Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-11
Fhc ESey fDeal.,.

In tie collection Of curiosities preserved
in the arsenal of Venice there is key Of
which the following tradition IS related
About the year 1000 one Of those dangerous
men in whom extraordinary talent is only
the fearful source of crime aud wickedness
beyond that of ordinary men came to estab-
! fish himself as a merchant or trader in
Venice. The stranger, whose name was
Tebaldo, became enamored OF daughter of
an ancient house, already afianceG to an
other. He demanded her hand IN marriage,
and was of course rejected. Enraged ct
this, he studied how to be revenged. Pro-
fouud1y skilled in the mechanical arts, ne
allowed himself no rest until he had invent
ed the most formidable weapon which could
be imagined. This @as key Of large SIZE
the handle of which was SO constructed that
il could be turned round with little dificul
" ; when tnrned 70 discovered & gpri1g
which, on pressure, launched from tbs
ether end needle or lancet Of such
suntle fneness theo IL entered into the
flesh and uurird Itself thera without leaving
external trace TebaGo, in disguise, waited
at the door OF the church in which the maid
en- whom he loved was about TO receive tho
nuptial benedjctioD. The assassin sent the
slender steel unperceived into the breast c.!
the bridegroom. The wounded man had DO
suspicion OF injury, but, seized with . sud-
den and sherp pain 10 the midst OF the ce-e-
mouy, Re tainted, aud was carried TO his
house amid the lamentations Of the bridal
party. In vain was ali the ebil Of the ply
sicians who couid not discover ths cause OF
this strange illness, ana in . faT deys ne
died Tebsldo again demanded tho hand Of
the maiden from her parents, and received
second refa,ai. Tbey too peTjsheG nsera
bly, in few days. The alarm which these
deaths occasioned excited tbs utmost vigi-
lanCe of ihe na9istrates and wien, on
cloee examiuatlon of the Two bodies, the
small instrument Fas found in the gan
greneG flesh, terror vas universal
every one feared for his life The
maiden thus cruslly orphaned had
passed the first months OF her mourning in
convent. when Tebaldo, hoping TO bend her
to his will, entreated TO speak with her at
the crate The face Of the foreigner had
been ever displeasing 20 her, but since the
death OF ail those most dear to her it had
become odiops, and her reply was most de-
cdediy in the negative Tebgldo, beyond
himself with rage, attempted to wonnd Der
through the grSte, and succeeded The OBJ
scurity OF the place prevented his movement
being observed. On her return to her room
the maiden felt q pain 10 her oreest, and,
uncovering it, she found il spotted with
single drop of bood. The pain increased;
the surgeons who hastoned to her assistance,
taught by the past, wasted no time by con.
lecture, but, cutting deep into the wounded
part, extracted tho needle before any nor
tai mischief had commenced and saved the
life of the lady Tbs State inquisaon ueel
every means 20 discover tho hand which
dealt these blows Tbe'visi5 Of Tebaldo To
the convent caused suspicion to fsll on hila.
His house was searched. the infamous IL
yeution discovered at last, and he perished
on The eibbet.