Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-10-10

niello felt his strength return
 Then rising and running to a Venetian mir | TOT, he exclaimed: II am once more strong, full of health, | vigor and courageI Come to me, honor, glory-and you, oh, future, with your de- | licious promises! Come to me, my be- | trothedl shall soon lead you to the altarI" | Dom Francesca looked on the fisherman with smile of pity.
 And your brothers of Naples2 Have you | forgotten them. MasanieiloT' said he to him | ''What have they to ask from mer' in- | quired the young man. Have my edicts been violatedF' "Oh, no-not yet" replied the monk in a sad voice. II would sacrifice my life in their defense" "Ay-if between this and tomorrow you do not fall victim to some ambuscade-if you are not strangled like 8 slave, or poisoned in some silent chamber of this palacer' "Who would dare to do thisr' "Who would darei Is it possible that you believe In the sincerity of the homage paid you by these great nobles who take of their plumed hats to greet you"
 ''If they hate me they fear me still more. They know that have the whole population at my back"
 "Alasl pity you, poor Masanisllo, If for your defense you reckon on the peoples ris- ing at present"
 What! would they not do so even if I in- voked their aidr'
 "No, not even if you invoked their aid. How can you suppose that they will recog- nize their fisherman in that Masaniello who has become the husband of ISabella-in that Masaniello who has been ennobled by the viceroy-in that Massniello who parsdes our public streets in a court dress, aud who hangs his brethren for seditious cryG You were once everything in the eyes of the peo- ple-now you are nothing"
 "But, father, 1 cannot live at the court of the Duke of Arcos in the costume of a fisherman"
 And why not7 Do you think that the heart beats less nobly beneath your common dsherman's clothes than it does under the splendid dress of a noblei l understand, Masaniello; you love Isabella, and this young girl must have 8 husband covered with lace and ribbon. Yet it was a man of the people, l a poor monk, who, when you were abandoned by all, came to your dying bed to save you"
 II know it, father; and my gratitude will be eternal. Yes, your love for is sin core"
 ''Then fly from this cursed abode, where you can meet with nothing but death and perditionW
 "Dom Francesca, what you require of me is impossible. 1 love Isabella, and cannot bear the thought of being separated from | her."
 Well, then, shall tell you," added Dom Francesca, approaching the fisherman, ''whst was the cause of that horrible act of madness which urged you to imnlolate your brothers yestsrdayl Shall tell you what caused the dreadful suffering to which you nearly sue cumbedF'
 Masaniello experienced presentiment of some fatal revelation. He was motionless.
 "Who gave you those fowersl' asked the Benedictine
 "1aabellA-"
 Than learn that they we're poisonedf
 The young man staggered to the wall, and remained for an instant resting motionlesS against it; his eye was haggard, and his hands were tightly clinched together.
 "Isabellas flowers poisonedy" murmured he at last, stopping at each syllable. Dom Francesca, Is it possihlep
 'Was it who saved youF" "Ohl yes-you must be right--he who can find the remedy must know the cause of the disease Oh, Heavenl is it possible for the damned to suffer more than have suffered for the last few daysr' Come my son, let us away!n
 The fisherman hesitated. He passed his hand across his forehead, and seemed to be collecting his thoughts,
 It was Lon Juan HerD8nClez WQO gave Isabella this bouquet to offer me-" said he. l ''Nol I will not go," added he "OhI Fer nandez, you have not yet seized your prey. ' Masaniello HvesI 1asaniello has @ sword which he knows how to usel To obtain 0 Isabella you must Arst pass over my body. Adieu! father, adieu!" And the young man ran to the door.
 At the same instant some one knocked.
 Everything had been prepared, so that the terrible drama which was that night d played at the Vicaria might end in prope, manner.
 Though informed of Masaniello's hopeless, :: state, and even certain of being able to gel ] rid of him without the intervention of Cor celli, Fernandez and the Duke of Arcos hat l. none the less continued the preparations fol 2 the nuptial fete. All the court were about to assemble in the state chamber of the pal ace, and the vieeroy sent his chamberlain tt fetch Masaniello and taconduot him int the council chamber, where the marriag' contract had been drawn up.
 Masaniello threw the door open. In chamberlain bowed down to the ground.
 ''Ths Duke of Arcos and his daughter art waiting for you in the council chamber, said he to the young man.
 Lead the wayf replied Masaniello, firmly and he passed through the door.
 The chapel of the Vicaria presented mag \ nifcent and fairylike appearance. It wa entirely hung with red velvet, on which tn arms of the viceroy were embroidered. thousand tapers illuminated the altar. Tn vicerogs throne stood on one side, beneath Il canopy of blue silk, picked out with silver and seats had been prepared on the steps fo ali the great dignitaries of the state. Tn cardinal archbishop of Naples, who was t celebrate the marriage of Isabella and Ms w saniello, was seated on the other side, on throne somewhat less elevated than that o the viceroy. The marble flooring of tn sanctuary was hidden beneath beautiful Ispshan carpet. 4 crowd of generals, Q