The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-06
A Venetian
Episode
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

I the dark or by poison. there iEeu IL
Venice one Andrea Casini. II gentleman
of wealth. whose only daughter. Liza
was just coming to II marriase;lble age
! Tie PalazZo CaSini stood ON the Danh
of the Grand canal. between the liialtt
and ST. Mark s
! Marriages among the NcnetiIns were
/ nj that time usually contracted for by
the parents of the bridegroom. but III
this case, Signorina Casini having fal''
en- in love with IL young man OF equa
rank with herself, no objection was
made to their union. Signor Ricardo
Centimiri wis young man Of wealth
and family. respected by every one
and the match was regarded as an en-
celcnt one.
One afternoon. when the Grand ca,
nal was Il promenade for the wealthy
deni2ens of Venice. Signorina Casini
and her tiance were riding in the lat
rcrs gondoa. bowling to their friends
and acquaintance as they passed. a
stranger from Rome was also riding in
gondoa with n view to seeing the
beauty and fashion Of Venice and on
meeting Signorim Casini was struck
with her beauty.
This man was one Of the De Medici
family. who in its time played an
important part in the history OF Italy
and whose members committed so
many crimes. though his relationship
came through his mother. His name
was Lorenzo Crispi On seeing Signor-
ina Casni he inquired who she was
and on being Informed took measures
TO secure an introduction.
When an Italian noble Of those days.
especially De Medici. saw a woman
he wished to possess. he stopped at
nothing. Crispi visited the Palazzo
Casini and. being n member of the
most powerful family In Italy. was re-
ceived with marked favor. Though he
knew that Signorina Lita was betroth-
I'd to Ricardo Centimiri. he proposed
for her hand.
The proposal interrupted the pleas
ant conditions with reference to the
engagement of Lita and Ricardo, for
Signor Casini insisted upon his daugh-
ter breaking with him and accepting
CriSpi This ut once threw the lovers
into Il sea Of trouble, Lorenzo Crispi,
having made his proposition. pretended
to leave the matter to he settled by the
Casini family. but really had determin
cd that I.ita should be his bride
Signor Casini found 1t more difficult
to force his daughter to give up her
lover ana marry Crispi than he had
supposed After much persuasion and
many threats he told Crispi that he
feared he must forcgo the honor done
him by n member of the distinguished
De Medici family. for his daughter
was 50 wrapped up in Ricardo Cent?.
miri that II would he impossible to
force her to break with him. Had
Signor Crispi made his proposal earlier
would have gone well. Crispi simply
bowed to indicate his sorrowful obedi /
rnce to the young Iady's wishes.
soon after this Crispi saw Ricardo /
lcbark from his gondola at the steps /
IF the falazzu Casini. Crisp ordered |
his own gonrlolier to draw up ut the
steps and followed Centimiri to the
house. calling for Signor Casini Learn
ng that CaSini was not at home but
was expected shortly. Crispi went into
It. "a, IA
Meanwhile Ricardo and Iita were In
another room comforting as to how
hey could parry the efforts that were
'cins made to fore I.ita to marry the
stranger from Rome Crispi saw
ackey pass through the hall with
vine and glasses on II salver. Stop
ling the servant. he drank glass of
he wine and asked the man to whom
le was taking 1t. The latter told him
hat 1t wnS for Signorina Casini and
Ter guest.
Present my compliments to the 81
norma and ask If may he permitted
o JON her" said Crispi
Permission could not well be refused
nd Crispi was shown TO the room
rhcre the lovers were.
II desire" he said, with a profound
ow. to congratulate you both on
our engagement. wish you. signor.
IA. as great happiness as | feel dis
fI0intinent for myself"
Responding to these self sacrifciny
'ordS. the lovers proceeded to recipro.
ate. the three pledging one another In
glass of wine. Centimiri was de-
lived, but Lita was not She believed
nat Crispi had some sinister intention
nd resolved to be on her guard with
view to thwarting It. Presently she
'ked to he excused for few mo
ents and left the rivals together
aking position in a room whore yhc
'uld see and could not he seen sbe
Nv Crispi, when Centlmiri was not
serving him. drop something in his
walls glass.
She re-entered the room, and Crisni
id 10 her:
81 was just about to ask Sipnor
antimiri TO pledge me in token of his
'od will. May ask the sa me- of yous'.
1ita consented. Taking up one of the
rec glasses on the table she handed
to Ricardo. the one Crispi had tam.
red with she handed to him and took
O third barSeIf