Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-13

was living in the house of my
ancestors. The house was very
large and / was it's sole inhabitant,
for my two brothers had both mar.
ried and settled elsewhere, leaving
me this mansion as part Of my in.
heritance. During the Summer
months, when people quit the city
for the country. / used also to visit
the rural districts. l was In the
habit of leaving the keys of my house
with corn merchant, my neighbor, a
very honest man.
1t CHANGED one Autumn, through
one of the tricks which my evil for
tune never ceased to play me. that
rains and floods kept me away long
er than usual--far into November.
indeed. Snow upon the mountains
and the winds which brought fine
weather caused an intense cold.
Finally. an hour after midnight. / ar
rived in Venice, half dead with the
discomforts of the j0urney-frozen,
fatigued and craving sleep. left my
boat, made porter shoulder my va.
lise and a servant take my hatbox
under his arm. Then l set off for
home, wrapped up in my cape. all ex.
pectant of my snug, warm bed.
When we reached the lane in which
was my house we found it so crowded
with people in masks and folk of both
sexes that it was quite impossible for
my two attendants with their burdens
to push way to my house door
What the devil is the meaning of
this crowd" l asked a bystander.
"A patrician has been made patri-
arch of Venice" was the mans reply.
They are keeping open house-bread
wine and money are being distributed
TO the poor for three days. That is the
reason for this enormous crowd"
then thought that by going around
a way ! knew / might get into my
abode. | accomplished this long de.
tour with the bearers of my luggage.
but when l finally glimpsed my house
| was astonished to see the windows
thrown wide open and m ablaze with
lighted candles burning like the
palace of the sun. After standing 10
minutes agaZe, with my mouth open
in contemplation of this phenomenon.
shook myself together, took heart.
crossed the bridge and knocked loudly
at my door.
When the door opened two Of the
-,
pointing their speats at my breast,
and crying fiercely: There is no road
this way
How I exclaimed, even more
astonished. Then. more gently. !
asked. why can't get in here"
Because there is no admittance at
this door. You must put on mask
and seek TO enter by the great gate
which you see there on the right--the
gate OF the patriarch's palace. AS the
wearer of a mask you will be permit.
ted TO pass in by that door and par.
take OF the feast"
But supposng I were the master
OF this house. and had come home
tired from journey. half frozen and
dropping with fatigue-coud not
then get into my house and lie down
IN my own bed?' tried TO voice all
this in as calm manner as was DOS.
sible under such extraordinary circum.
stances.
"Ah, the MASTER" replied one Of
those fierce sentineis. please wait
my dear sir. and you will receive an
answer"
With these words they slammed
my own door in my face and | was
left standing there. awaiting an
answer.
1 stared, like n man out OF his
inlnd, nj my porter and my servant.
Inc porter and the servant stared
BACK AT me az though they were I'm.
der a spell. At last the door opened
again and a major domo. all in gold
Hc". appeared. With many bows and
lhciinatons Of the body, he Invited me
70 enter my own house. did so. and
"hiie passing up the stairs. asked this
important parsonage what sort of en-.
chantment had befallen my dwelling
SO you do not know" he aueried
My master. the patrician. foreseeinc
thnt his brother would be elected
patriarch. and wanting room for the
usuai festival. was DESTROYS of uniting
inns house TO his own by little bridge
OF communication thrown across the
windows. The plan was carried out
WIN your consent. my dear sir. II is
mere that part OF the feast is being
celebrated. and bread and money
thrown from the windows to the peo.
PIE All the same. you need no, fear
mat the room in which you sieep has
not been carefully reserved and kent
Scrupubusly closed. Come with me
and YOU shall soon see for yourself
1 was still more astonished. With
my consent? Such consent had never
been given. and. Furthermore, no one