The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-10
A Story Of
Old Venice
BY F. A. Mitchell

The order was given by one Andrea
Carpenti, q courtier at the palace. An
tonelli had left the dining room OF his
dwelling on the grand canal and has
tened to his drawing room to receive
the doge's messenger.
IT will go 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 a few DIS
cults and a small glass pitcher OF white
wine, was on the table, evidently plac-
! ed there for some one who was ex-
pected to partake of 1t. Antonelli drop
ped a powder on the biscuit, and since
| both powder and biscuit were white
! the former was not noticeable. Then
he rejoined Carpenti, and the two
passed out on to the porch, washed by
the waters of the canal, entered a
gondola and set out for the palace of
| st. Mark.
On the way they met gondola in
which sat a young lady who hailed
Antonelli and asked:
| els 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 SO" asked Andrea.
81 have forgotten something"
"The doge directed me to bring you
to him without delay"
"Holdr' 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 aboutw cried Antoneni, 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.
"Cense, signor," said tho former;
don't forget that II 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 In 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
| 10 nd Tor ho r,,1
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, Sgnora 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
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 fattering and
fawning upon him, for that was a time
: when the Venetian sovereign possessed
almost unlimited power. Even after
entering the presence chamber Anto-
| nelli was kept waiting for some time
t before being given an audience, and
every moments delay was one of tor
ture to him. At last, after the doge
, had listened to long and very dull
r story from buffoon, he received Anto-
: nelli.
SsAu thc toSc, L all
q that your aunt owns a dog of the
q rarest breed in Venice. have sent for
, you to offer her through you any price
she may ask for it,
Q Il 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 l am about to make you a noble
8 and member Of my privy council"
: Antonelli was dismissed and. return.
e ing to the gondola, Joined the Condo
! Her In making as quick time as DOS.
e sible to his home. Before reaching
!, the steps he leaped upon them and
e hurried into the house. In the dining
room he found his aunt and sweet
4 heart mourning over the dead body O,
/, the dog that was coveted by the doge
o Antonelli heaved a sigh of relief
e He was told that the dog had eat
b en- the biscuit intended for his aunt
Signora Caracola, If she suspected moi
e son, did not suspect her nephew. Signo