The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-28
A Story Of
Old Venice
BY F. A. mitchell

dwelling on the grand canal and has
the doges messenger.
81 will 60 with you in a moment"
he said to Carpenti, and, returning to
the dining room, he finished what he
had been doing when interrupted. A
light luncheon, consisting of few bis
cults and small glass pitcher Of white
wine, was on the table, evidently plac-
ed there for some one who was ex-
pected to partake Of it. Antonelli drop
ped powder on the biscuit, and since
both powder and biscuit were white
the former was not noticeable. Then
J he rejoined Carpenti, and the two
passed out on to the porch, washed by
| the waters Of the canal, entered
gondola and set out for the palace of
st. Mark.
On the way they met a gondola in
which sat young lady who hailed
AntOneli and asked:
"Is your aunt at home this morning.
signor?"
! ''She is" replied Antonelli.
I'm going to lunch with her."
BY this time the gondolas passed
without the range of hearing.
II must go back" said Antonelli.
'Why 500" asked Andrea.
81 have forgotten something"
1.-THE doge directed me to bring you
to him without delay"
Hold" cried Antonelli to the Condo
lier.
Proceed" said Andrea. "Since you
must make choice between your be-
| trothed and the doge you must give
preference to your sovereign"
Turn about" cried Antonelli, now
white as cloth, to the gondolier. Start
ing up, he was about to seize the pole
from the man when Andrea threw his
arms about him and held him. Andrea
was much the stronger, and in his
clutch Antonelli was powerless.
"Come, signor," said the former;
don't forget that If 1t were reported to
the doge that after starting to obey his
summons you turned back to be with
your sweetheart it might cost you your
head. am befriending you Inv pre-
! venting your bringing misfortune upon
yourself and through yourself upon the
fair Signorina Marcia Copelli."
Through fear Of offending his sover-
eign, who was one Of the most auto
cratic and terrible doges who ever ruL
ed Venice, Antonelli suffered himself
to be mastered and continued the jour-
ney, though it was evident that he was
racked by some dreadful emotion.
When the two arrived at the steps
that led up to st. Marks place they
landed and after traversing an interval
assembled those steps that led and still
lead into the palace. Then, entering
an anteroom, they waited till the SOW
/ ereign was ready to receive them.
Meanwhile Antonelli suffered torture.
He was betrothed to SignOrina Copelli.
but he was without fortune, being de-
pendent on his aunt, SignOra CaracOla,
an old lady who was said to be the
richest woman in Venice. Every morn
! ing Signora Caracola partook of light
! luncheon and goblet Of Italian wine, a
, beverage not much stronger than grape
Juice. AntOnelli. who was her heir and
DESTROYS of getting possession Of her
wealth at once, had dropped the pow
I der on the biscuit she would eat to
put her out of his way by poison.
He was in terror lest his sweetheart
be poisoned as well.
! For an hour he waited the pleasure
of the doge, then was admitted to his
sovereign's presence.
He found the sovereign surrounded
by courtiers who were flattering and
fawning upon him, for that was time
when the Venetian sovereign possessed
almost unlimited power Even after
entering the presence chamber Anto-
nelli was kept waiting for some time
before being given an audience. and
every moments delay was one of tor
ture to him. At last, after the doge
had listened to a long and very dull
story from buffoon, he received Anto-
nelli
'Signor." said the doge, 81 am told
that your aunt owns dog Of the
rarest breed in Venice. / have sent for
you to offer her through you any price
she may ask for it,"
II am quite sure" replied Antonelli,
"that my aunt, when apprised of your
royal wish, will present the dog to
your highness.'
"A present that will merit a royal
return. You may say to your aunt
that / am about to make you noble
and member of my privy council"
Antonelli was dismissed and, return
ing to the gondola, Joined the Condo
lier in making as quick time as pos
sible to his home. Before reaching
the steps he leaped upon them and
hurried into the house. In the dining
room he found his aunt and sweet
heart mourning over the dead body of
the dog that was coveted by the doge.
Antonelli heaved a sigh of relief.
He was told that the dog had eat
en- the biscuit intended for his aunt.
Signora Caracola,. if she suspected poi
son, did not suspect her nephew. Signo-
r1na Copelli thought deeper and, know