Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1867-03-21
s. elect gt0rg.
TIE BAG OF GOLD.

! mere IiFCQ, near DOlOguds WtuOW OF
the Dambertiue family, called Madonna
Leucrezla. who, in revolution of The
State, bad knOwa the bnterness. of pow
erly. and had even begged her bread
kheelipg day After dag, >, t.l1al a atute, al
-rllIg gaIe Of the cathedral. her rosary in
| her leit hand, and her right held out for
charity, her long black veil eOncealing a
face that had once adorned court, and
received the homage Of as many Sonnels
as 7Petrarch has written on Laura.
9 But fortune had atalenglh relented; a
legacy frpm distant relation had came
to her relies. and she was now the mis-
lress of a small inn a. The font of The
Appenines, where she entertained as
well as she could and where those only
stopped who were content with hlde.
The house was still standing, when in
my youth | passed that way, though the
sign of The White Cross-tbe Cross of
the Hrspi,allers-was no longer 10 be
seen over the door-a sign which she
had taken, if we may believe the tradi-
lon there. in hon OF of maternal uncle.
Grand Master Of that Order, whose
achievements in Palesune she would
sometimes relate. A mountain stream
ran through the garden; and at no great
distance where The road turned on It's
way to Bologna, stood little chapel, in
WHICH a lamp was always burning before
picture of the VrgIn-a picture of
great antiquity, the work Of some Greek
arIIsl. sF gA b.assi h1
Here she was dwelling, respected by
all who knew her, when an event took
place which threw her into the deepest
affection. Ii was al monday, in SePlem'
Der, that three foot travellers arrived, and,
seating themselves on a bench under her
vine Irellis, were supplied with a fagon
of AIeatico by lovely glrl, her only
child, The image Of her former self. The
eldest spoke like asVenetan, and his
beard was sharp and pointed, af-
ter the fashion OF Venice. In bis de-
meanor beefscted great courtesy, but
his look inspired lulle confidence; for
when he smiled. which he did continually,
il was with has. lips only. not. with his
eyes; and they were always turned from
yvUrs. His companions we're bluff and
frank in their manner, and on their
tongues were many soldiers oath. ln
their hats they wore medal, such as IN
that age was often distributed In war /;
aud they we're evidently suballerns In
0pe If those free bands which were al
ways ready 20 serve IN any quarrel if a
service II could be called, where battle
was lHlle more than mockery, and the
slaiu, az on an opera stage, were up and
hghung Tomorrow. Overcome with the
heat, they threw aside their cloaks, and
with their gloves tucked under their belts,
continued Tor some time IN earnest con-
gersauUn. ,e 1aa
aAt length they rose to 60, and the
Venetian thus addressed their hostess
Excellent lady, may we leave uuder
your roof, for day or two, this bag of
gold 7''s'-
You may, sbe replied. gayIy. But
remember, we taslen only with a latch
Bars and bolts We have none in our vii
lage: and If we had, where would be
your security ?''
''ln your word, lady"
''But what if l died tonight, where
would ii be then g. said she, laughipgly,
The money would GO to the Church,
for none could claim II.
"Perhcps you viii favor US with an
acknowledgment 2''c f3 ~ ~
III youwhlWFite iLr
An acknowledgement was written &C.
COrdIugly, and she signed il before Mas
ter BarIolo, the village physician, who
had just called by chance, 10 learn the
news Of the day; the gold to be delivered
when applied tor, but TO be deliFeIed-
these were the words-not TO one nor 10
Two, but TO the lhree-words wisely In.
trodueed by those to whom it belonged,
knowing what they knew of each ether
The gold they had iusl. released from a
mIser's chest in Perugia, and they were
on scent that promised more. --
They and their shad ows were no soon
er departed, than he Venetian returned
saying: s'Give me leave 10 set my seal
on The bag, as the others have done +"
and she placed il on & table before him
But In that moment she was called away
10 receive a cavalier who had Just DIS
mounted from his horse; and when she
came back, il was gone. The Iempta-
lion had proved irresistible. aod the ma
and The money bad vanished together.
"Wrelched woman that | am ~ she
cried, as in an agony of grief she fell on
her daughtef's neck "what viii become
OF US 60 Are we again 10 be east oul
into the wide world! Unhappy child.
would that thou hadst never been born ="
And all day she lamenled but her tears
avalled her litIle.' The others we're no,
slow in returning to claim sheir due !;
and the lE were no lidings Of she thief !;
be had fed far away with hls plunder.
A process against her was Instantly be.
gun IN Bologna; and what defense could
she make how release herself from the
obIigSton Of the bond Wilfuliy, or
in negligence, she had parted with il 10
one, when sbe should have KEEP, it. for
all and inevitable ruin awaited her
go, Gianetta. said she 10 her daugh.
ter. ssake this vel which Jour mother has
wOrn aud wepl under so often, and i'm.
ploref the counsellor or Calderino toplesd
for US on The day Of trial. He is gener.
Gus, and viii lisIen to the unforIuna.e.-
But If he win nss, GO from acoS u deer (;
3 ielE Z + SSH suillso 70 81