Middletown transcript., 1869-08-28


| had never breathed to my parent my
views in relation to Francisco. The sub
ject must be presented, and yet had au
undefinable dread of breaking it to my
father. l knew his sterness-I knew the
force OF prejudice, knew he did not like
to hear the name of Manfrini, and yet, l
fondly hoped, that I, whom I knew my
father loved most fondly. could so over
come his dislike as to consent to link tn e
destinies of the Houses of--and Man
frini. Foolish boy that I was destiny
had written its DEGREES, and l fancied
could reverse them!
determined to open the affair to him
at all hazards, and if he forbade the union,
to break it to Count Manfrini himself, and
receiving either my bliss or my doom in
their answers, remove at least the horrid
suspense under which | was laboring.
l selected an occasion, One beautiful
night, as my father and myself were sea-
ted in our balcony, overlooking the waters
of the Grand Canal, to communicate with
him on the subject nearest my heart.
lie heard me out-without uttering a
word, until had finished. I saw how
ever his spirit was Gercely agitated, and 1
almost repented of the step had taken.
Wed a Manfrini BY the Holy Vir-
gin, would sooner see your corpse float
ing in the Laguna, food for fishes, than
the offspring of, of-Venitia should wed
with the house of an Of! He paused,
his whole frame was excited, his eye fash
ed fire, his cheek was flushed, and his
whole soul seemed rocked with passion.
But,-a if for moment recollecting that
1 was innocent of any knowledge of the
causes that had produced feud be-
tween the houses, he said mildly, but
firnliy, No my son, you can never mar
~ Manfrinl Let it suffice that the
barrier between your destines is immov-
able! Go there no more. Why did you
not tell me this before? did not know
you ever knew the Manfrini." and he re
tired"
But when did ever love regard the cold
tet.ers Of parental rule ?-Love it is prin-
epic ethereal, and yet omnipotent. You
may bind the body down you may twine
the chain and fasten the fctters, yea the
50 iron may enter into the soul" but that
hallowed cmanation of Deity, triumphs
aver every i'll, and amid the green bowers
# the heart sings its anthems of immor-
taIity! Francesca and / met often--we
vowed eternal constancy-and thousand
ines as my Gondola would glide as noise
lcSsly as Il swan over the Laguna, have
our songs mingled together, breathing deep
and passionate love.
Why did my father hate the house of
Manfrini ? I could not tell. Had he
thw;rfed any ambitious vision in nv
mind? Why did he frown when
called the name of Manfrini? He had
never seen the fair object of my love, why
hen did he forbid my seeing her, and in
erdict fiercely and angrily the asso-
'lation! twas mystery-all mystery!
One evening my father and myself had
returned from masquerade held at the
Palace of distinguished Venitian
whittier he had gone at my earnest impor-
unity, and as it was early, and night of
exquisite loveliness, we preferred an hour
'r so on the balcony, to retiring.
1t was an evening of deep beauty. The
Adriatic seemed one eternal field of silver.
The towers of proud old Venice. stood like
giant spirits guarding the Dogeless Halls
# the silent city. The marble efigies, -
hose.
Melancholy ghosts of dead renown,"
IS the English poet expresses it. silently
md mournfully kept watch, around the
uined palaces of the once lofty and queen
y Venice
| saw that the scene had touched my
tear was stealing silently
lown his check His countenance had
ost its sternness-and could read, that
lis spirit was communing with the past, as
lie gazed upon the pure and cloudless heav-
ms.
Antonio" said he, in mild voice, ~
ave something to say to you, and the
resent is a fitting occasion The city
leeps, not SO my memory of the past w
Father" l replied, "you are ill, let's
etire, your mind is disturbed from some
Incident of the evening; a little rest will
estore you"
"No, l can never know rest again my
on, until have opened my heart to you" !
Father, speak, / am all attention"
"Antoniol"
ratner
81 have that to tell you which will
iake you grieve, but must tell you, fol
am weak old man; shall not live long,
nd it concerns you to redress the honor
f your House." /
A strange and underlined idea that the
isclosure which my father was about to
lake. involved some how or other, could y
OF tell how, the happiness of Francisco, .
'ok possession of me; but determining to n
now what it was which required my de- n
nee of our own House, nay with deter :
ination to sustain its name ut all hazards, '
duced me in as calm tone as possible T
request my father to proceed. h
'tYou do not remember your mother, a
ntonio," he observed. with emotion; ..you E
'uld not she died when you were an in II
was poisoned, Antonio!' n