The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-08-25
SELECT STORY.
THE RED DEATH MASK.
A VENETIAN LEGEND
BY MARION MoULToN.

der and assassination; and n mere whim,
or unjust suspicion, was often sufficient
to bring the d ally poison or secret
stiletto to bear upon those supposed to
be in highest favor.
1t was the custom of this nobleman
to give costly banquets in the great
hall of his palace; but there wa1a.ways
one thing to mar the testivity of the
occasion--thc constant dread of some
secret agent of death. 1t was known
that of those who attended these feasts,
some one or more generally died short.
ly after, and not untreqnently in a
manner to lead TO the suspicion of
secret poison; and this knowledge filled
the minds of all with dread; though
none dared to remain away on this ac.
count, lest what they most feared
should happen through the anger of
| him who was powerful enough to
reach them anywhere in Venice.
And what tended still more TO mys
terry aud fear on these occaSi ns of fcs
tivity, was the presence OF the Red
Mask. Next to the lord of the feast,
on his left hand, always sat u silent,
mysterious figure, N r,d domino,
with a blood-red mask conce ding e cry
feature. No one could say who he was,
and only onjecture why he was there.
| His face was never seeu--his voice was
never heard. He ate and drank with
the rest, but never spoke. Before the
guests separated, he always rose, gave
his hand to the noble host, and then
went slowly, solemnly and silently
around the table, shaking hanIs with
each. This done, he glidcd out of the
hall through private door, and was not
seen again till the reassembling of the
guests at another banquet. An b licv
ed that he was the dukes secret poison
er, he was regarded with awe and
dread, and came in time to be spoken
of and known as the BED Dedth Mask.
How his fatal purpose was effected,
none could say; but it was coniectured
that upon one of his jeweled fingers he
wore what was known rs the "Death
Ring-a ring curiously constructed
with deadly poison in the interior
which could be injected by sudden
pressure upon concealed spring, into
the hand of any one taken in apparent
friendship; and from the mortal effects
of which--though no wound, however
slight, could be discovered at the time
not all(the medical skill of Venice
could save the victim.
In the very zenith of his life and
power, the duke one day received the
singular intelligence, that gentleman
had made his appearance in Venice, so
closely resembling him in face and fig
ure that more than one person had mis-
taken him for his grace, and even some
nf his graces friends had been thrown
so much into doubt as to address the
stranger for himself To one az proud
and naughty rs the duke, the idea of
another human being, in the whole
wide world, looking like himself, was
anything but pleasing; and the fact
that this unknown counterpart was
actually in Venice, causing great talk
aud wonder was irritating in the ex-
| treme.
"Who is this adventurer? this base
counterfeit?" angrily demanded the
duke, "Of what nation is he? and what
business brings him here?'
None could answer.
$50, seek him out, and say ii is my
pleasure to see him at my palace!"
The stranger was found, and eadily
accepted the invitation of the nobleman,
who received him in his private apart
nents, with on y one attendant present
The resemblance of the two was GER
tainly very striking. Both were slend-
erly built, about five feet eight inches
in height, of dark compilations, black
hair and eyes, with slightly aquiline
noses, cold, stern, naughty, sinister ex-
pressions, and between forty five and
fifty years of age. Each saw himself
in the other, as in glass; aud to men
of their peculiar temperamen,s the
counterpart was not pleasing to either.
"Who are you?" demanded the duke,
in an imperlous tone.
"Your equal" was the sharp reply.
"Sir, you forget your manners!'
b', YOU naNc NV SlONH an
"S'death, sirrah do you know in
whose presence YOU stand 2 cried the
duke.
"No more than YOURSELF !" was the
naughty answer.
~ am the Duke of Flancavela!"
"And the Count of PameraW
At the mention of this title, the at
tendant Of the duke gave aslight, quick
start, and fixed his eyes searchingly
upon the stranger.
II am glad at least to hear You are a
noblcman,' pursued the duke, las the
thought of having my likeness borne
by plebeian would have been too
humiliating. 1t is said, count, and my
eyes confirm the report, that you and |
look remarkably alike. which is fact
very displeasing to me.
sand to me also, duke
"There should be but one such face
in Venice, count!
$50 think /, duke"
81 may hope then you will take early
leave of our proud city,"
II was IN hopeS your grace ilau 'naue
ar algements to quit this country
"You are insolent, count"
$50 are you, dukeW
"By the zones of ST. Mark y the
duke began, in a malignant rage; but
suddenly recollecting himself, he stop
ped, smolhered down his anger, and
added, in quite different tone, with a
forced smile; Your pardon, count! !
am too hasty. II is not the fault OF
either of Us that we look alike and have
tempers alike. If we cannot be friends,
there is no need of our beng enemies
but as the first proyocation proceeded
from me, ! will hope to remove it by 6
proper apology, and trust we may be
passing friends after all,
The count boAed and replied:
81 am disposed to meet your grac,
half way, in either anger or friend
ship"
Il thank your lordship! and trus
you will honor my banquet, on Frida,
evening next, with your presence, whel