island
of Murano, in the cavity of which was concealed
a subtle poison, and which, upon the blade be-
ing broken in the body, became diuscd in the
blood of the victim and caused certain death.
In the archives of the family of the jealous lady
were notices of an heirloom, in form of ring,
concealed in the setting of which was small gold
globe, and in the interior of which was inserted
a poison similar in its effects to prussic acid.
/ This could be borne in the mouth without danger,
unless crushed between the teeth, and then instant
death would follow. sF -g.. ta
] Securing this valuable jewel, the deserted mar
chesa arrived at Paris, and was received into the
house of her kind friend, married to fnancer OF
cminence in the city, and man of consideration;
and. among many circumstances concluded to dis
I turb her, she learned that her husband was, the
next Monday to attend the fair widow to n ball,
to be given at the house of a former deputy OF
the Session which, with many other things was
broken up in 1S4S. t.FH
TO this ball her friend consented to accompany
her, and the hour impatcntly expected at length
arrived. Robcd in black velvet, with rich laces,
which set off to advantages her clear complexion,
dark eyes and hair, she was supcrb--she was
dazzling. With fire in her eyes, majestic in her
department, the naughty beauty strobe through
the room Ohc crowd opening as she advanced
and proceeding to a little salon lighted by lamps
among the flowers and at some distance from the
orchestra There she awaited her dreaded rival
and her companion, intending toappcar suddenly
before them, confound the lady, freeze her incon-
slant husband by glance, and then to complete
the catastrophe
The pair arrived Taking her friend by tn,
hand the marchcsa arose, putting into her mouth
at the same time the fatal ball The metal is thin
and at the least compression of the teeth the dead
" fluid would be elected and she would fall O
corpse before the thundcrstricken pair. Beholt
this beautiful woman receiving attentions with
smile upon her countcnancc, and holding IN hcl
mouth the subtle poison which was soon to con
sumo her, and yet with an aspect OF apparent sat
isfaction! =.
i The marquis was waltzing with his beautiful
blonde. Restraining her emotion, the marches;
chose station where, in the turns OF the dance
she would have the most favorable position tt
burst upon them, n conversation between neigh
boring couple attracted her attention.
''Do YOU see' said a young man, the Baronn'
de-. How elceai1 suo 10 .i''o , 'N'',t'
beautiful how animated! Who Is that with whoh
she is watzing?" a..
"An Italian--a Roman, ] bclicyc-who, the.
say, adores her for her beautiful blonde tresses
saiiatcd, perhaps, by the dark-halrcd damsels O
the eternal city, ~.
sThc fair trcsscs of the Baronnc!' said thir
one, who had joined the other two as the cohVei
sation began; ''triy, they are very charihlng' oo
NV sister, who was in the same convent with hei
SAYS they arc false; and ifyou examine closely IN
enormous coviring, you will perceive it is not
native to the head"
At this moment the brcathless dancers haite
= near the group The marquis was addresslll
= some words to his partner, which caused his lister
ing wife to think of the ball she carried III NJ
mouth, while the baroness was rcadusting nc
:. dress, and passing carefully her hand over tn
;, back of her head as if to be assured that all wa
y y safe in that quarter. :,
: = Suddenly a new thought seemed to possess tn
2 injured marchcsa; she dropped the poisoned ba
:, from her mouth into her BOSOM rushed upon ht
q rival from behind and seized her by the hair, d
:, tachcd the magnificent mass OF ringlets from IL
- :, Uranium, and threw it on the floor.
). The marquis, whose eyes were for an insta'
- - diverted from his partner turned as she shrieke
:, aloud, with fury in his eyes, prepared to ayens
]" her, and behold his mistress like Sampson OF oil
shorn of her conluering trcsScs, and his snpel
wife rrowning in all the majesty of an oilendt
le beauty. What tableau!
v The marquis was astonished and supplied, al
e the lady, recovering her good sense and good ten
le per, took him by the hand and led him unrcsls
y ing to the antc-chamber.