El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-02
THE RED DEATH
CBy Paul ViIIiers.)

TN THE middle of :he 18th cen
fury there lived at Venice doge
- who was so rich and powerful that
he was feared alike by friends and enc
mics, Tor in these days murders and
assassinations were the order of the
day.
The doge gave sumptuous and mag
nificent feasts in the splendid nails of
his palace but something always killed
all merriment and JOY at these festi-
Fals-a constant dread of mysterious
messenger of death, and what even
more increased this fear was the red
mask"
At every festival there sat on the
right hand of the dOge a silent mys-
ferrous figure wearing a red domino
and a red mask, which completely hid
its features. Nobody could say who he
was or why he was present. His face
had never been seen nor his voice
heard
He ate and drank, but never. spoke.
Before the guests departed he arose,
shook hands with the noble host and
table shaking the hand of every guest.
After doing this he disappeared
through a secret door and nobody saw
him until the next feast.
As everybody supposed him to be the
doge's mixer of pOisOns, he was looked
upon with awe and fear and he was
always called the red death" How
his terrible crimes were committed no
body knew but it had been discovered
that among the many rings he wore,
one was called the ring of DEATH
peculiar ring with a secret receptacle
filled with poison which opened by
pressure on a spring and killed who
ever was then shaking the land of
its bearer.
When the power of the doge was at
its zenith he was told one day that
man had arrived at Venice who re-
sembled him most strikingly. The news
made the doge furious.
hn &c adv h., ~--.H
Where does he belong and what does
he want here"
Nobody could answer the questions.
Then find him and tell him 1 want
to see him here in the palace imme-
diately."
The stranger was found. accepted
the invitation, and went to the palace
where the dOge received him in his
only one other person.
The resemblance Of the two men
was indeed striking, both were slen-
der and tall dark complexioned and
eyes. Both were about so years of
who are you?" asked the doge an
L am the count of PaImera"
7 am glad to hear that you are a
nObleman, it would have been too hu-
initiating to me to have a double Of
low birth. 1 am told and my own
eyes tell me that you and I resemble
each other very much. mis- does not
please me, COUNT
Nor does it please me, doge."
4 therefore hope that you will ieave
our beautiful city as soon as pos
sible."
And hope. on my part. that your
grace is ready to depart"
You are impudent now, count"
And 1 find that you are, doge"
BY the holy bones of St. Marks, ."
the doge burst out, but he stopped
snort and said with a pleasant smile:
Forgive me count for losing my
temper. 1t is, of course, neither your
fault nor mine that we resemble each
other. If we cannot be friends we need
not be enemies at least but as I was
the first to offend it is for me 20 ask
you to forgive and I hope we may still
be friends some day"
The count bowed and said:
I am ready to meet your grace half
way, be it as a friend or an enemy"
Il thank you count and hope you
will honor my next banquet on Friday
with your presence and 1 viii take
pleasure in introducing you to the first
mobiles of Venice"
Il sincerely hope I shall be able to
come" the count replied.