The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-11-15
A Story Of
Old Venice
BY F. A. Mitchell

"Signor Antonelli, you are summoned
to attend the doge." Ss
>, The opders was given, by one Andrea
CarpentS d fourtier at tile balaee. An
tonelli had LIFT the dining room of IBIS
dwelling on the grand canal and has
tened ste, his drawing room to receive
the doge's messenger. A
Il will go. with. you in a momctit,'
he said to Carpenti, and, returningsto
the dining room, he finished what he
had been doing when interrupted. A
light luncheon, consisting Of a few bis.
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 it. 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. a.# 49, "
On the way they met gondola in
which sat a young lady who hailed
Antonelli and asked: ,-s
rs 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. "a
II must 60 back" said Antonelli-
"Why SOP asked Andrea. 81
II have forgotten something"
'"The doge directed me to bring you
to him without delay"
"Holdv' cried Antonelli to the Condo.
lier. a.. @'-
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 Antonelll, 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 Antoneli was powerless.
"Come, signor," said the former;
don't forget that If it 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. I 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
cratic and terrible doges who ever rul-
ed Venice, Antonelli. suffered himself
to be mastered and continued the jour-
ncy, 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 Antoneli 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 a.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
presence.
He found the sovereign surrounded
by cOurtiers who were fiattering 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
before being given an audience, and
every moments delay was one Of tor
ture to him At last. after the doge