The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-01-04


ing at present"
"What' would they not do SO even il in
voked their aidf'
mo. not even If you invoked Their aid.
How can you suppose that they wiil recog-
nze their fisher nan in tnat .asa.iieiio who
has become the husband of lsabeila-ln that
MasanIello who has been ennoDl Il by the
vlceruy- that Misan,eilo who lIaradcs our
public streets III court ,lress. aud VINO
hangs his brethren for "a seditions cryf You
were once everything IN the eyes Of the PEG
ple-now you arc nothingT
''Blt, father. cannot live at the court OF
the Duke of ARGOS IN the costume OF a
fisherman"
"And why MOTT Do you think that the
heart beats less nobly beneath your common
fsherman's clothes than II does under the
splendid dress Of noblei ! understand,
Masaniello, you love Isabella, and this young
girl must have a husband covered with lace
aud ribbon. Yet it was u man OF the people,
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 me is sin.
cere."
"Then fly from this cursed abode, where
you can meet with nothing but death and
perditionr'
"Dom Francesca, what you require of me
is impossible. l love Isabella. and cannot
bear the thought OF Icing separated from
her."
well, then, shall tell you," added Dom
francesca, approaching the fisherman, ''what
was tho cause of that horrible act Of madness
which urged you to imLlolate your brothers
yesterdays Shall tell you what caused the
dreadful suffering to which You nearly sic
cumbedr
Masaniello experienced presentiment OF
some fatal revelation. He was motionless.
"Who gave you those fowersf' asked the
Benedictine.
Isabella"
'Tnen learn that they were poisonedp
The young man staggered to the wall, and
remained for an instant resting motionless
against it; his ego was haggard, sand his
hands were tightly clincned together.
'IsabellI's flowers poisonedr" murmured
he at last, stopping at each syllable. "Dom
Francesca, is it possiblep'
"Was it l who saved you"
"Ohi yes-you must be right-ho who can
find the remedy must know the cause of the
disease. Oh, Heaven is it possible for the
damned to suffer more than have suffered
for the last few days"
"Come, my son, let us awayl"
The q herman hesitated. He passed his
hand across his forehead, and seemed to be
collecting his thoughts
alt was Don Juan Fernandez who gave
Isabella this bouquet to offer me" said he
"Nol will not CO." added he ''Oh! Fer
nandez, you have not yet seized your prey.
MasanielIo livesl Masaniello has a sword
which he knows how to usel To obtain
Isabella you must first pass over my body.
Adieul father, adieu"
And the young man ran to tho door.
At tho same instant some one knocked.
Everything had been prepared, so that
the terrible drama which was that night
played at the Vicaria might end in a proper
manner.
Though informed of Masanelo's hopeless
state, and even certain of being nblo 10 get
rid of him without the Intervention of Cor
&C Ii, Fernandez and the Duke OF ARGOS had
none the less continued the preparations for
the nuptial fete. All the court were about
to assemble in the state chamber of the pal
ace, and the viceroy sent his chamberlain to
fetch Masaniello and to conduct him into
the council chamber, where the marriage
contract had been drawn up.
Masaniello threw tho door open. The
chamberlain bowed down to the ground.
"The Duke of ARGOS and his daughter are
waiting Tor you in tho council chamber"
said he 70 the young man.
LEAD the way!" replied Masaniello, firmly;
and he passed through tAe door,
The chapel of the Vicaria presented a mag
nihcent and fairylike appearance. 1t was
entirely hung with red velvet, OH which the
arms Of the viceroy wero embroidered. A
thousand tapers illuminated tie al.ar. The
Viceroy's throne stood on one side, beneath q
canopy of blue silk, picked out with silver.
and seats had been prepared on the steps for
al the great dignitaries of the state. The
cardinal archbishop of Naples, who was to
celebrate the marriage Of isabella and Ma
sauiello was seated OH the other side, on q
throne somewhat less elevated than that of
the viceroy. Tho marble flooring of tho
saoctuary was hidden beneath q beautiful
Ispahan carpet. A crowd of generals, OF
commanders. Of captains, all in full uniform.
and OF women covered with diamonds,
piumes and dowers, filed the nave and the
galleries. who, while waiting for the COM
mencement Of tho ceremony. were comment
ing on the strangeness OF the union which
was about to take place.
At last tho first peas Of the organ broke
upon the ear
The chentcfs commenced the grave melo-
dies OF tho Roman liturgy. tho doors OF the
sacristy were thrown wide open, and the
grand master of tho ceremonies OF the king.
dom OF Naples announced.
His highncss, tho v;ceroy."
Every one rose, In accordance with the
rules of etiquette. which now agreed pretty
well with the impatient curiosity OF all pres
ent.
The Duke OF ARGOS had his daughter on his
arm
isabella seemed agitated: bat her face was
.Adiant a smile of happiness and pride
played on her lips. She appeared pleased at
having raised up TO her the courageous fish
crman who had restored Naples her lost
rights. Her white dress showed off her slim
and elegant form TO great advantage, her
head. encircled with tho coronet OF
duchess. moved with much grace and
majesty In tho midst OF the lace ruff sho
wore round her slender neck. a whito veil,
attached to a cluster of her black hair, fell
over a mantle of white satin, bordered with
swans down.
Her arms were bare. and tho black enamel
~ har hrocelcte Formed m efrnpp contrast