The mountain Democrat., 1863-01-31
THE YELLED BRIDE.
A STORY OF ART.

In ono Of the Art Galleries Of Vienna
hangs picture Of Venetian life, by The
painter Francesca Aayez, which excites
peculiar interest In the visitor. II is IN
interior apartment in the -ducal palace,
where three eyed senators, evidently the
famous Council of Three. are holding one
OF their secret sessions.
Oae Of them, . tall, proud figure, with
the finely chiseled, intellectual, dark face
familiar to US in old Venetian portraits,
has risen in excitement, and with stern
gesture is addressing young and beauti.
E.,l He@aR, who sinks fainting on the
stone floor. 49,.
She IS supported Sy an official who
seems to deprecate the harsh manner Of
the senator. A notary, behind the table
in the rear of the group, is making a re-
eOeA 'SS Nh--vr--. tI',- ~ .'~r-
The story on which the picture is found
cd is cOntAined n. a. Eyensh romance c!
the seventeenth century, and though no
authorization Of it has been discovered in
the Venetian archives, it probably rests on
tradition then current II not, it is no
less a true reflection Of the character OF
the time in Venice, when, amidst the gay
pageant Of its hourishing and gorgeous
life, rose that dark, mysterious tribunal
irresponsible, remorselcss, irresistible rs
Fate, which held in its unseen hand the
whole power Of the republic. The story
runs thus:
Valencia was the daughter Of the Sena-
tor GradenigO; by birth, therefore, one Of
the first ladies Of Venice. She had all the
rich beauty Of her countrywOmen, with
this remarkable distinction, admired in
proportion to its rarcneSs, that her hair
was Of the loveliest blonde color, chang
ing in the sun 10 gold, and was SO abund-
ant that il fell in heavy shining waves be-
low her knees.
4 beautiful italian woman of nineteen
could not be without lover, and Valencia
had already yielded the first bloom of her
heart to the young patrician Leonardo
Whether from necessity or the mere ca
price Of youthful fancy, the attachment
was kept a secret from their respective
families, and the young pair met only in
the palace OF Leonardo'S bosom friend,
Antonio Foscarini.
Even he was not intrusted with the
maine Of the lady who stole, closely veiled,
into his house, nor had he ever been ia
vored with glimpse of her face. But the
glowing eulogies Of her charms to which
he was Obliged to liSten-especially the
description of her wonderful hair-eXci
ted his Imagination all the more, and the
idea fastened itself in his mind that in
those golden threads lay some magic pow
er which had cnthraIlcd his friend, for
heretofore Leonardo had been inscnsiblt
to female attractions.
For a time the course Of true love ran
smooth. Then, suddenly, as if the earth
had opened to him, Leonardo disappeared,
and few days after his lifelesS body was
found in one OF tIe canals which vein the
city of the sta.
A deep wound in his breast showed that
he had been the victim of assassination.
Nalenza'S grief had all the stormy VIC
lcRce Of a first great sorrow. But far
more profound Was the afiiiction Of the
friend, who sincerely believed that the
mortal stab had been given by jealous
rival.
Leonardo. Leonardo :" lie exclaimed,
as be gazed on the bloody corpse, "the
accursed blonde locks are answerable for
this deed"
From that hour an unconq"erable aver
sion to blonde hair took possession Of him,
which grew into a monoInania. 1t WAS
the fashion Of the day in Venice for the
ladies to bleach their dark hair by the use
Of chemical preparations, and so strong
aud undisguised was his contempt for the
practice as to obtain for him the name OF
the " Blonde Hair Hater."
His relatives, anxious to divert his mind
from these morbid recollcctions and fan.
cies, urged him to marry.
He was one of the handsomest of the
young patTicians Of Venice--his figure
noble, his face full Of intelligence and feel
ing; and he had further passport to the
favor Of the ladies' in his singular devotion
in friendship, and his corresponding indif
ference to themselves. Admiration, sym
pathy, pique, conspired to render him an
object of tranScendant interest to the fair
sex.
His friends led him from one gay circle
to another, in the hope that he might, un-
awarcs, find himself in the meshcs of the
blind little god. 1t was all in vain. AT
length the father settled the question by
an arrangement with the Senator Grade
nigo for marriage between the two ialni-
lies, and Antonio found himself pledged
to the connection entirely without his own
knowledge or consent. But such mar
riageS Of domestic or State policy were
the rule in Venice, and his heart having
no tie elsewhere, he submitted without
remonstrance. Preparations were has
tened on, and the wedding day was ap,
pointed.
Valencia had yielded with less reluct-
ance, nay, even with degree of mourniul
pleasure.
She well knew Antonio, though herself
wholly unknown 10 him. Their mutual
attachment to the lost Leonardo was q
tender bond. His inconsolable grief for
one dearest to her had given him a sacred
place in her heart. Her own lot more
over, was full of discomfort and chagrin,
her father being one Of those stern and
cruel men whose iron rule turns the palace
into . detested prison. After the death
Of her lover she had wished to bury her
sorrows in a convent, but the old senator,
who regarded his daughter as simply an
instrument of family aggrandisement. had
pcremptorily and harshly refused his con-
sent
Life with the honorable, gentle and
true-hearted Antonio seemed to her crush
ed spirit blessed escape from this bond
age; and thus it happened that she not
only assented without objection to her
fathers plan, but became most anxious to
win the affections of her bridegroom, -
Knowing too well his morbid prejudice
against blonde hair, she dared not reveal