The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-18
BY THE RED DEATH.

About the middle of the seventeenth
century there lived in Venice Il certain
naughty duke so rich and powerful as
to be feared by friend as well as foe,
for that was period of constant muir
der and assassination.
1t was the custom of this nobleman
to give costly banqucts in the great hall
Of his palace. but there was always one
thing to mar the festivity of the occa-
sion tho constant dread of some secret
agent of death.
And what tended still more to mys-
terry and fear on these occasions of fcstiv-
ity was the presence of tho Red Mask.
Next to the lord of the feast, on his left
hand, always sat silent, mysterious
figure in red domino, with Il blood red
mask conccaing every feature
Before the guests separated he ALWAYS
rose, gave his hand TO the noble host.
and then went slowly, solcmnly and
silently around tho table, shaking hands
with each.
AS all believed that he was the dukes
secret poisoner, he was regarded with
awe and dread and came in timo to be
spoken of and known as the Red Death.
How his fatal purpose was effected none
could say, but it was conjccturcd that
upon one of his iewcled fingers he wore
what was known us the death ring''--
ring cnriuusiy constructed, with dead
ly poison i'll the interior. which could
be injected, by sudden pressure upon
concealed spring, into The hand of any
one taken in apparent friendship.
In the very zenith OF his lio and
power the duke one dy received the
singular intelligence that gentleman
had made his appearance in Venice So
closely resembling him in face and fig
ure that more than one person had mis-
taken him for his grace.
''Who Is this advcnturer:" ansrily
demanded the duke. go, seek Inn out
and say it is my pleasure to see him ri
my palace
The stranger was found and readily
accepted the invitation of the nohlcman,
who received him in his private apart
ments, With only one attendant present.
The resemblance of the two was GER
tainly very striking.
WHO are you:" demanded the duke
in an imperious tone.
II am the Count of PaImoran'
AT the mention of this title the attend
ant of tho duke gave slight. quick
start and fixed his eyes searchinglv upon
the stranger.
am glad mt least to hear You are Il
noblcman, pursued the duke, as the
thought OF having my likeness borne hy
plebeian would have been too humiIi
ating. There should be hut ono such
face in Venice, count!'
so think |, duke!'
II may hope, then, you will take
early leave of our proud city,
was in hopes your race had made
arrangements to quit tho country!'
You are insolent, count"
$50 are you, duke!'
by the bones of St. Mark" the duke
began in malignant rage, but added,
in quite different tone, with Il forced
smile:
Your pardon, count; am too has
ty. 1t is not the fault of either of us
that we look alike and have tempers
alike. If we cannot be friends, there is
no need of our being enemies -
81 am disposed to meet your grace
half way in either anger or friendship"
II thank your lordship, and trust you
will honor my banquet on Friday even
ing next with your presence. when
will do myself the pleasure to introduce
your lordship to some of the first ncbles
Of Venice"
AS Antonio left the presence of his
noble master, he seized the first oppor
tunity to say to the count:
My lord, have a private word for
your ear. We are countrymen."
Indeed"
Yes pursued Antonio, speaking
low and in Spanish. Il know your
house well, and | would serve you.
Your life is in danger here.
So believe.
Il think this banquet is given ex-
pressly to destroy you'll"
II had my fears.
"Yet if you will come to it and fcl-