The mountain Democrat., 1863-12-25
@, ana without interuptIng bic recital

s'Su, S"O eHOutinteftupune nts recatai
continued: 80 -.
Antonio was enthusiastic, and 10 love.
AS for the grandfather, be was much less
UNOS"@ N~3aSs destinations, than by the
marFiage portion Of BettIna, which was
considerable, particularly for the poor ap.
prentice to- a sculptor.
The parentA of both formed projects Of
uniting them; arrangements for their mar
riage were drawing to . close, when To-
retto and the senator chaDced to hear oft
They reflected that this union would
destroy the prospects of their protege and
determined to prevent It.
One evening they entered the chamber
Of Antonio, commanded him to follow
them, and, Notwithstanding his tears, bis
resistance and his despair, carried him to
TTS1::sE;; 80 .;<,-Ia 6rzo0ed him during
q whole year.
'All endeavOrs to escape proved fruit
less. The eDamored youth, finding his
return to Padraxzi impossible, was com.
PEELED to seek consolation in the study of
his favorite pursuit-sculpture.
The talent and reputation Of the young
man soon spread abroad; his celebrity was
established-he became rich-his society
was courted by all, and the memory Of
Bcttina Biasi was gradually erased from
his mind.
AT the same time the arts and bland
ishments Of another little cOquette, Do
minica, took the place in his Affections
She was the daughter of the sculptor Vol
patio.
Proposals Of marriage we're made, but
as Dominica was yet young, q postpone
ment' was agreed upon till the following
year. Alas! before that time, Dominica
bestowed her hand on Raphael Morghan
The poor deserted lover was in despair at
this new piece of treachery.'
At this part of the recital, Canova fell
into deep fit of musing and melancholy,
UNCONSCIOUS of what was passing around
him.
His health gave way. His physician
and friends recommended him to return
and breathe the air Of his native village.
Antonio set off on his journey.
On his approach to his native place,
the thought Of Bettna Biasi-that charm
ing, that lovely girl, so disinterested in
her love for him-rushed upon his imag-
ination more fresh and more engaging
than ever. -.--.....-.-.--
oh + cried he, how ungrateful have
| been to neglect and forget her,
Dismissing from bis mind all remem-
brancc Of Dominica, he dreamed only of
Bettina Baisi. He pictured to himself
the delight be should experience in once
more clasping her to his bosom.
His heart beat with hope and joy, and
whilst he was resolving within himself to
proceed the next day without fail to Pa
drazzi, he perceived the village spire of
POssagno before him.
Too much agitated to remain in the
slow 'vettuirna,' he alighted and contin-
ucd his journey on foot by a short road,
until he arrived at the gate of the small
town.
At this moment n crowd Of young men
who were awaiting his arrival, perceiving
him approach, filled the air with shouts
Of welcome, and surrounded and embraced
him.
He stands without the power Of speech,
his heart throbs within him, his eyes are
nilei with tears.
The road is filed with laurel branches
and evcrgreens; all the inhabitants of
PusSasno-wOmen,ch children, and old men,
i'll holiday cOatune-line the road, and
salute the celebrated youth.
The veneAbIe Toretto, the old master
Of CanOva, folds him in his arms, weeping
over him. At . distance, approach the
mother Of Canova, his step, father, and
behind them a female bathed in tears.
'Bettina! mia Bettina = cried Canova |
She stretches out her hand to him, be |
is about to speak, when the bells Of the
village sound merry peal, salvos Of mus
kerry rcnd the air, and the curate at the |
head Of his clergy, singing the TIE Deum,
advances in his clerical robes, kneels down
and returns thanks to Providence for hav.
ing granted to Possagno child so re-
nOwned as Canova. The aged priest then
passes his arm through that Of Canova,
his mother leans on the other, and the pro-
cession conduct the hero in triumph to his
grandfather, whose infrmities confine him
to the house
'Ah! sire, sire! let me entreat you not
to continue a recital which awakens such |
cruel and such sweet recollectiOns, inter.
rupted Canova, sobbing.
But Napoleon was too much pleased
with the impression he had made on his
listeners to think Of stopping. Marie
Louise had several times wiped the tears
from her eyes.
Listen to the rest,' resumed he, ad-
dressing the empress, I'VE are coming to
the denouement, which is well worthy Of
the rest Of the story.
The next day, as Canova was entering
the garden Of his grandfather, he saw Bet
tina Biasi approaching him.
Five years had diminished none Of her
beauty, except that she was pale, and re-
sembled one Of bis own white marble
statues
o., Bettina! Bettina!' cried he, will
you pardon me my ingratitude, and con-
fer on me happiness scarcely deserved
| had not yet seen you, when all the fer
vent and tender affections / once bore
you returned upon me with increased
strength
'Listen!' y said Bettins, whose voice
trembled with emotion, listerA Antonio
mia-I suffered much when l learned
that you were to be married 10 Dominica;
but felt, even then, dearest friend, that
the humble village girl of Padrazzi, the
daughter of peasant, the affianced Of
the apprentice Antonio, could never be
the wife of the celebrated Canova. New
ertheless. refused several offers Of mar
riage, aud for five years lived upon the
Of him loved. But when
heard you were about to retern to Pos.
sagno when I concluded from my own
feelings, that you would. not be able to
sec me again without emotiOn-when
reflected that we might both be weak