The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-02-28

shed would follow the noisy banouels,
and it was no unusual thing for two or
three of the guests to be thrown dead
into the street from the portals of the
palace. ..
Donna Lucrezia found consolation aud
support only in the society of her hus.
bands daughter, Beatrice.
Between these two women there
sprung up fast friendship. Lucrezia,
although the elder by ten years, and by
her position calculated to be her protec-
tor, was, however, the weakest Of the
two Young Beatrice Cenci, brought
up in the midst of all this vice anu car.
mage, imbued naturally with a woman's
purity, high souled and h; ;gh minded,
has escaped corruption. But her heart
had grown stern and bitter; her soul
was steeled to any deed Of endurance
and courage. She it was who sustained,
consoled auL cherished her stepmother,
giving her power to endure the life of
continual apprehension that Genet and
his habits made for them.
He seems to have cared little for Lu-
crezia, for, after the first year of his
marriage, he neglected her, nay, seem,
ed wholly to have forgotten her, leaving
her for days and weeks in the retired
apartments in which Beatrice had taken
refuge. Bernardo, the youngest son, u
timid, gentle boy, was their only society,
and this period passed with his brother
and his stepmother, their employment
music, poetry, and the tapestry work in
which Lucrezia excelled, seems to have
been the only happy period of her lie.
But an unlucky expression Of admira.
ton from one of Cenci's companions, as
he obtained a glimpse of Beatrice pass
ing along the galleries Of the palace
changed all.
Nicola Cenci himself for the first
time looked at his daughter, and saw
that she had grown up into girl of ex-
traordinary beauty. He determined
that she should grace his festivals, and
Issued his commands that she should
deck herself in magnificent garments
and appear among his guests,
Beatrice and Donna Lucrezia remon.
strated. They both knew full well that
the banquests we're orgies at which q
modest woman was exposed to foulest
insult, but Cenci imperative. Donna
Lucrezia wept and trembled, but Bea
trice peremtorily refused to obey her
father.
Then began the struggle between the
father and dauEhter-a struggle for SUI
premacy between two Cencs could not
but lead to misery and death.
Donna LucrGzia advised submission,
but Beatrice, the more she was opposed
the more resolute she became.
She barricaded herself in her cham
Der, whence her father would have drag
ged her with violence, and amid the
threats aud yels OF her father and broth
er, preserved her courage and serenity
Bernardo, her young brother, alone
defended her, bringing on himself i'll,
usage and violence, even to blows from
his father and brothers.
Sometimes, however, in the interest
Of some awless incursion, or during the
wassail of some deep orgies, these vic.
tins Of tyranny would be forgotten
Then they would sit listening to the
shouts of the drunken crew with a stol
id despair in their hearts, wondering
when liberty would come, thinking, M
doubt, often of Nicolas great age, and
trusting that death might one day tree
them.
| But Nicola and his party one wilt
! night exceeded even the license of the
times. There was a public Outcry a
gainst him even in degraded Rome, anC
the Pope advised him to retire for some
time-to leave the city.
Nicola had desolate stronghold il
the darkest gorge of the Sabine Hills
TO this he resolved to so, taking witt
him Lucrezia, Bernardo, and Beatrice,
whose spirit he had determined to sub,
due.
But hard was the task that he had Sc
himself. Beatrice, who had defiIed hin
in his palace in Rome surrounded by
his followers, now utterly set hls author
ty at naught.
The life he made for these two pool
women was full of terrors and torture
and it is here Beatrice and Lucrezi;
formed the plan to free themselves from
their tyrant,
The Sabine Hills were the refuge o
braves and desperadoes too obscure anC
INDECENT to purchase immunity iron
the police of Rome. Many Of then
claimed the hospitality Of the Castle o
Petrella. . ...
Watching their opportunity Beutric
aud Lucrezia fixed upon two brawi OF
whom they thought they could rely
Donna Lucrezia possessed Jewels o
great value, with these she tempted tn
, bravi, and plan was conceived for th
murder of the ruthless Nicola. Ofth
existence of this plot tradition, well au