The Trinity times., 1855-03-03
From the Home Journal
Scene In n Parisian Ballroom.


incident occurred, the dramatic character of
| which was unknown to most of those present
| on the occasion. The first act threatened
| terrible consequences; but the finale was less
alarming, and even amusing to some of the
spectators. The facts which gave rise to the
event are, in this changed age of rare occur
| renee, and may, to many, be considered apoc-
ryphal.
Two years since, young, beautiful and
rich lady of Bologna, married the descend
ant of a family well known to history, whose
illusrous name was all the fortune which
the bridegroom possessed; but the generous
Bolognese, in the ardor of her attachment,
overlooked the poverty of her lover, in the
hope and expectation of a proper return to
her disnterested love.
For year all was happiness; but this sum-
mer, being On an excursion to Venice, they
formed an acquaintance with family from
Paris. a young widow of that family, very
gay, beautiful and fascinating and possessing
profusion of golden tresses which might
have done honor to the head of an Eve or an
Ophelia, attracted the attentions Of the Mar
qus Della R.. Her other charms might
have failed, but her beautiful ringlets were ir-
resistibe, and, forgetting the young and beau
tiful marchesa, whose rich, brown hair would
have WED with o Capello, Cornaro, or even
3 Juliet Of the Capulets, he became ensnared
by the fair head of the lively Partisan.
After month, the family, including the
gay widow, returned to Paris, and in another
'little month" the Marquis received pres
sing call to Rome upon business of impor-
tance, 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 friendly letter, apprisng her that her
husband was incessant in attentions TO the
blondest of beauties, and her constant escort
to the Theatre Italian, and other places of
amusement.
The lady called her brother to her counsels
and they concluded to follow the Marquis to
Paris without delay. Previous to her depart
ure, the lady was busy in making researches
of singular nature The troubled times of
Italy during its intestine bros, had furnished
traditions and memories of melancholy catas-
| trophies by steel and poison, and not few were
the modes by which sure and sudden death
might be inflicted
myself was shown, at Ravenna, in 1916,
by the present Countess of Boissy, (La Guic-
ciola of Lord Byron one of those poignards
with blades of crystal. manufactured at the
Iagunan Island of Murano, in the cavity of
which was concealed a subtle poison, and
which upon the blade being broken in the
body, became difused in the blood of the
victim, and caused certain death.
| In the archives of the family of the Jealous
| lady, were notices of an heir loom, in form of
a ring, concealed in the setting of which was
a small gold globe, and in the interior Of which
was inserted poison similar in its effects to
prussc acid. This could be borne in the
mouth without danger, unless crushed be-
tween the teeth, and then instant death would
| follow.
Secure of this valuable jewel, the deserted
marchesa arrived in Paris, and was received
into the house Of her kind friend, married 10
a hnancer of eminence in the city, and man
OF consideration; and among many circum-
! stances calculated to disturb her. she learned
that her husband was the next Monday, to at
tend the fair widow to "a ball, to be given at
the house of former deputy of the Session
which, with many other things was broken
up in lS4s.
To this ball her friend consented to accom-
pany her, and the hour impatiently expected
at length arrived. Robed in black velvet,
with rich laces, which set off to advantage
heI clear complexion, dark eyes and hair, she
was superb-she was dazzling. With fire in
her eyes majesty in her department, the
! naughty beauty strobe through the room
(the crowd opening as she advanced) and
proceeded to room lighted by lamps among
flowers, and at some distance from the or
chestra. There she awaited her dread rival
and her companion, intending to appear sud
denly before them, confound the lsdy, freeze
her inconstant husband by glance, and then
to complete the catastrophe.
The pair arrived. Taking her friend by the
hand, the msrchesa 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 fluid would be elected, and she
would fall corpse before the thunder strick-
en- pair. Behold this beautiful woman re-
eevng attentions with a smile upon her
countenance, and holding in her mouth the
subtle poison which was soon to consume her;
and yet with an aspect of apparent .atifac.
ton.
The Marquis was Waiting with his beauii-
! ful blonde. Restraining her emotion, the