The herald., 1898-10-02

ton the matter to me: knowing. -
thou must. that this same gentleman
and lady were mine ancestors"
"Fediddio." said I. hut what thou
sayest IL impossible; for the Lady
Giulietta died within the week after
she had met with Montague. How,
then. could they have been thine an
cestorsw
Listen. fair sir. and I will tell thee
the true story Of these two lovers. and
thou wilt see that say soothe. I
would fain set the exact history Of the
thing before thee, az thou may'st have
heard the tale worse than 1t really IL.
Now in those days, the Montecci and
the Capuletti were the two very hrst
families in all the city Of Verona. In
soothe, they were the very Quintes-
cence Of the genie Mobile. When, there
fore. Romeo, the heir Of the Montecci.
had kept company with Giulietta for
the best part of year, and had been
sitting up with her till four ~ the
clock, on every night for all tina. time.
it was said by everybody. and with
Justice, that 1t would be q match, and
that 1t was a good thing. Presently,
however, the tickle Romeo, casting his
ewes upon a painted and forward Jade
of the vicinity. hight Rosaline. became
enamored of her. and leaving Giulietta
to sit alone o'nights, was seen with his
bold light GLOVE at every show and
pageant of the town. The Capuletti
were at this exceeding wroth, and eft
soons there grew up between them and
the Montecci a fierce quarrel. which
gave promise of ending in much blood
shed, and which would SO have ended.
had It not been for the exceeding pru-
dent wisdom Of Giulietta, who took
into her service an excellent and crafty
man Of the law; which same compelled
the we'll meaning but recreant Romeo
into the presence of the magistrate Of
the city. where he was tried and ex-
amined Of the misdeed of turning from
a maid with whom he had sat ND, and
whose steady company he had been.
The result was that a great fine of
ducats was imposed upon him. rather
than pay which, he gladly did espouse
the noble Lady Giulietta. And she
bare him twelve children. Of which the
youngest was my sixteen-times grand
mother. Thou hast doubtless heard Of
my ancestor, the noble Rinaldo degli
Albizzi, who was banished from Flor
ence in the fifteenth century upon the
accession to power Of Cosimo d'Medici.
It was his great-grandfather. Guido
Albizzi, who sought a bride in the city
of Verona, and who married the
youngest of the dozen children of
Romeo and Giulietta. This is the
true history of the matter, There Is
shame in the turning of Romeo from
Giuletta, but there is also excellent
subject for pride in the wise and pru-
dent manner Of her getting him back"
Far be 1t from me. most sweet and
charming Ippolita. to Rainsay what
thou hast spoken. Thy version of the
story Is, without doubt, the correct one.
sith these Veronese lovers were thine
ancestors. and thou shouldst know best
about the doings Of thine own family.
I would have thee to know. natheless.
that the tale which I was minded to
tell thee of them, though it differed in
some slight particulars from thine own.
was not one to give offense, but rather,
to reflect the greater honor upon thy
progenitors. Therefore, I prythee, take
it not unkindly that I brought I'D the
subject"
The dukes daughter seemed much
consoled by this. and placed her small
hand in mine. with right good will and
with a caressing smile which disclosed
bewitching dimple in each rosy
cheek. I squeezed her soft palm in
mine. and carried her fingers to my
lips. In another moment, had not put
great restraint upon myself, I would
have kissed her upon the mouth.
But sweet my lord" said she,
| think not that thou canst, in this
wyse, escape the question which put
to thee. Tell me, then, I prythee. thy
name without further dallying"
I saw that the story of Romeo and
Juliet, as she had it fixed in her mind,
would avail me nothing, and that I
might as we'll out with the truth, first
as last, and trust myself to her gra-
cious clemency.
know then, Lady Ippolita degli AL
bizzi," said I, chat I am the greatest
enemy of thine house."
"Oh, 90 to-" exclaimed she, with a
drawing affectation Of incredulity.
Upon my honor" said I, with my
hand upon my heart. 1T am none other
than Prince Timoteo, the last of the
Pazzi. and. until this night, the fiercest,
most vindictive and dangerous enemy
of thy noble SIRE"
"Santiddio," calculated the countess.
after regarding me for a moment with
looks of wonder. admiration and inter-
est. this is too delightful, exciting and
romantic for anything. I had heard