The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-10-25
ROMANCE IN NAPLES.
An Heiress Abducted and Shut up In nn
Asylum for Lunatics.

Asylum for Lunatics.
A correspondent at Rome writes: Miss
Vernieri, still in her teens, has lost her
father, and lives with her mother in Sa-
lerno. She is beautiful, clever, and ac-
complished, and inherits 10000 due
ats, or about half million lire. Her
mother is completely under the power
of the family physician, DR.. Cosimati,
who poses as protector of the widow and
orphan. Eligible offers of marriage are
made to Miss Vernieri, but are skillfully
STAYED off by the doctor and his dupe,
the mother, their object being to enjoy
the administration of the young lady's
means, of which the mother was simply
the depositary, and of which the pros
pective son-in law would become abso-
lutte master. At last Miss Vernieri at
tanned her majority, and her guardians
anticipated her intentions of matrimony
by proposing to her as her fiancee her
first cousiH. This young gentleman re-
sided in Naples, and thither the mother,
daughter and family doctor repaired to
arrange the nuptials. The youth, how
ever, found no favor in the eyes of Miss
Vernieri, who, on the contrary, became
desperately enamored of young advo-
cate whom she met under the roof of an
aunt in Naples. Her passion was recip-
rocated, and the mothers opposition
made the daughter only more resolrte
in her determination to marry the young
adv ocate. SO doctor and mother TO-
gether changed their tactics. One morn
ing Madame Vernicri sail to her daugh-
ter: care you really determined to
marry him2" Yes" "Then. as I
can't bear to SEQ you unhappy, give
my consent" Tho young lady fell on
her mothers neck, and wept with joy,
till, gently disengaging herself, Madame
Vernieri said: Nov, as your lover and
his family live at Naples, it is better
that we should go there to fix the day of
marriage, and sget your trousscau
ready" They started accordingly. and
took apartments at the Hotel Fiori.
near the Fiortini theater, intending to
take house il the country for the en-
suing summer, tho marriage having
been arranged for the end Of autumn.
They had been only two DAYS in the
hotel when DR.. Cosimati came in with a
Signor Miraglia, whom he represented
as cousin OF his, aud as desirous of
forming Miss Vernieri's acauaintauce.
The visit seemed one of pure courtesy.
The young lady chatted pleasantly
enough on current topics with the new
conner till he took his leave, and she
thought no more about him. Forty
eight hours afterward, the doctor pro
posed a drive into the country, at which
tho ladies wcro delighted, AMI NIL three
were soon iii carriage bowling along
the Via del Camp.
Miss Vernieri asked many questions
as to the pala.ai and villas they passed,
till they approached grand edifice
whose magnificent site awoke her admi-
ration. Whose was it2 The doctor as
if suddenly struck by an idea, ordered
the driver to stop. "Here," "he said.
"is precisely what you want, a country
residence till the close of November.
This palace is divided into suites of
apartments. Come in and let us sea how
you like them" They alighted and en-
tered, and the doctor asked for Madame
Flourens. An iron gate was then open
ed, admitting to courtyard, from which
they mounted two flights of stairs, and
then they were ushered into q drawing
room where they were politely received
by that lady. DIR. Oosimati then init
mated that Miss Vernieri wished to take
apartments for the summer in the pa
lazzo, and would like to be shown
through the various suites. Madame
flourens was only too delighted, and Of
tered her arm to the young lady, who
took it. Then the mother
said, languidly :" You can go alone, nv
dear, and make your choice, which is
sure to satisfy me. / am tired, and will
want here with the doctor till you come
back. Madame Flourens and Miss
" "a hoy
ment the door closed behind them the
mother and doctor slipped stealthily
through n private passage, gained the
staircase, and.were soon in the courtyard.
Meanwhile Miss Vernieri was making
the tour of the apartments, and it was
not long before Miss Vernieri learned
that she had been left in an asylum for
lunatics.
After her discovery, Miss vernieri
asked Madame Flourens, the lady super
lntcndent, how she could have consented
to become an instrument in such a base
conspiracy. The lady smiled sadly.
" Fs0ti1 mia .! were to believe all
those who say they have been brought
here as the victims of a conspiracy, I
should have few patients on my handsl"
But" demonstrated Miss Vernieri,
" what legal proof have you that am q
fit subject for an asylum 2" "The doc
tor who came here with you," replied
Madame Flourens, "applied to me for
the admission of patient. I told him
he must first have a certificate of the
patients madness, signed by the direc-
tor of the establishment, who is the first
ahenist in Naples, DIR. Miraglia.
" All" broke in Miss Vernieri, to whom
this name was a revelation, " the per-
hdlous plotters That cousin of his.
whom DR.. Cosimati presented to mo, was
DIR. Miraglia, then 2. But how could the
doctor certify my lunacy 1 talk
enough. Oh the monsters i'