Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-12-29
THE POISONED B0QU EFT.
A STORY OF THE ITALIAN OPERA.

lIlV lltI uISI VI llIldllb SUI CtSS III AIC SOIi-
cert room, had made, bot short time
lprevous to our story, her debut on the
stage with an ecIat which gave ample
promise of the rich renown her name has
since borne. The second engagement
she made in her lyric career was at Pavla,
where her youthful talent comp PIeteIy
eclipsed the reputation of rival song
stress, engaged at the same time. Each
representation was at once new triumph
to her, and a new defeat 10 the lady who
shared with her the personatlon of the
leading parts. This Overwhelming Supe-
rioritv against which there was no rene
dy, lit up in the soul Of The vanquished ar
iiste one Of those jealousies, which, as it
proceeds, ncreases.into bitterness, and IS
transformed into a furious thirst for venge-
ance, no matter at what price or by what
means.
"There are still furious passions in
these Italian brains on which the sun casls
us hot glance, as on the Shuamite Of sa-
cred song. The prima dona, whose
name we refrain from giving, is proof of
| their existence.
She was one Of those dangerous sy-
rens whose we'll got up charms dazzle
and faScinate the imaglnallons of youths
of twenty. Now, Pavia, as we know, is
the seat of a University, and it is not a
matter of much difficulty 10 find among
the students, ardent and ready for every
daring folly, blind instrument to a>Socl-
ate in her dark designs. The youth whom
she fixed on to carry out her project was
native of Venice, a city celebrated for lis
mysterious deeds of vengeance and Of love
induIged al the point of the dagger. He
was of high birth and considerable fortune,
allied by name and blood not only to the
nobility, who are but memory, but TO
the Church, which is power, OF Vene'
tian Lombard Provinces.
"Oh, she was a clever woman, this
She knew how to chose her man, and hav-
ing chosen him, knew how to make hin
fulfil her purpose. The young Venetian.
enveloped IN her net, lost all conscience.
II ended in having neither sight nor SEN
saion except what came through her, and
by degrees reached that point of madness
in which his passion would stay at no
crime. The moment for action had come.
"Now every evening of representation,
Madame La Grange reaped her harvest Of
flowers and wreaths, and among the DO
quels which fell al her feet was one OF
small dimensions, but composed of moss
roses, whose fragrance was 10 her an es-
pecial jov. This faithful tribute was in
varabIy rendered 10 her after the andante
of The grand cavalina of Nabucco, an ope
ra which then set the crown, in all the ab-
sorbng interests of novelty,upon the grow
ing fame of Verdi. Ordinarily, Madame
La Grange fixed the boquet in her girdle,
after having drawn from its perfume new
inspiration on which TO sweep away all
Opposing feelings.
'One night it happened the boquet was
more voumnous than usual. The moss
roses, arranged in circle, formed the ring
round not of green leaves which occu
pied the heart This unusual bulk rem.
dering it difficult 10 place the flowers in
their accustomed spot in her girdle, Ma
dame La Grange held them for an instant
in her hand, bowed her acknowledgements
and passed the boquet TO one of the al
tenGants, begging her to carry it to her
dressing room-the act ended
"At the fall of the curtain the triumph,
ant prlma donna descended to her little
chamber, and rather astonished not TO find
her maid in waiting behind the scene
She opens the door, she uttered a cry Of
terror. Stretched on the floor lay the
maid, TO all appearances a corpse.
'On hearing the cry of Madame La
Grange, twenty persons ran at once to the
room, raised up the poor girl, who exhibi-
ted scarce any sign Of life, and not know
ing how 10 render assistance, began to
discuss the possible cause Of sJch an ac
cident. No one dreamed of atulbuling il
10 the boquet, which lay almost broken
under foot in corner Of the room where
II had rolled without any one caring about
It.
They all continued 10 hang for five or
six minutes round the unfortunate girl, al
ready attacked by the insensibiliry that
precedes death, when man rushed into
The little chamber, his ealues stern, his
voice commanding, and his gestures IRE
sisubIe. The boquet! the boquel! he
cried, sufocated with emotion. Those
around al once made way for MIN, and
perceived DR.. Marrozzi, the regular ply
sician of The prima donna. 1t is heaven
which has sent you here Doctor = she crl-
ed, so the s,atoe'-. But without al
tending 10 ough, else, Marrozzi continued
10 call out, The boque, the boquei! The
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