The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1878-05-23

GluIIo would become an inmate of hi
house, Titan was solitary, for his sol
was . Wild youth, who had left Venie
ior Cyprus In The suite Of the admiral
and his daughter Beatrice was in a con
vent in the Friui, of which one of hi
relatives was lady principal Giuli,
Mantoni accepted the invitation, and 70
three months preceding the day on wbicl
this slight tale commences he had beer
to Titan afectionate, kind and obedien
as son He was so skilltul with hi
pencil, too, that Titan was reminded b7
his skill and enthusiasm of what his owl
son had been at the same age, som,
thirty years before
Some days passed on and the portrai
still remained in Titian's studio. Giulit
often looked at it but never spoke of it
and Titan did not err when he though
that there was meaning in this silence
But the grand festival day of Venice
was at hand. This was Ascension Day
of which the doge performed the annua
ceremony of signiiying the maritime
power of the signory by casting COLDER
ring into the waters of the Adriatic
The custom was, at this proud celebra,
tion, for Venice to send out her popula,
tion of all degrees, and it was certain
that at such a a.tlme the fairest daughters
OF Venice never were absent.
The short voyage of, the doge from the
quay Of the ducal palace to the boundary
of Lido and Maltmocca was always per.
formed on this occasion in stately yes
sci called the Bucentaur, a galley said
to be of equal antiquity with these mari
time nuptiala. This magnificent vessel
always bore a freight of some impsrt-
ance; for, besides the doge, the council,
the chief officers Of state and the admiral
of the port (Who acted as pilot, and was
bound by oath to bring the vessel back
to her harborage in the arsenaI), it bore
the ambassadors from the various caun-
tries in alliance with the republic.
Sometimes. besides the a0BiJtissinai and
the state officials il bore citizens of worth,
and at times the doge was glad to see by
his side the great painter, Triziano
Veeelli, whose pencil could confer such
Immortality as earth is proud of, and
whose works reflected more fame upon
Venice than Venice in all her glory
could stow upon him.
Giulio, with others of his age, followed
in the procession, for it was a scene of
matchless beauty and magnifcence, well
worthy the attention Of painters mind
and eye. The Bucentaur was swept on
in stately manner by the rowers, and
Giulio's light gondola came near it,
within full view Of the gallant company
beneath its gorgeous canopy of crimson
damask, richly embroidered with gold.
To Giulio's amaze, Titan had by his side
a young lady, and when she turned her
face for moment Giulio saw to his sur
prise and delight that she was the fair
original of the portrait
The ceremonials vent on, and Andrea
Critic, the doge, welded the sea IAN un-
stable and tickle mistress, with the accus
toned words, We wed thee with this,
in token of our true and perpetual
sovereignty" The moment these words
were uttered, and the ring cast into the
sea, it was strewn with flowers and fra
grant herbs, in the tanciful idea that
thus the bride was crowned.
The pageant ended, Giulio speeded to
Fitian's house. He found the great artist
before the easel, busted, as usual, in some
work for immortality. They spoke on
various subjects, but Titan made no
nention of the young signora, of whom
diulio had just one g'ance. At last
aiulio said he had seen Titan on the
ieck Of the Bucentaur; but this, though |
i challenged Titian's allusien to the lady, |
lrew ne remark from him about her, so |
hat, at last Giulio.yentured-to say that
le thought the sigRora much resembled |
'he portrait which he had admired from
,he moment it first met his view.
q Admire it, signor Giulio Mantoni? |
Fall asleep before it in excess Of admira-
ion Well, we'll, thou needest not blush. |
Tis my daughter Beatrice, whom thou
halt meet anon. But signor, if thou
hou1dst admire her, or if thou shouldst
lot, it would be well for thee to take thy
iesta ere thou meetest her. Women, as
hou knowest, like not cavaliers who are
lrowsy. Now, I have not told her that.
She saw thee, and asked who thou vert,
md / told her Giulio; but not that thou
lidst gaze thyself to sleep before her
,ortrait. Now, let us within. Thou
vilt like my gentle Beatrice. She re-
minds me Of what her fair and loving
mother waa.''
And Giulio ala very much like Beat
ice Vecelli, who, in turn, admired the
manly beauty and chivalrous bearing of
be Spanlard Admired -alas, that is
word all too weak. Woman scarcely
.nows a medium, in her intercourse
Nth our sex, between the coldest indif-
srence and the warlSest love. Long
'eioreshe knew it Beatrice was deeply
nd devotedly attached tc Giulio. Her
sther saw this and did not check It.; be
lready loved Giulio Mantoni as q son,
nd cheerily anticipated that, in the
atural course Of time and circumstance,
3 would become so-with the consent
t Beatrice.
Very much did Giu1io admire the
'yeliness, the grace, the innocence Of
seatrice veceIli, but he did not love her
nth mara than a brathay,a la7sa To do