Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-04-23
Saint Nafg's Beacon.
In DARKEST ITALY.
Continued from first page.)

A101bA10S4 AA0A~ AhSs R@6Csy
The banquets were q source Of ter
ror, for who knew but that his wine
was dragged, and that the next hour
might be his last. At Cerreto, the
favorite retreat Of Cosmo. "the father
Of his country" Blanca CapelIs, the
fair Venetian, and her husband were
treacherously poisoned at q supper
given by the tyrant Pulci.
He calmly watched their slow tor
ture till amid fearful sobs the fair
Blanca expired, with struggle and
long-drawn gasp. That gasp is still
to be heard at the midnight hour,
echoing through the marble halls and
the deserted rooms ia the villa Of
Cerreto; and at the same hour loog-
wsiling shrieks such ss penetrate the
inmost soul.
Sound through the emptiness
Of that old den far up among the hills.
Within the next five days, in this
same villa, were two unsuspectiDg
victims welcomed with kisses and then
cruelty slain, one with the knife and
the other with the fats! moose.
STABBED BY HER HUSBAND.
Elenora di Toledo was stabbed
there, on the 1lth Of July, 1915. by
her husband, Pietro de Medicl; and
on the 10th of the same month Isa.
bella de Medici was strsngled by her
husband, Paolo Giordano. They
were at Florence when they were sent
for, each in her turn. under the pre-.
text Of a hunting party. and each in
her turn went to die. Elenora APP
pears to have had presentiment of
her fate. She went when required,
but before she set out she babe fare.
well to her only child and wept long
and bitterly over him.
Another instance of tieachery is
told about the unhappy Pia. Sien-
mesa lady Of the family OF Tolommei
who fell sacrifice to the jealousy of
her husband. He took her to the
Maremma during the sultry month of
September, where a deadlier foe than
the bandit strikes unseen. The subtle
poison Of malaria fills the air and
lulls to sleep-a sleep which leads to
death. Here her husband conveyed
her and resolved in his heart that she
should perish, even though he perish
ed with her. Not a word escaped
from him on the way, not a syllable
In answer to her remonstrance or her
tears; and in sullsn silence he watch.
ed patiently by her till she died.
In Ferrara lie a palace wherein the
heartless Lucrezia Borgia. used TO
prepare her poisonous little suppers,
asking her friends to the feast. IN
revenge for slight che had received
from the Venetians, she gave a grand
banquet to Is handsome young Veue-
tian noblemen. She had poisoned
the wine, and as she witnessed the
agony of her victims she calmly told
them her reasons for committing this
fearful crime. Whilst she was still
speaking, one of the Venitiaos told
her that he was her son, whom she
had not seen for many years. Recog-
nizing him. and overcome with hor-
ror, she lost her self command, and
plunged her poniard into his heart
rather than see him suffer.
FAIR CRIsT1NE.
But if slight caused such troubles,
q glance in a mirror caused still
greater. In the palace of Collato
now neglected mirror awakened the
suspicious of jealous wife, and caused
the death Of her maid. The fair
Cristine was fair as a lily; and as
much admired as she was beloved.
The Countess and Cristine had grown
up as children together, and were the
best Of friends till some malicious,
gossip, whispered into the ear of her
mistress. that Cristine "was not all
she seemed to be-" She told how
Cristine wandered in the woods "like
one in love with sadness" and that
her white veil and dress had given
her the name Of the white lady"
The Countess listened to these evil
tales and watched her maid. One
day, when Cristine was combing her
golden hair and the Count passed
through the hall, his wife fancied she
saw in the mirror a smile-a glance.
given and answered, and her soul was
filled with hatred and a longing for
revenge.
That night the unhappy Cristins was
led forth to die:
No blood was split; no instrument of
death
Lurked-or stood forth, declaring its bad
purpose;
Nor was hair of her unblemished head
Hurt in that hour. Fresh as q flower lust
blown