Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-04-05
BY THE RED DEATH.

About the middle Of the seventeenth
century there lived in Venice a 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.
It was the custom of this nobleman
to give costly banquets in the great hall
of his palace, but there was always one
thing to mar the festivity of the occa-
sion-the constant dread of some secret
agent of death.
And what tended still more to mys-
terry and fear on these occasions of festiv-
ity was the presence of the Red Mask.
Next to the lord of the feast, on his left
hand, always sat silent, mysterious
figure in red domino, with blood red
mask concealing every feature.
Before the guests separated he always
rose, gave his hand to the noble ibst,
and then went slowly, solemnly and
silently around the 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 time to be
spoken of and known as the Red Death.
How his fatal purpose was effected none
could say, but it was coniectured that
upon one of his jeweled fingers he wore
what was known as the death ring
ring curiously constructed, with dead
| ly poison in the interior, which could
be injected, by sudden pressure upon
a concealed spring, into the hand Of any
one taken in apparent friendship.
In the very zenith of his life and
power the duke one day 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 adventurer!" angrily
demanded the duke. go, seek him out
and say it is my pleasure to see him at
my palace!"
i The stranger was found and readily
accepted the invitation of the nobleman,
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 your" demanded the duke
in an imperious tono.
II am the Count of Palnera!"
Il At the mention of this title the attend
ant of the duke gave slight, quick
start and fixed his eyes searchingly upon
the stranger.
"I am glad at least to hear you are a
nobleman," pursued the duke, "as the
! thought of having my likeness borne by
: plebeian would have been too humili-
ating. There should be but one such
face in Venice, count!''
$50 think I, duke!"
.. "I may hope, then, You will take
, early leave Of our proud ethyl"
. ST was in hopes your race had made
, arrangements to quit the 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 forced
I smile:
a Your pardon, count; / am too has.
! ty. 1t is not the fault of either of Ut
! that we look alike and have tempers
: alike. If we cannot be friends, there il
: no need of our being enemies.''
: 81 am disposed to meet your grace
. half way in either anger or friendship.
9 ST THANK your lordship, and trust yor
will honor my banquet on Friday even
!, ing next with your presence, when
9 will do myself the pleasure to introduc
your lordship to some of the first noble
: of Venice"
AS Antonio left the presence of hi
r noble master, he seized the first oppor
d tunity to say to the count:
I my lord, have private word fo
r your ear. We are countrymen.
Z .'Indeedp"
i Yes" pursued Antonio, speakin
low and in Spanish. II know you
= house we'll, and I would serve you
y Your life is in danger here"
u 80 ] believe"
Z II think this banquet is given ez
Il pressly to destroy you'll"
q II had my fears.
It "Yet if you will come to it and TO
!. low my instructions you shall not oni
Z be saved, but you will become duke
Francayella.n