Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-02-16
A Story Of
Old Venice
By F. A. Mitchell

Carpenti, a 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.
81 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 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 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 a gondola In
which sat a young lady who hailed
Antonelli aud asked:
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.
81 must 60 back" said Antonelli.
"Why so?s' asked Andrea.
81 have forgotten something"
"The doge directed me to bring you
to him without delay"
"HoldI'' 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 A%ntonelli, now
white as a cloth, to the g%ondolier. 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 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. l 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
ney, though 1t was evident that he was
roa1-1I h. ronoa In. odfnl n-aRA-
When the two arrived at the step'
that led up to st. Marks place the.
landed and after traversing a uHrvd
assembled those sfeps TINT fEd and stu
lead into the palace. Then, entering
an anteroom. they waited till the SOW
ereign was ready to receive them.
Meanwhile Antonelii suffered torture.
but he was without fortune, being de-
pendent on his aunt, Signora Caracola,
an old lady who was said to be the
richest N 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
soyereign'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
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 a buffoon, he received Anto-
nelli.
"Signor," said the doge, Il am told
that your unit owns a dog of the
rarest breed in Venice. 1 have sent for
you to offer her through you any price
she may ask for It."
u am quite sure" replied Antonelli,
that my aunt, when appraised of your
royal wish. will present the dog to
your highness.'
a present thai will merit a royal
return. You mSy say to your aunt
that l am about TO make you a noble
and a member of my privy council"
Antonelli was dismissed and, return
ing to the gondola, Joined the Condo
lier in making az quick time as pos
sible to his homa. Before reaching
the steps he leared 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 int>nded for his aun
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