The San Francisco call., 1904-09-25
Princess GiOyanelli, Whose
Own Child Died Gives Her
Love to Son of Another
LEAVES HIM FORTUNE
Romantic Tale Is Told of
Palace, Where an Heir Was
Born to Venetian Throne


magnificent Gothic windows was to be
seen one Of the fairest and gayest
scenes on earth, the bright blue waters
sparkling in the sun, rejecting the
fairy-like palaces and churches, the
gondolas floating by, while not a sound
was to be heard but the dip Of the
oars, the calls Of the gondoliers and an
occasional song.
But inside the palace there was the
sound OF weeping. for the long and
eagerly expected heir had been born
only 10 close his eyes in death, and
his mother. ii was thought, would soon
follow her little son.
only one thing can save her" said
the doctor, If she comes 10 know that
her baby has not lived her case is
hopeless, but if you can give her an
other it may save her life"
What was TO be done? The Prince
wrung his hands, but suddenly he
sprang 10 his feet and seizing his cloak
he hurriedly left the pa.ace. An hour
later he returned and in his arms was
boy, month old. Princess Giovan-
the size Of the child. and she recovered
and nursed the babe and loved it as
her own, knowing no difference, and
giving him the name or Alberto.
Two years later a domestic was an
grily dismissed by her, and in revenge
told her that the child was not hers.
Then ensued a terrible scene with her
husband.
Is the boy yours?" she demanded.
He is" he replied, very pale.
But he is not mine" she cried, and
he could not deny it.
So" she said. you dared impose
on me, a Princess Chigi, Take the
child away and do not let me see
either Of you again"
BECOMES RECONCILED.
The palace. however. was large. and
the Prince, instead Of leaving the CITY.
smut himself up with his son in a little
Used wing OF the building, and for
weeks the husband and outraged wife
never met. Meanwhile Princess Clio
Vannelh ate her heart out in solitude.
deprived by her pride of both husband
and child. whom she had worshiped
one day, in passing TO her gondola. she
heard through an open door a little
voice lisping, Where is mamma %
This melted the ice and a moment af-
ter she had the boy in her arms and
was herself in those Of her husband.
He then told his story. The little Al
bertO was really his son. born Of 2
poor girl who died in childbirth. and it
was only his desperation at his wife's
condition which induced him to deceive
her
The Principino, as he was called. was
then formally adopted by both Prince
and Princess, confirmed by royal de-
cree, but their efforts to induce King
. Humbert 10 give him legally the title
and name Of Prince GiovanneIi were
long and arduOus, as the King was
much opposed 10 giving titles in this
way. The GiOvannelli and Chigi infiu-
ence at last proved potent, however.
so the adopted boy is now legally Prince
GiOvannelli
Years passed. Princess Giovannelli
died and left Prince Alberto all her
considerable dot which came to her as
q Princess Of the house Chigi; then the
old Prince also died and also left every
son,
making him one Of the richest of the
rich young aristocrats Of Italy.
We must now 90 back 200 years A
certain eccentric Prince Giovanneui in
1903, feeling his end near and having a
fantastic worship for his own name.
left viii and a codicil, the latter to be
opened by the head Of the cadet branch
only when the chief branch Of the house
should be extinct. The codiciI was de-
posted in the archives of Venice.
Prince after Prince married and had
sons, and the old codicil was forgotten
except by those whom it most con-
cerned- In distant and poor branch
of the house. which was also prolific.
the words I'VE Will be happy when the
codicil is opened" became a legend.
OPENS THE TESTAMENT.
In June. 1904, a poor telegraph clerk.
Alfonso Giovannelh. was sitting in his
modest house trying to think how he
could add 10 his stipend OF $50 a month
so as 10 educate his children. At that
moment a bright little fellow OF Z wears
bounded into the room. singing at the
top OF his voice in a kind OF refrain
How happy We shall be when the cod
icn is opened, when the codici is
opened" His father gazed at him for
a moment and then with a wboon
sprang out Of his chair and fed from
the house, shouting, That is il: that is
it," The history Of Prince GiovanneIli
was well known TO him, and the boys
words Illuminated the fact that the mo-
ment had come TO open the ancient tes
lament. His lawyer said that there
might not be anything TO benefit him.
but il was worth while reading il.
Lawyers and emissaries were sent to
Prince Alberto, who had never heard
Of the codicil. who scoffed at the idea
of any such document and looked upon
il all as a conspiracy to get money
from MIN. but the Naples lawyers were
not 10 be stopped, and, having an idea
of The date Of the desired document
soon found il, musty and yellow with
age, covered with the dust of centu-
ries. They carried the information to