Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-02-15

Even as IN DOy ne HaU become ae-
quainted with Lorenzo Frascati, his
senior. Lorenzo turned painter, Ferdi-
nand became ruler; but even as such
he did not forget his old friend. He
had him come from Padua to his own
castle to have him participate in his
power and in his pleasures,
Lorenzo was gay youth, ever in
clined to jests. as painters mostly are,
and with his droll conceits he caused
the Duke many happy hour. All
at once he began to be serious and
rneditatiye, and the merry jests came
no more.
On the bank of the Arno Ferdi-
Dand ordered a new chapel to
be erected, and in order to
give Lorenzo an occupation and
pastime he commissioned him
to adorn the interior with paintings.
Lorenzo worked diligently. From
early dawn till late dusk he was lock-
ed up in the chapel and even when he
left it he locked the door behind him
lest no one saw his work till it was
| finished.
Once Lorenzo did not leave the sa-
cred edifice for three days. nor then
did he admit any one, so that his
anxious assistants hurried to the
Duke to inform him that some harm
must have befallen their master, as
he had already remained in the chap
three days without food or drink.
Now the Duke himself FASTENED
there, and when all the calling and
knocking remained fruitless, he order
ed the door burst open.
Astounded he gazed around him,
for the ceilings and the walls bore
without exception the one and the
same female face-the same face with
the palm-bearing Saints ascending to
Heaven as with the Angels smiling
down on them; the same charmingly
beautiful woman face with the peni-
tent Mrgdalen and the Madonna of
the altar painting And the face
which filled the whole house of God
was ever the same-it was the coun-
tenance of Rosaura Montalboni.
The artist himself was seated on
the pulpit, his stold glancing gliding
from one image to the other; he rec
ognized neither his friend the Grand
Duke. nor his companions. he saw
nothing but his painted phantoms.
be had become insane and SO re-
manned till he died.
The Duke ordered the plaster re-
moved from the walls, had the church
dedicated anew and closed it.
The Prince was yet young; he
knew not yet what witchcraft there
is in the eyes of woman and that they
are irresistible.
For the fourth time Rosaura Mon
talboni was brought before the high
tribunal; and this time they put
death mask on her face
lest the beaming of her beauti-
full eyes, the smile of her purple
lips again bring the Law to naught.
art thou that fair Rosaura Mon
talboni who causes the perdition of
young and old through the charm of
her contenance?"
Thus the the Judge asked the
death mask.
IL am, replied the death mask.
How hollow the answer sounded from
behind the disguise
Is it true that whatsoever beholds
thee loses his reason over thy beau
tyr"
ut is true" responded the death
mask, turning the frightening lone
face to the inquirer.
'Knowest thou the number of those
who for thy sake rushed into death
in order to cast off the life that had
become to them a curse?"
The death mask sobbed. tits true,
no tears poured from the empty eye
holes, but the sounds of weeping pen
etrated through the hard bones of
the mask.
'Rosaura Montalboni, listen to the
judgement inflicted upon thee by the
tribunal:
"For the whole duration of thy life
thou shalt remain imprisoned and Sc
cluded from all other prisoners. But
lest thou highest seduce with thy fair
face thy gaolers or their superiors
thou shalt wear this death mask as
long as thou livest, that everybody |
who behold thee be frightened and |
feel only terror instead of love for
thee"
Did Rosaura Montalboni turn pale
when this sentence was pronounced? |
Did her charming features CULVER in
horror? Did the rosy lips tremble in
pain and dismay? The death mask
remained stiff and immovable.
After 80 years Ferdinand died.
He was followed by Casino the
Third.
At his ascension to the throne he
issued n general amnesty for all who
in the prisons of his
realm.
1t was the duty of the Judges to
search in the records and to establish
in each case whittier the amnesty was
deserved. Then it was learned that
there was woman in prison whose
offense had consisted in being too
beautiful" For this she had been
Imprisoned for life andcondemned to
wear death mask.
When they released and removed
n