St. Landry democrat., 1878-06-01
was wild youth, who had lett Venice

three months preceding the day On which
this slight tale commences he had been
to Titan affectionate, kind and obedient
as a son. He was so skillful with bis
pencil, 100, that Titan was reminded by
his skill and enthusiasm of what his own
son had been at the same age, some
thirty years before.
Some days passed on and the portrait
still remained in Titian's studio. Giulio
often looked at it but never spoke of it,
and Titan did not err when he thought
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 annual
ceremony of signiiying the maritime
power Of the signory by casting golden
ring into The waters of the Adriatic.
The custom was, at this proud celebra-
ton, for Venice to send out her popula>
ton of all degrees, and it was certain
that at such time 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 a stately YES
sci called the Bucentaur, a galley said
to be of equal antiquity with these mari
time nuptials. This magnificent vessel
always bore a freight of some import
ance for, besides the doge, the council,
the chief officers of state and the admiral
of the port twho acted as pilot, and was
bound by oath to bring the vessel back
to her harborage in the arsenaD, it bore
the ambassadors from the various c9un-
tries in alliance with the republic.
Sometimes, besides the Aobilhssinai and
the state officials it bore citizens of worth,
and at times the doge was glad to see by
his side the great painter, Triziano
Vecelli, 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 bestow upon him.
Giulio, with others Of his age, followed
in the procession, for it was a scene of
matchless beauty and magnifcence, we'll
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 went on, and Andrea
Critic, the doge, welded the sea Gan un-
stable and tickle mistress, with the accus.
toned words. Sc 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, GiuIio speeded to
Titian'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
mention of the young signora, of whom
Giulio had just one glance. At last
Giulio said he had seen Titan on the
deck of the Bucentaur; but this, though
it challenged Titian's allusien to the lady,
drew no remark from him about her, SO
that, at last Giulio ventured to say that
he thought the signora much resembled
the portrait which he had admired from
the moment it first met his view.
admire it, Signor Giulio Mantoni?
Fall asleep before it in excess of admira-
ton Well, we'll, thou needest not blush.
IT'S my daughter Beatrice, whom thou
shalt meet anon. But signor, If thou
shouldst admire her, or if thou shouldst
not, it would be we'll for thee to take thy
siesta ere thou meetest her. Women, as
thou knowest, like not cavaliers who are
irowsy. Now, have not told her that.
She saw thee, and asked who thou vert,
aud | told her Giulio; but not that thou
1idst gaze thyself to sleep before her
portrait. Nov, let us within. Thou
wilt like my gentle Beatrice. She re-
minds me of what her fair and loving
mother was.'
And Giulio did very much like Beat
ice Vecelli, who, in turn, admired the
manly beauty and chivalrous bearing of
,he Spaniard. admired ?-alas, that is
! word all too weak. Woman scarcely
znows a medium, IN her intercourse
With our sex, between the coolest indif-
erence and the warmest love. Long
)efore she knew it Beatrice was deeply
nd devotedly attached to Giulio. Her
ather saw this and did not check it he
.lready loved Gitlio Mantoni as son,
nd cheerily anticipated that, in the
'atural course of time and circumstance,
le would become se-with the consent
f Beatrice.
Very much did Giulio admire the
oveliness, the grace, the innocence OF
Beatrice Vecelli, but he did lot love her
nth more than brothers love. To do