St. Landry democrat., 1878-06-01


With sorrow we've oeIcast,
If grief had done it's deadliest part
Jill Joy OF the past,
How gently mid such gloom would fall
The brilliancy OF hopes joy-shine
When thought OH thought would still recall
When first fond lips were pressed to thine,
With 81 love me, love me!'
The song had ceased it was simple mel.
ody, but there was startling expression
of earnestness in it which struck to
Giulio's heart. For brief space he sat
in silence, and then thus spoke to the
beautiful cantatrice:
clay aside the mandarin, dear Beat
rice, and let us talk. You have never
inquired who or what | am. l consider
you as my sister, and it is not well that
you should be in ignorance of this
"Nay," said Beatrice, with smile
and a blush, {" I will not own you as a
brother, and I will have no unraveling
of mysteries, Let me sing this barca-
role"
Beatrice" said he, with a grave air
and earnest tone that suddenly chilled
her mirth; Beatrice, this is the time,
for your sake as for my own, to have the
mystery unravelled, if it be worth the
name of mystery. am not quite what
l appear; in word, [ am of the royal
house of Spain my mother was the
daughter of a noble of Almaine; my
father is the emperor Charles. To
avoid q marriage of his choice, heart and
hand being plighted to lady>love of my
own, I fed from Spain and became a
pupil of your fathers, as much from love
OF the art as to give nv leisure pleasant
occupation.'
But he spoke to ears which heard him
not, for ere he had concluded Beatrice
was in swoon. She was speedily recov-
cred and thus earnestly spoke to him:
" did not know--I could not--that
we had a prince beneath our humble roof;
but whatever you are you must quit
Venice. 1t was but yesternight I heard
at the ridetto at Signor Barberigo's that
| the proueditori had an order to arrest a
Spanish prince who was disguised and
concealed in Venice. / heard it by the
merest chance, as stood near two nobiH
who were talking together, and that the
arrest was to be made tomorrow. You
must fly, signor; it neithe suits your safety
nor your honor that you remain here.
Venice wars with the Emperor Charles
my father, the most honored citizen of
I Venice, has been distinguished by the
emperor, and the suspicion Of having
Willingly harhored you would only be
equaled by the misery of your capture
here"
Giulio, or, as he should rather be
called, Prince Anthony of Leon, seemed
astonished at this intelligence.
And whittier can fly" demanded
he, seeking counsel in this hour of peril
from Beatrice.
"You named-you spoke of-you have
one to whom your faith is plighted she
must i'll deserve it if she will not shelter
YOU
"You speak wisely, Beatrice" said the
prince; /" it is the daughter of sforza,
Duke of Milan, and with him, albeit he
is buta cold friend of my house, nor has
he much cause to be otherwise, shall
find safety. And you, Beatrice ~
2 "Of acknowledgement word now
not a thought hereafter. Here" added
she, tearing off a necklace, there, if you
want the means wherewith to reach
Milan, take this, have no more need of
costly ornament
This offer was declined, for the prince
had jewels with him more than sufficient
to pay all charges. He saw the urgent
necessity of speedy flight, penned
hasty billet OF leave and gratitude to
Titan, and then returned to greet Beat
rice with farewell. He did not mark that
her lips were as pale as death and her
eyes glazed, and her cheek and brow as
il astonied. Her hand scarcely trembled
when he pressed it, and, gently as one
would embrace sleeping child, he kissed
her fair, cold brow. He was gone!
And with him went the terrible de,
termination, which in this wreck Of her
hearts hopes had nerved her to act this
dreadful part, to simulate indifference
while amid despair she felt the immor-
tality of love. She never moved nor
spoke, and when at eve her father re-
turned he found her statue like. For
weeks she lay helpless as an infant, and /
at last she died. Her heart was broken.
She died, and with her died her fathers
hopes and pride. Within a month after
Giulio'a departure she had ceased to be.
Henceforth, and he lived to extreme old
age-Titian lived but for his art; that
was his wife, daughter, all to him
Of the prince we have no further rec
ord. Tie annals Of Venice record not
his capture, 50 it may be plesuned that
be escaped, But whether he reached his !