Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-06-09
The Mysterious Chest.

Lovely and serene was the summer
evening. in the year 1917. wnen MAI
OF apparently thirty years of age, and
whose naturally handsome countehanct
was marked with the traces of care and
dissipation, entered the city of Florence
His garments were made in the mOst
fashionable style, but they were old and
threadbare. and his dusty boots, soiled
condition and languid walk bore testi.
3 mony to the length and fatigue of his
journey. Nevertheless there was an all
of aristocracy about him which neither
rags nor suffering could efface; and his
large black eyes were lighted with the
fire of proud soul and a fine intellect
He entered the beautiful Tuscan city
between nine and ten o'clock at night,
and presently stopped at a fountain TO
slake his burning thirst. The act on
his part argued but indifferently for the
state of his finances, as a brilliantly
lighted cafe, where more comfortable
refreshments might have been obtained,
Was close at hand. The traveller beheld
it; and as he dropped the iron ladle. or
spoon, which benevolence had caused to
be fixed to the edge of the fountain for
the use of wayfarers as miserable as him
self, he Sighed, and murmured, There
there was it that first learnt the fatal
h5bit which makes me what l am"
Then, as il impelled by an attachment to
the very habit which he execrated in his
soul, he approached the windows of the
cafe, and watched the games of cards at
which the inmates were engaged.
Presently the door of the cafe was
flung open, and two elegantly dressed
gentleman came forth.
"You have been fortunate tonight,
Ribeira," said one-a young man of
about two and twenty, as he took his
companions arm.
"Pretty. well, Vasari,' replied the
other, who was at least ten years older,
but who possessed handsome counte-
nance and tall. well-knit figure. "You
knew that with my princely fortune the
gaiH or the loss of a few hundred pieces
is nothing. But now let us repair TO
the Ferroni palace
THE Ferroni palacep calculated the
wretched traveller. who overheard this
discourse.
For tonight" continued Ribiera,
: 'the beautiful Julia is to give me de-
cisive answer whether she will receive
my suit or not"
Tonight repeated the traveller; and
be mechanically followed the two indi-
yiduals whose discourse had apparently
interested him so profoundly.
The Count de Ribiera-for such was
that persons rank-and Signor Vasari
pursued their way, without percieving
that they were followed through several
Of the principal streets, until they
reached magnificent house, brilliant
with light streaming from every win
dow. The SQUADS of music echoed from
within, and the air around was perfum-
ed with the odors of the sweet flowers
which festooned the open easements.
The traveller watched the two gentle
men until they entered the mansion.
He then walked slowly to the opposite
side of the strees, from which point he
sttentively watched the windows of the
mansion of the Marquis of Ferroni.
Presently group of ladies approached
an open easement and his eye fell upon
one, older but more beautiful than the
rest, but whose cheeks were very pale,
and whose air seemed to denote feelings
by no means congenial with the gayety
OF the scene 2t which she was present.
She was about twenty-five years of age 4
her blue eyes were expressive of mild
ness, and her countenance wore shade
Of melancholy.
"'Tis shep murmured the traveller and
he darted away precipitately from the
spot, saying to himself: "At all events
have seen her once morel And she is
pale-and melancholy-and pensivel
Can it be that she deigns to bestow
thought on me?"
The unhappy man wept as he asked
himself this question-probably because
he knew how unworthy he was of any
interest on the part of that beautiful
being. He was hungry-but he forgot
the cravings of want as he reflected
upon what he had seen and heard that.
eyening-for he had heard that she-the
daughter of The Marquis of Ferroni-I
was to give decided answer to Count
Ribeira that evening. And what would
that reply Der
The miserable wretch hastened awav
from the vicinity of the Ferroni man
sion, and at length sank exhausted upon
the step of a door.
When he awoke again he was in a
strange place-a cell, with white walls.
and arched ceiling and barred windows
met his eyes. Scarcely had he time to
collect his scattered ideas, when a gen.
tleman in black entered the room, and
appeared glad to find him in an improy-
ed condition of health.
In answer to the questions put to him
by the invalid, this gentleman said.
You were brought hither four months
ago from the hospital, to which place
you had been conveyed in a state of in
ssnsibility, having been picked up in the
street at late hour. The condition in
to which illness and other causes known
only to yourself plunged you at the hos
pitai led to your removal hither."
@Arid where am ], then?" demanded
the invalid, casting terrified glance
around him.
"In lunatic asylum" was the reply.
alt is better tnat you should know the |
truth than perplex your mind with the
vain conjectures of ignorance and uncer-
tainty. Compose yourself, and in few
days you viii be quite restored to health,
both mentally and physically. You can |
then leave the establishment"