Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-08
SelGft GalG,
THE COUNT PESARO.
A VENETIAN STORY.


Pesaro was once a very great name in
! Venice. There was in former times, a Don
! Pesaro, and ambassadors to foreign courts
| belonging to the house. In the old church
of the Frairo, upon the further side of the
Grand Canal. is a painting Of Titian's in
which family of the Pesaro appears knccl-
ing before the blessed Virgin. A gorge
ously sculpturcd palace between the rialto
and the Golden House is still known as the
Pesaro Palace but the family which built
it, and the family which dwclt there has long
since lost all claims to its chcrubs and grif-
fins only the crumbling mansion where
lives the old Count and his daughter, now
boasts any living holders of the Pesaro
name
These keep mostly upon the topmost floor
of the house, where a little sunshine finds
its way, and plays Hospitality around the
flower pots which the daughter had arrang-
ed upon the ledge of a window. Below
as | had thought-the rooms were dark and
dismal The rich furniture which belonged
to them is gone-only a painting OF two,
/ by famous Venetian artists, now hung upon
the wall. They are portraits of near rcla-
tions, and the old gentleman, they say, lin
gers for hours about them in gloomy si-
lcnce
SO long ago as the middle Of the last cen
tury the family had become small and re-
duced in wealth The head of the family.
however, was an important member Of the
State, and was expected (such things were
never known in Venice to have a voice in
the terrible Council Of Three.
This man, the Count Giovanno Pesaro.
whose manner was stern, and whose affcc-
tons seemed all of them to have been alb
sorbed in the mysteries Of the State was, a
widowcr. There were stories that even the
Countess had fallen under the suspicious Of
the Council Of the inquisiton, and that the
silent husband could not or would not guard
| her from the cruel watch which DESTROYED
her happiness and shortened her days.
She left two sons, Antonio and EnricO.-
BIZ rule Of the Venetian State not more
Ihan one son of a noble family should marry
except his fortune was great enough to
maintain the dignity Of divided house
hold The loss Of Gambia and the gaming
tables Of Ridotto together had so far di-
minished the wealth of the Count Pcsaro
that Antonio alone was privileged to choose
a bride and under the advice of State,
which exercised more than fatherly in
terest in the matters, he was very early be-
trothed to a daughter of the Cantarini
But Antonio wore careles and dissolutc
habit of life he indulged freely in the IL
ccntous intrigueS of Venice, and showed
little respect for the ties which bound him
to noble maiden whom he had scarcely
seen.
Enrico, the younger son, destined for the
Church had marc coutinO bnt far loss 0nn-
erosity in his nature, and covered his disso
luteness under the garb of sanctity, he
chaied into bitter jealousy of his brother,
whose privilege SO far exceeded his own.
Fra Paola, his priestly tutor and companion
was monk Of the order of Franciscans,
who, like many of the oligarchy, paid little
attention to his vows, and used the stolen
mask to conceal the appetite of debascd
nature. With his assistance Enrico took
delight in plotting the discontinue of the
secret intrigues of his brother, and in bring
ing to the ears of the Cantarini the scandal
attaching to the afianccd lover of their no
bic daughter.
Affairs stood in this wise in the ancient
house Of PeSaro when (it was in the latter
part Of the eighteenth century, one Of the
/ last royal ambassadors Of France Cstab-
lshed himself i'll palace near the church
/ San Zaccaria, and separated only by mar
row canal from that occupied by the Count
| Pesaro
The life Of foreign ambassadors, and most
Of all, those accredited from France, was
always jealously watched in Venice, and
many a householder, who was so unfortun-
! ate as to live in the neighborhood of an am.