The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-09-07
A MEDIEVAL
LOVE AFFAIR
By MARGARET L BLISS
Copyright BY American Press Asso-
ciation. isl1.

= I
Ponte vecchlo. spanning the river Al
no. into the main part OF the city. Be
side the duchess SAT young girl note'
especially for her fair complexion an'
golden hair. From an upper window
overlooking the bridge q young MAJ
looked down on the cavalcade. AbOu
stood a crowd OF persons dividing thei
glanees between the young man ans
the young girl beside the duchess Hi
eyes were riveted on her. while shs
glanced up at him They were know
to be lovers. all Florence sympathizet
with them. and the crowd had collect
ed 70 observe this lovers look thai
passed between them.
The girl was Maddalena. the daugh
ter OF Bernardo vettori. surnamed ''ths
light haired" and Il was from him
that his daughter Inherited Der locks
OF gold as well as an immense fortune
The mother OF Maddalena when wild
owed married Pietro Salviati and. in
order 70 keep her fortune In the fam
ily. the stepfather betrothed her when
still a child TO his son by a former
marriage. But this young man was
killed in battle
When Maddalena came to a mar
riageable age a love affair came about
between her and Lodovico Capponi.
who owned a villa in the country adj
joining one Of her own II was a
grand passion on both sides. and the
fame was tanned By opposition Mad
dalena's stepfather. stiIl bent on keep
ing his fortune In his own family. per
suaded Duke Cosimo 70 forbid the mar
rage Despite her own. her mothers
and her lovers protests and entreaties
the girl was placed In a convent
LodOvico was fiery young man. and
II was hoped BY the stepfather that he
would commit some act Of violence
which would afford an excuse TO ban
ish him. lock him up or otherwise dis
pose OF him But the lover displayed
more self control than had been ex-
pected and refused to give his enemy
the coveted opportunity.
Maddalena's mother told the story Of
her daughters love and misfortunes TO
the duchess and succeeded In interest
ing her. The affair was known 70 all
Florentines. who were a poetic and
artistic people easily moved by story
Of love Moreover. they feared that
II the duke was able to prevent this
marriage be would prevent others
Therefore. though al the power to
keep the lovers apart was on one side.
III 49, .vr,r,et,- 49, -. 49, ofhor
The duchess finally succeeded in per
suading her husband 10 permit her to
invite Maddalena to visit her for a
few days at the palace. Instead Of
days she remained months. But the
struggle TO compel her TO resign her
lover was not given up Indeed. her
invitation came In order to unite Der
with another sutton. By the dukes
order Lodovico was never mentioned !
except IN contempt. while SigismondO |
d Rossi. q favorite OF the duke. was
always spoken Of with the highest
praise
LOdovicO. not being permitted to visit
the girl be loved. rented a house over
looking the P0nte yecchio. from which
be could look down upon her and re-
cefve her return glance whenever she
crossed the bridge with the duchess
Il was one Of these occasions that
has been described at the opening Of
his story. a scene that would not ike
y have happened anywhere except In
he city Of the medieval Italian poets
md painters whose names and works
ire part even Of the present age The
ridge that Maddalena crossed stands
oday. traversed daily By thousands Of
and tourists
Perhaps no incident in the history
( Florence can 50 well express the
Inference between that age. that peo-
lie and this. Fancy a crowd at the
ntrance Of q PARK 10 an American
ity, Washington for instance. wait
lg TO see an heiress driven out with
be presidents wife. her lover stand
lg at the window Of house be has
ired for the express purpose Of see
e bis ladylove go By. That age
as passed. but romance still exists (
nd is as deep set 10 human nature a.
yer. While the people Of that day
'ere interested in Individual cases.
e now End its expression IN best
.Ilers.- have we not in this respect
egenerated7 =
Whether IT was that the duke. who
as only interested 10 Salviati's plans
trough friendship for him. found that &
; was playing losing game for him y
II. becoming unpopular. or whether &
} met an undercurrent Of opposition y
ON those prominent families who {
AIRED bis power TO interfere in their 8
W affairs. IL not recorded. but IN :
y event bis opposition suddenly col
psed- One morning at daylight an
woman appeared at Lodovico's
dside and awakened him with some
tonishing and delightful news She
re q message from the duchess
,dovico was summoned TO the palace
take Maddaiena away with him and
epare for an immediate marriage.
The lover bounded out Of bed and
gan the preparations At once. going
soon AZ be was dressed 10 the pal
e. All Florence was Interested IN
E wedding. which took place at the
use from which the lover had 80