Baxter Springs news., 1919-04-18


Possibly years sfteryOu have read this story, your mini
will revert to 1t as priceless gem.
Geneva -Ginevra tsseA-
ever you should 60 to Geneva,
Stop at the palace the Reggie gate,
Dwelt in of old by one Of the Donsti.
Its noble gardens, terrace above terrace,
And rich in fountains, statues, Expresses,
viii long detan you; but, before you 60,
Enter the house-forget it moi, j pray yOo-
And look awhile upon a picture there.
Tis of lady in her earliest youth,
The last Of that illustriOus family;
Done by Zampieri; but by whom care mot.
He, who observes it. ere he passes on
Gazes his FILL and comes and comes again,
That he may call It up when far away.
She SITS inclining forward as to speak,
Her lips half open, and her finger up,
Az though she said, "Beware!" her vest e gold,
Brodered with flowers, and clasped from bead to foot
An emerald stone in every golden claspf -
And ON her brow, fairer than aabasters
cOrOnet Of pearls.
But then lSr face
So lovely, yet so arch, full Of mirth. u
The oyerAOwings Of an innocent heart;
- II hHunts me ytill; tho many year has, haa~ '--
Like some wild melOdyl =
Alone IT. hangs
Over mOldering heirloom; its companion,
An Oaken chest half eaten by the worm,
But richly carved hy Antony OF tFentp
With scripture stories from the life Of Christ;
chest that came from Venice, and had held
The ducal robes Of some old ancestors
That, by the way, it may be true or false
But don't forget the picture; and you will not
When you have heard the tale they told me there.
She was an only child, her name Ginevra,
The joy, the pride Of indulgent father;
And in her fifteenth year became a bride,
Marrying an only son, Francesca DOria,
Her playmate from her birth, and her first love-
Just as she looks there, in her bridal dress, .
She was all gentleness, all gayety,
Her pranks the favOrite theme of every tongue.
But now the day come, the day, the hour;
Now frowning, smiling for the hundredth time,
The nurse, that ancient lady, preached decOrum;
And, in the lustre of her youth, she gave -
Her hard; with her heart in it, tO Francesca.
Great was the joy; but at the nuptial feast,
When ell sat down. the bride herself was wanting;
Nor was she to be found! Her father cried,
"Tis but to make trial of our lOve"-
And filed his glass to all; but his hand shook,
And soon from guest to guest the panic spread.
Twas but that instant she had left Francesca,
Laughing and looking back and flying still,
Her ivory tooth imprinted on his finger.
But n0w alas she was not to be found;
Nor from that hour could anything be guessed,
But that she notl
Weary of his life,
francesca new 70 Venice, and emDafklng,
Flung it away in battle with the Turk.
DOnah lived and long might you have seen
An old man wandering as in queSteOf something,
Something he could not find, he knew not what
When he was gone the house remained awhile
Silent and tenantless; then went to StrangerS
Full fifty years were past, and all forgotten,
When an idle day, q day Of search
Mid the old lumber in the gallery,
That mOudering chest was noticed, and twas said
By one as young as thOughtless Is GinsVTa,
"Why not remove it from its lurking plaee7"
Twas done as soon as said; but on the way
Il burst, it fell; and lol skeleton,
With here and there pearl, emerald stones
A golden clasp, clasping shred Of gold.
All else had perishsd, save wedding ring,
And small SEAL her mothers legacy,
EngTaven with q name, the name Of both;
"Gmevra."
There, then she had found grave:
Within that chest had she concealed hsrsslf
F1utssring with Joy, the hAppiest Of 4he happy,
When . springlOck, that lay in ambush thoESs
Fastsned-her down foreveri