Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-06-11
A Venetian
Episode
BY WILLIAM CHANDLER


rival Wa, citlcr by the stilottO in
the dark or by poison. there lived in
( Venice one Ani.ct Citsini, gentleman
of wealth. whose only daughter, Iita,
was just coming tO u mHiIiagcalie age.
The palazzo Casini stood Oh the bank
of the Grand canal. letWecn the Rialto
and St Marks.
Marriages among the Venetians were
at that time usually contracted for by
the parents of the bridegrOom, but in
this case Signorind Casini having fan
en- in love with young man of equal
rank with herself, no objection was
made to their union. SignUr Ricardo
Centimiri was Il young man of wealth
and family, respected Ivy every one,
and the match was regarded as an ex-
cellent one.
One afternoon. when the Grand ca
nal was a promenade for the wealthy
denizens of Neuice. Signorina Casini
and her tiance were riding in the lat
ter's gondola, lowing to their friends
and acquaintances as they passed. \
stranger from Rome was also riding in
gondola with view to seeing the
beauty and fashion of Venice and on
meeting NIShorliIa 'aSlhl was slruck
with her beauty.
This man was one of the De Medici
family, who in its time played an
important part III the history OF Italy
ana whose members committed SO
many crimes though ms relationship
came through ms mother. HIS name
was Lorenzo 'rlSi1. ON seeing Slgnor-
ina CaSHi 10 MIo.led Who she was
ana on heihf I!.'f.Ied took measures
TO secur" "n i"i' dN''ioh
When ana t!i+H noble Of those days,
especially " re- " u j. saw woman
he wished DID, posses he stopped at
nOthiA" e.. ri visited the Ialazzo
CaSin @ld h"n. Il member Of the
most pow lariiy in Italy. was re
ceivei with E!al hrl favor Though he
knew that Si-nor.ia Lita was betroth-
ed to ltirar.O Centimiri he proposed
for her hand.
The proposal interrupted the pleas
ant conditions with reference to the
engagement of Iita and Ricardo. for
Signor Casini insisted upon his daugh-
ter breaking with him and acccpting
Crispi. This mt once threw the lovers
into sea of trouble Lorenzo Crispi.
having made his proposition. pretended
to leave the matter to he settled bv the
Casini family. but really had determn-
ed that Lita should be his bride.
Slgnor Casini found it more difficult
to force his daughter to give up her
lover aid marry Crispi than he had
supposed After much persuasion and
many threats he told CriSpi that he
feared he must forego the honor done
him 10y member of the DISTINGUISHED
De Medici family. for his daughter
was so wrapped up in Ricardo Cent?
miri that il would he imnossil,Ia +,
force her to break with him. Had
Signor Crispi made his PROPOSAL earlier
Signor Casini had no doubt that all
would have gone well. Crispi simply
bowed to indicate his sorrowful obedi-
ence to the young lady's wishes
Soon after this Crispi saw Ricardo
debark from his gondola at the steps
Of the Palazzo Casini. Crispi ordered
his own gondolier to draw up at the
steps and followed Centimiri to the
house, calling for Signor Casini. Learn
ing that Casini was not at home. but
was expected shortly. Crispi went into
the library to wait for him.
Meanwhile Ricardo ana Lita were in
another room comforting as to how
they could parry the efforts that Were
being made to force Lita to marry the
stranger from Rome. Crispi saw
iackey pass through the hall with
WINE ana glasses on salver. stop
ping the servant he drank glass of
the WINE ana asked the man to whom
lie was taxing IT, The latter told him
that 1t was for Signorina Casini and
her guest
present my compliments To the 81
snoriha ana ASK II may be permitted