The mountain Democrat., 1865-05-06

him promise in days gone.
The keen eyes even Of Fra Paolo did
not detect the little crimson signal WHICH
.,,,e .4<>-~;.4. =, --< - - = s--E45tSSS
the palace Of the ambassador but the wi
ly priest was not inactive. He plotted
the seizure and ruin Of Antonio, and the
return of his protector, Enrico. An &C
cusaton was drawn that day from the
Lions Mouth without the Inquisition,
which carried fear into the midst Of the
Council.
Let the Three beware = said the accu-
sation; true men are banished from Ven
ce,and the guilty escape. Enrico Pesaro
languishes in Corfu, and Antonio (if trai-
torous counsels avail him) escapes this
night.
Let the Council look well to the gon-
dola with the crimson pennant, which at
midnight passes to the Padua shore!'
The IAquisito,s .l9h6 4heir masks but
there was doubt and distrust concealed
under them.
If treason is among us, it should be
stayed speedily said one, and the rest
said, Amen!
Suspicion naturally fell upon the coun.
cilor who wore the crimson robe the
doors were cautiously guarded orders
were given that none should pass or re-
pass, we're it the Doge himself, without a
joint order of the Three. A state barge
was dispatched to keep watch on the La.
COON and the official of the Inquisltion
bore special commission. The person
Of the offender was Of little importance
provided it could be known through what
channel he had been warned of the secret
action of the Great Council. 1t was felt
that if their secreSy was once gone, their
mysterious power was at an end. The
Count saw his danger and trembled.
The lights (savc one in the chamber
where Fra Paolo watchedJ had gone out
in the Pesaro Palace. The orders of the
father were faithfully observed. The re-.
fuge was gained; and the gondola with
the crimson pennant, with oarsmen,
pressed quickly toward the Padua shore.
Antonio brcathed freely. Venice was left
behind; but the signal Of the opposite
palace had not been unnoted. and Blanche
would meet him and ch, er his exile.
Half the lagoon was passed, and the
towers of St. Mark were sinking upon the
level sea, when bright light blazed up
in their wake. 1t came nearer and near
or. Antonio grew fearful.
lie babe the men pull Justify. Still the
strange boat drew nearer; and presently
the fiery signal Of St. Marx famed upon
the prov. 1t was barge of the State. -
His oarSmen were palSicd with fear.
a moment more and the barge was be
side them; a masked figure, bearing the
symbols Of that dreadful power, which
none might resist and live, had entered
the gondola. The commission he bore
was such as none might refuse to obey.
The fugitive listened to the masked
figure.
To Antonio Fesaro - accused Justly O
secret dealings with the ambassador O
France, forget(ul of his oaths and his duty
to the State, and therefore condemned ia
die-be it known that the only hope o.
escape from a power which has an eye
and car in every corner OF the Republic
rests now in revealing the name of thai
one, be he great or small, who has warned
HIM OF his danger, and made known the
secret resolve of the State
Antonio hesitatcd to refuse was death,
and pcrhaps torture, which might com.
pei lis secret. On the other hand, the
Count, his father, was high in power
1t seemed scarcely possible that harm
, could come nigh to one holding place in
the Great Council itself Blanche, too,
had deserted her home, and peried life
and character upon his escape. His
death, or even his return, would make
sure her ruin.
The masked figure presented to him o
tablet, upon which he wrote in faltering
hand the name Of his in(ormant-'Th
Count PeSaro.'
But the Great Council was as cautious
in those days as it was cruel. Antonio
possessed secret which was safe in no
place in Europe. Ills oarsmen were
bound. The barge Of State was turned
towards Venice. The gondola traied af
ter; but Antonio was no longer within it.
The plash of falling body, and low
cry of agony were drowned by the plash
of the oars as the barge of st. Mark swept
down to the silent city.
Three days after the Dogc and his privy
council received verbal message that a
chair in the Inquisition was vacant, and
there was needed new wearer for the
crimson robe.
For weeks did the patricians Of Venice
miss the stately Count Pesaro from his
haunts at the Broglio and the tables
Of the Ridotto. And when they knew at
length, from the windows Of his palace,
and his houseless servitors, that he was
gone, they shook their heads mysterious
ly, but never said word.
The wretched Fra Paolo, in urging his
claim for the absent Enrico, gave token
that he knew of the sin and shame of the
Count Pesaro. Such knowledge no pri.
vate man might keep in the Venitian Re.
public and live. The poor priest was
buried where no inscription might be
written and no friend night mourn.
In those feeble days of Venice, which
preceded the triumphal entry of Napo.
leon, when the Council of Three had
learned to tremble, and the Lion of St.
Mark was humbled-there came from
Corfu palsied old man, whose name was
Enrico Pesaro, bringing with him an only
son, who was called Antonio.
The old man sought to gather such re.
mains of the Pesaro estate as could be
saved from the greedy hands of the Gov.
ernment; and he purchased rich masses
for the souls of the murdered father and
brother.
He died when Venice died, leaving as a
legacy to his son broken estate and the
bruised heart. with which he had mourn
ed the wrong done to his kindred. The
boy Antonio had only mournful memories
of the old Venice. where his family
once family of honor and great deeds
was cut down; and the new Venice was
a conquered city.