Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-16
Stattst1lan.
The Wife Of Piero Brunoro.

When the battle of Negropont
,brought sorrow and desolation to hun
idreds Of families, a brave officer named
Brunoro lay on the battlefield in the
agonies of DEATH His noble deeds had
excited admiration, and the soldiers un-
der his command had fought like lions
as they heard his inspiring words.
AS q plying soldier removed the
sword still grasped by the hand now
powerless to- defend the cause of his
country and opened the thick military
coat, to give the sufferer air, small
miniature case rolled out to the ground,
which the dying hand vainly sought
The soldier restored it to the bosom
from which it had fallen, and as he did
so it,was uncl9sped, and disclosedGthe
features of a young and beautiful face,
soft and sweet as a woman's. Had it
not been for the military garb clothing,
all that was visible of the figure, the
man would have declared it that of
girl in the first sweet passing away of
childhood. The dying officer pressed
his hand upon the cherished picture,
and held it with all his failing strength.
SIT is his son, perhaps" thought the
soldier, as he poured between the lips
drop or two of spirits from his canteen.
1t revived the officer for moment; and
'as2 the soldier looked around for help to
carry him from the spot where he lay, a
woman, pale, feeble, and tottering, ap-
preached them. She was of slight stat
ure, and evidently far advanced in years.
She uttered no loud cry, but as she looked
upon the dying face, which kindled with
an expression Of radient joy as she came
near, she only said, softly {: Ny Piero,
is it thus must see you leave me @
Dear, good Bona,' came slowly from
the dying mans lips, "would you have
it otherwise 1t is glorious death, is
it notq How else should a soldier de-
part ?''-
She fell on her knees beside him and
kissed him. When she lifted her face
again, there was no movement-the
soul had passed in that brief embrace.
Calm and composed, as if it was an
event she had long been waiting fol; r;she
directed the soldier to bring help to
bear the dead to house near the battle
field, nor did she weep until she caught
sight of the picture lying across the mo-
tionless breast.
. E"It was mine" ,"Eshe sobbed, in answer
to the questioning look of the soldier.
ale has always worn it. He is my
husband"
The glance of the soldier showed him
that the features and expression were in
deed the same, although the faded face
bore small trace of the bloom that the
picture wore. One thing he observed,
that the look had not hardened by age
it was soft and sweet as when the artist
had touched it years before.
Piero Brunoro was borne to his last
rest, followed by brave men, who knew
his worth, and valued him accordingly.
There were those of high deeds and no.
BILE hearts, and there were crowned heads,
too, that did homage to- the memory, of
the faithful soldier. And there, too. the
little, pale, faded woman, in a carriage
by herself, close behind the funeral bier,
was clasping her withered hands to her
breast, and softly epeating, any Piero,
not long shall we be separated"
At the gate of the churchyard the
procession stopped, A, man of high
rank, an officer in the Neapolitan army,
who wore his titles by right of. noble
and unsustained ancestry, and badges OF
honor for his own courageous deeds,
opened the carriage door. and lifted out
the occupant, whose weight was as light
as child. She could not stand mo-
ment, and. be bore her to the side of the
bier. Brunoro's handsome brow, scarce
altered in years, with its crown of dark
curling locks, lay there unturned to the
sun; and the officer yielded to her evi
dent struggle to kneel beside him. Hel
head was upon that face SO long. that
they feared she had tainted. Tenderly
as one would touch an infant the officer
raised her head, and as tenderly laid il
upon the long grass at his feet. 'si'-.-s
/ "They will be parted no more forev'
er," he whispered to one behind him
"She has had her wish-to die by hi:
cofin.'' a al E.l H IA
In an apartment of the kingly palace
of Alphonso of Naples, years befor.
this event, woman was admitted, after
tlong waiting, to the sovereign. She was
: of small stature, fair and comely, but M
longer young; So pure. and heavenly
was her countenance, that she nigh
have walked through the earth unharm
ed. sMeekly and modestly she approach
ed Alphonso and besought him to gran
her a single boon.
4 "Wbatever you ask shall be bestow
ed, fair lady," was the kind response.
| She blushed at his compliment ant
disclaimed it. ESsEz si''EoS2 -s9'si
IL am not fair, SIRE" said she. ."Mor'
than forty years have passed over me
and most of them years Of anxiety ant
sorrow, but it is in your majesty's pow
erto relieve me from all further grief.
i "Tell me how, dear lady," said thu
4 king H-o- rai- i--sg .taE .7a3 % G O.
by restoring to his freedom one wh'
was unjustly deprived of it," she replied
| "For years 1 have wearied the ears o
every prince in Italy to grant me this
but all iip vain, Piero Brunoros a ,brav'
and gallant soldier, lies prisoner with
in the old castle of Valentia, for revolt
/ ing against Sforza."
/ "And what is Piero Brunoro to YOU
father or brother p
+ A blush as faint as that which dye
I the heart Of the white rose stole owe
her faded cheek as she answered
t"Neither, sire; he is my betrothed hus
+, band 5'H'h s!' - a,'slz7,ll .. .s
Briefly she then related to the king
. Nth m +o,,.l;,r. e;nnTio;tv and aarnpct