Middletown transcript., 1869-08-28
CASTLE

your birth day,-this day you are free ~
"Father, solve this mystery my brair
is ON fire! tell me, by whose hand my moth
er died 2"
"It is long story, my son, have pa.
tience, and when you have heard me out
remember ,-VENGEANoEr' p
II swearw
"It is we'll"
proceed"
fYour mother, Antonio, was Venetia
Falerio, daughter of the celebrated noble
of that name, and descendant of the great
Doge of Venice! Half of the Venitian
nobility sighed for her hand, and illustri-
GUS foreigners wed with each other in do
ing homage to her queenly beauty. had
just returned from travel, and fred with
the description of her peerless loveliness, l
was soon found in the throng that wor-
shipped at her shrine.
There was another Venitian, whose
name l will tell you anon, who aspired to
the honor of her hand, but your mother.
ere l had pressed my suit many months,
became my wife.
Fondly, truly, did we love! She was
gentle, beautiful, gifted she was my own
Venetia
The individual whom | mentioned, as
aspiring to the hand of Venetia, when he
found she had preferred the almost beg
CARED Noble, to his princely magnifcence,
gave vent to his modification in dark
hints, to which l, knowing his want of
courage, and believing it the ebullition of
wounded vanity, paid no regard.
A year rolled around, and you, my boy,
were born. We were happy-happy
in the love of each other, and happy in
the smiling prattle of our child
One evening were at the banquet of X
Il X *. The hall was thronged. and
among the many guests noticed this Ven
ilian. | had left your mothers side to ex-
change civiities with distinguished for
eigner-whose name has since become inn
mortal, in song,-and whose own undy-
ing genius, has lighted the torch of glory
around his early grave, Lord Byron
We were conversing together of Greece,
and he had become animated on the SUBJ
ject his polished pale forehead throbbing
with excitement, and his large dark eye
dilating with the very fires of freedom. =
In his fascinating conversation I forgot
your mother, when [ was struck with the
change in his Lordship's countenance. His
brow contracted, proud and withering
curl of the lip, and a sudden elevation Of
the body, caused me to look in the direc-
tion of his gaze, when beheld the Veni-
tan gloating upon me with look of so
much hate, that involuntarily started -
"What does that plebean- looking scoun-
drcl mean,' said his Lordshp, "by his i'm
pertinent starc?' addressing himself to
me. "But stop, no-'tis you he is glar-
ing at-he has cut-throat look, you had
better beware of him."
His Lordship's remark restored me to
myself and murmuring an apology to him,
flew to your mothers side
She was quaffing from golden goblet,
and laughingly observed as approached,
- was SO warm from the heat of the
rooms, and SO thirsty, would you believe it,
Bernardo, have emptied the goblet
Now will you promise me-" added she,
laughing, "if l am poisoned, that you
wont reveal who did it, until our boy is a
man? :" If you will swear" she contin-
ued, "you wont punish my murderer, but
leave it to our little Antonio when he is
his own master, to avenge it, I'll tell you
to whom 1 am indebted for the draught."
Falling in with her humor, and suppo-
sing some of the numerous galants that
were fiuttering around the beautiful being
had been her cup-bearer, exclaimed, II
swearw
But in truth" said she, smiling.
8" In truth"
There he standsr she observed, point
ing to the Ventian. I
| was thunderstruck 1 remembered
the look of hatred he had but just cast up
on me, and though l did not dream the
fiend had so black heart as to plot her
death, still l grew sad in spite of myself
and at an early hour our gondola was Or
dered and we left the gay scene of festivity
for our quiet palace. ,
About midnight 1 was aroused by your
mothers groans. awoke her attendants.
and found she was in the agonies of death {
she could only gasp out remember the
path made in play,-I did not dream twas
sol am poisoned, but I forgive my mur- &
lerer-remember your OATH" and throw {
ng her arms wildly about my neck, she f
oreathed out her spirit upon my bosom! ,
In my agony vowed his death-I had c
10 witness of his crime, but my own heart /
my beautiful Venitia was murdered c
md he, the wretch,-the assassin, was at T
arge.
But Venitia's last words,-"r remember
'our OATH" rung in my ears, and when l .
would, overcome with grief, slumber, l :
would see her sanity form lowering around '
ny pillow, and hear her silvery voice :
nournfully calling on me, remember
our oath p
A new thought took possession of me-
watched over your tender years,-I y
ired. out of my slender means, teachers, c
nd employed physicians to watch the a
rst approaches of disease-not my boy
hat | did not love you much, but also