Year: 1867

picture of Venetian life by the painter Francesca
Mayez. which excfes peculiar Interest in the VS.
tor. 1t is interior apartment in the ducal pal
ace. where three aged Senators. evidently the ia
nous Council of Three, are holiag one of their
secret sessions.


One of them tall proud igure. with the finely
chseled. intellectual, dark face familiar to Us in
old Venetian portraits, has risen in excitement, and
with stern gesture is addressing young and
beautiful woman, who sinks fanring on the stone
floor.


She is supported by an official who seems to dep
recate the harsh manner Of the Senator. notary
behind the table in the of the group, is max
ing record of the proceedings


The story on which the picture is founded IS con-
tanned 10 French romance of the seventeenth cen
tury, and though anthentlcatlon ot 1t has been
discovered in the Venetian archives. it probably
/ rests tradition then current. II not, it is no
less true reflection of the character Of the time
in Venice, when, amid the gay pageant OF its -four
iShing and gorgeous life. rose that dark mysterI-
strbunal-irreSponsble remorseess, irressi ibie
as fate, which held in its hand the whole
power of the republic. The story runs thus:
Valenzia was the daughter OF the Senator Gran
denigo, By BIRTH therefore, of the first ladies'
of Venice. She had all the rich beauty Of her
countrywomen. with this remarkable distinction.
admired in proportion to its that her hair
was of the loveliest blonde color, changing in the
TO gold and 50 abundant that 1t fell IN
heavy shining waves below her knees.
beautiful Italian woman Of ninei cen could not
be without lover. and Valencia had already yield
ed Tue nf>t bloom OF ner heart 10 tDe young pdls-
clan Leonardo. Whether from necessity or the
mere caprice Of youthful fancy the attachment was
kept secret from their respective families. and the
young pair met only in the palace of Leonardos
bosom friend. Antonio Fescarini.


! Even he was not entrusted with the name of the
/ lady, who stole closely veiled, into his house.
nor had he ever been favored with glimpse Of her
+ face But the glowing eulogy of her charms, to
which he compelled to lsten-especially the
description of her wonderful hair-excited his i'm
t all the and the idea fastened Itself
il bis mind that in those golden threads lay some
magic power which had enthralled his friend for
heretofore Leonardo had been insensible to female
attractions.


! For a time the conrse of true love ran smooth.
Then, Suddenly as if the earth had opened TO him
Leonardo disappeared, and in few days after his
lifeless body found in one of the canals which
vein the city of the


deep wound in his breast showed that he mad
been the victim of assassination Valenzia's grief
had all the stormy violence of first great sorrow
But far more profound the affection OF the
friend, who sincerely believed that the mortal stab
had been given by jealous rival.
Leonardo! Leonardo - he exclaimed as he
gazed on the bloody corpse, 1.-THE accursed blonde
locks ans werabe for this deed =
From that hour unconquerable aversion to
blonde hair took possession of him. which grew
into monomania. 1t the fashion Of the day
in Venice for ladies to bleach their dark hair by the
of chemical preparations and so strong and un-
disguised was his contempt for the practice as to
obtain for him the name of the Blonde Hair Halter.
His relatives. anxious to divert his mind from
these morbid recollections and fancles. urged him
/ to marry.


He was one of the handsomest of the young pa
trcians of Venice-hs figure noble his face full of
intelligence AMI feeling and he had further pass
port to the favor of the ladies in his singular devo
ton in friendship and his corresponding ndfier-
ence to themselves. Admiration, sympathy, pique,
conspired to render him object of ranScendent
interest To the fair sex.


His friends led him from one gay circ lie to anotA
er, in the hope that he might unawares find him
self in the meshes of the blind little god 1t was
all in vain. At length the father settled the ques
ton by an arrangement with the Senator Grande-
nigo for a marriage between the two families, and
Antonio found himself pledged to the connection
entirely without his knowledge or consent But
such marriages of domestic or state policy the
rnle in Venice, and his heart having no tie else
where he submitted without remonstrance. Pre-
parafions were FASTENED, and the wedding day was
appointed


Valencia had yielded with less reluctance, nay,
even with a degree Of mournfnl pleasure.


She well knew Antonio although herself wholly
unknown to him. Their mutual attachment to the
lost Leonar rdo tender bond. His ncOnSolable
grief for one dearest to her had given him sacred
place in her heart. Her own lot. moreover, was
tuil of discomfort and chagrin her father being
of those stern and cruel men whose iron rule turns
the palace into detesed prison. After the dealt
of her lover she had wished to bury her sorrows in
a convent but the old Senator, who regarded his
daughter simply an instrument of family aggran-
diZement, had peremptorlly and harshly refused
his assent


Life with the honorable gentle and true hearted
Antonio seemed 10 her crushed spirit blessed
cape from this bondage and thus it happened that
she not MY assented without objection to her ia
TIERS plan. bat became most anxious to win the af
tectionS Of her bridegroom Knowing too well his
morbid prejudice to blonde hair she dared not
veal to him at once the secret of her history, and
accordingly stipulated that he should not see her
face until the dav of their marriage.


Antonio. utterly indifferent to the whole affair,
had nothing to say in opposition. But etiquette
required that he should pay assiduous court to his
veiled bride. and these interviews soon began to
have an unexpected interest to him. Her charac-
ter, softened and exalted by sorrow, harmonized
with the tone of his own heart her sweet anxiety
tor his regard, the grace of her shrouded figure,
wove around him insensibly tender spell which
he wished not TO break


As hope re-awoke in her bosom she grew more
charming and more conscious of her power the
morning of new life of happiness dawned upon
her and she looked forward with increased conf
dence to the approaching revelation.


The wedding arrived under the happiest auspi-
ces magnificent assembly was gathered in the
Grandenigo palace. and the handsome and joyous
bridegroom awaited with impatence the movement
which should disclose 10 him the features OF his
bride bat that movement changed all. The instant
that Valencia, throwing off her veil, revealed that
glory of golden hair floating, glttering about her
person. the frenzy returned on him with redoubed
violence.


Nne ud> utCelNeu uc CIlcu, III i Nliu uuist
of anger and breaking his way through the aston
ished company, rushed forth without a word of ex-
PLANTATION to Grandinego, or casting even look on
the deserted bride.


That from this hour a deadly feud Ike that of
the Montagues and Capulets divided the two hon.
of FoScsrn and Grandnego. a matter of
course Valencia alone could not share this feeling.
She blamed her own fraud, so innOcently meant,
the sole cause of the calamity, and mourned her
second lover with a far more deep and last
ing than she had given TO the first. Her father
gave himself no rest in his efforts to avenge this
uishonor of his house. But for the present he
able only to gain the eXpatriation Of young Antonio,
and this under the honorable form OF an embassy to
France. he bided his time.


After four years absence Antonio returned from
France. His welcome home was a summons, the
fruits of Grandinegos abors. TO appear before the
ence in certain points the orders of the Council
His bold defence, and the conclusive proofs he
adduced of the skilltul manner in which he per
formed his mission procured his honorable acquit.
tai. But plots thckened around his path. enemies
lurked for him every hand, and time after time
he barely escaped through the warnings Of
known friend.


That friend was no other than the true hearted
Valencia who watched over him with the care of
protecting angel, nor even relinquShed her chosen
Office when he entered into a marriage engagement
with noble Spanish lady Bat il was the oppor
tGnity long sought for by her father who now &C
cuSed him before the Council of secret alliance
with a foreign power, and procured his imprSon-
ment. Valencia had warned him in time, and had