The new era., 1860-09-20
lh MARCOLINI,
OR, THE
OLD SOLDIERS DAUGHTER.

olden castle stood. Stood, and stands
yet, in all its stateliness and grandeur,
magni6cently stern and bold. Pride
| immortal seems woven with its woof of
matter; and while many and many hearts
of brave men, and of youth and beauty,
that have beat gladly within its walls,
are lying low beneath its shadow, 1t re-
sists the storm and wind of passing
years. and glories in Its proud existence.
The glorious sunlight and the gently
gliding moonbeams, how have they play
ed upon those tall battlements, and
those lofty turrets, meath which light
ewes have beamed upward, with hope
aad happiness, to the waving clouds
and the gentle stars! The eyes are
closed in darkness, but the sunlight and
moonlight Iinger yet, and the river Is
bright in its flow at the old castles foot;
and a beautiful spot it is, to muse and
dream amid the orange groves and the
creeping vines, gazing at the castle, lul-
led by the murmuring ofthe waters, one
listening meanwhile to the splrlt-vo'ces
that tell ofthe days gone by. Many
are the legends told Of this same old
castle, that, if treasured up in written
leaves, would fill volumes; but there is
one to which | long ago listened, with
childish eager interest, which l proceed
to relate.
Old as the castle now is, it was old
too in the time to which it refers, and
Gaetano Marcolni was a worthy poss-
essor Of the princely domain. Yet his
were not the brightest days Of the cas-
tie, for his lady had long since gone to
her rest--no merry voiced daughters
gladdened his hearthstone, and one son,
proud, solitary, silent and thoughtful as
himself, was his only heir and compan-
ion ssst4
Occasionally, it is true, Edvardo
Marcolini brought home with him Wild
ioval companions, when for few days,
or even weeks, the usually silent walls
resounded with the shout and merry
lest, and the bright old wine flowed
freely and sparkled merily; but this
would be succeeded by months of still
ness and gloom. The old servants re-
GREETED in vain, that neither their ole
nor young master brought lady tc
brighten the dreary aspect of existence
and they were wont to set down upor
the stone steps, leaning their elbows OF
their knees, and their chins in thei
hands, and, looking into each Others
eyes, mourn that their lives should have
been destined in such time of lonelih
ess, and declare castle without lady
was like world without a sun.
More than once they had dared, hal
jeslingly, to hint their wishes to thei
masters, but the old lord would turl
scornfulIy away, and the young on
would curve his lip with contempt, AM
give vent to his ill-concealed scorn fo
the whole female sex.
A little distant from the castle was
small cottage, almost embosomed in al
orange grove. 1t had been occupied
1t many years by oid Valini, and his goo,
dame Violetti, the former of whom ha
10 become stone blind, and the latter lame
and wrinkled, and toothless, IN the ser
vice Of Marcolini But the eyes of tn
blind man, long since closed to light an
beauty, and to the sight of Violetti'
face, which he declared was the sever
est afliction Of all, were closed sudden
. ly one night in the firm sleep of death
and Vloletti, in her grief. .wept so incor
!. solably, that according to the opinion
!" all, she too would have become bline
: had not the same angel of death hover
ed near, and mercifully borne her ava
to her old husbands side.
w And then the cottage was silent an
, deserted for a short space, till one da
;. there came an old man to the castle
an old soldier hobbling on a staff
rent the cottage. Permission was graz
= ted and henceforth strangers filed Il
,r places Of Valini and violeni; who wer
re alas! as are too often the faithful ar
IS good. now soon forgotten! The Sc
. wants ofthe old castle made many q
to- Itempts to gain acquaintance with the ne
comers.. meeting with I successive fai