The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-09-14


been princes of Benevenu and possessed estates in the
neebbornp territory which then derived its title from the
castle of Lugano During the first French occupation OF
Italy another branch of their family taking advantage ofthe
disturbed state of the country and having influence with the
Ausrans attacked the castle of Lugano then occupied by
Aphonzo Ner and having put him to the sword took pos
session Of the place and adjoining territory Aphonzos wife
and family escaped but believed had persisted under
the swords of party in pursuit Certain it was the
lady referred had been killed. that from that period the
elder and daughter Mabea then child had not been
heard Of while the younger long AFTER known to be in
the French service The original branch of the Ner family
was is almost unnecessary state OF the Oldest and
ustrous in Venice. Though the children of Aphonz
in that city, it believed that through the
active agency of their relatives they had been withdrawn to
place of safety Between the above named Alphonzo and
the Count Tian deadly antipahy whose origin was UNI
KNOWN had existed and to this attributable the ruthless
the part of the latter the family of his knsman
Tiani had died in the autumn of the year during which the
events have detailed enacted but his still held
the castle and Estates which guarded by
band of their adherents.
The reader will have long since perceived that the youth
who went under the title of Lucien Hamar in Ireland
the of the murdered Aphonzo Ne he bore
By his Venetian friends he had been brought in retire
ment distance from the parmony of which he had been
dspossessed by force but his enemies having discovered his
retreat at the time when he about twenty he had travelled
England and thence to Ireland where he lived recse
m as we have described occasionally visited by agent of
his relatives by whom he informed of the state of affairs
in Italy, and with whom he concerted plans for the reora
ton of his rights of person and property Long before this
his maternal uncle who had taken charge of his little sister,
Mabela Neri had sailed from Italian port for England
but tngs either of him of the vessel he had chart
cred had after reached Italy Lucen remained in total
ignorance of his destiny The circumstances by which he
became acquainted with his fate by which his sister Ma
bella foruitously restored to him, and still by
which he became acquainted with the place where the rea
saved during the attack the Lugano castle had been
deposited form, believe of the most singular Incl
dents of veritable romance.
The finale of the story is still subject of gossip among the
peasantry of that portion of the Neapoan States in which
the Ner property-whch has long since passed into other
hands-is situated After Aphonzo-we abandon his Irish
ncognto become possessed of the concealed
the tomb of Spoao several years elapsed his BROTHER
meanwhile who in the French service had put himself
in communication with agent of the Neapolan Govern
ment which, during the Murat regime being in much want
of money acceeded the plans suggested for consdera
tion Those plans consisted of the seizure a of the
castle of Lugano and the adjoining estates. Aphonzo led
the attack This part of the tale is like incident of the
middle ages but southern Italy the and indeed conti
10 certain extent, in the turbulent condition of that
epoch Several persons killed. among them Tianis
said to have fallen by the hands of phonzo-an
of personal rerbuon for the death of his mother and
after expeng the nruders he took possession of his right
full estates The command of power and wealth made little
difference in his habits and he passed three years in the pic
uresque solitude of his hereditary domain with his beautiful
sister, Mabela and few associates His BROTHER Lugano
who had entered the French army fell during the affairs OF
1874 Just about this period Mabea was about to be mar
ried young italian gentleman whose estate neighbored
that of her BROTHER when the former having discovered that
the girl subject to omnambuism and we believe cata
en attacks broke off the arrangement after reproducing
Lucen for his unworthy reticence in this respect Aphonzo
deeply loved his sister, challenged her late lover and
the duel would doubtless have occurred but for the mean
coy event which occurred the night before the puposed
meeting Mabea whose mind the conduct of her lover
had made painful impression appeared had wandered at