Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-14

been disclosed to show that her story
Is most romantic one.
HER EARLY LIFE.
The investigation has shown that
from 1878 to 1870 n girl
known as Felicia Zarantonello
Bevalacqua lived at Valdagno in
the house of a lawyer, Bettino Beva
lacqua, as member Of his family. She
was exceptionally beautiful amiable
and good, but the rest OF the household
showed the strongest aversion to her.
why? In the answer to that question
probably lies the solution of the mys-
te'y OF her own parentage. Why should
they have disliked one who was adj
mired and made much OF by all the rest
OF the village? 1t renders plausible the
explanation which has been advanced
TO account for it-that she was linked
with a discreditable chapter IN the life
or Bevalacqua-tha her existence was
PROOF that he had not always been the
emlrently respectable man he appeared
to leland on this account his wife and
cther children resented her presence
among them. No record has been found
o. her birth. Who was her mother has
never been satisfactorily proved
LEFT HOUSE IN TEARS.
Whatever may have been the cause
OF the beautiful Felicita's unpopularity
with the rest of the household, curious
neighbors saw her leave the house one
day weeping bitterly, and enter a wait
ing carriage. The spectacle caused a
sensation There was not young man
IN Naldagno who would not gladly have
Jumped at the chance TO avenRe the
slght or wrong done to the belle of
tue village. some of them gathered
about the vehicle intent on Learning
the cause of her distress and hoplnn
that they might obtain a commission
from her TO punch somebody's head but
before they could put any questions TO
her, the driver whipped up his steed
and Felicia was driven rapidly away.
AT the house II was said that she had
gore 20 i've with some friends IN Rome.
and thar she might never return.
The village heard some six months
Bier, that the pennless Felicia had
found a fortune IN her face and had
contracted brilliant marriage. A year
later, as the Duchess La Masa, she paid
a visit TO the village and dagzled all
bebclders by her equipage, her mag
niiicent apparel and her ripened beauty.
The admirers Of her obscure DAYS scarce
dared to lift their eyes to her. She
flashed before them like a radiant vi
sion and was gone. and Valdagno saw
her no more, but her beauty Is stu one
~ the most cherished traditions of the
Village.
LIVED HAPPILY LONG.
For many years she lived happily as
the wife of The Duke La Masa, the
well known Garibaldian general ana
TOOK her place among the leaders Of So
Getty as one to the manner born. After
his death she inherited his fortune
and having no children 10 share
II, devoted herself to works of charity.
During her lifetime so far as Is known.
she made no efforts to discover any
or her relations. At the time OF her
death no suspicion existed In the cir
cles IN which she had so long been
q conspicuous figure that she was OF
humble origin or had been born out of
wedlock. But for her strange will no
such suggestions would have come To
light
The Investigations which have re-
suited from that document have led
TO the discovery that her marriage To
the Duke La Masa is enveloped i'm mys-
terry. No official record Of il has been
found. No one knows Just where or
N'i'li u Npuh pace, ne only proof
that such a ceremony was performed
IN a note which was sent from tho
municipality Of Trabia 10 the mayor
Of Valdagno ION the marriage of Cen
erai Giuseppe La Masa 10 Felicita
Bevalacqua.' But there II ends with
no hint OF when or where II occurred
AS matters now stand there Is no legal
evidence that she ever was the wife OF
the duke II is even denied that II has
been conclusivcly established that she
was Feliclta Bavalacqua the girl who
lived with the Valdagno attorney as n
member of his family. An this further
complexities the case much to the de-
light OF the counsel engaged upon n
for It means moro rich plcklngs for
them.
Many OF the claimants are descend
ants Of Bettino Bevalacoua. They as
sert that Felicia was an ilegitinate
daughter OF Bevalacaua. but they main
tain that she was legitimixed before
her marriage to Cen lie Masa. They
have furnished no proof, however. that
the bar sinister was thus effaced. and
In the absence OF any such proof they