Year: 1864

Ice miss the stately Count PesarO from his
baunts at the Brogolio and the tables of the
Ridotto, And when they knew at length
from the windows of his palace, and his
houseless servitors that he was gone, they
shook their heads mysteriously, but never
said word


The wretched Fra Paolo, in urging his
claim for the absent Enrico gave token
that he knew of the sin and shame Of the
Count Pesaro. Such knowledge no private
man might keep in the Venetian State and
live. The poor priest was buried where no
inscription might be written, and no friend
might mourn. ">


In those feeble days of Nenice which
went before the triumphant entry Of Napol-
con, when the Council of Three had learn
ed to tremble, and the Lion of st. Mark was
humbled- came from Corfu, palsied
old man whose name was Enrico Pesaro,
bringing with him on only son, who was
called Antonio.


The old man sought to geather such re-
mains Of the Pesaro estate, as could be
saved from the greedy hands of the Gov
ernment and he purchased rich masses
for the souls of the murdered father and
brother


He died when Venice died, leaving as a
legacy to his son broken estate and the
bruised heart, with which he had mourncd
the wrong done to his kindred. The boy
Antonio had onl y mournful memories Of the
old Venice, where his family-once a fami-
ly Of honor and Of great deeds-was cut
down and the new Venice was conquer
ed city


In the train of the triumphant army of It.
lily, there came, after few years, many
whose families had in past time been for
gotten An old love for the great city
whose banner had foatcd proudly in all
seas, drew them to the shrine in the water.
where the ashes of their fathers mouldercd
Others wandered hither in seeking vestiges
OF old inheritance or it might be, traces
Of brothers, or of friends long parted from
them.


Among these there came, under the guar
dianship of a great French general, a pea
sivc girl from Avignon, and yet she spoke
well the language Of Italy, and her name
was that of house which was one great
| i'll Venice. She sought both friends and III
! heritance


Her story was singular one. Hergrand-
father was once royal ambassador to the





night from her house to meet upon the
shores of the Lagoon, Venetian lover,
who was Of noble family, but culprit of
the State. As she approached the rendez-
vous upon the fatal night, she found i'll the
distance a flaming barge of ST. Mark, and
presently after, heard the cry and struggles
of some victim of State cast into the La
gOOn.


Her gondola came up in time to save An
tonic Pesaro


The Government put no vigor in its
search for drowned men and the two fu-
gitives, made man and wife, iourneyed
safely across Piedmont The arm of St
Mark was very strong for vengeance, even
i'll distant countries and the fugitive ones
counted it safe to wear another name, until
years should have made secure again the
title of Pesaro.


The wife had also to contend with the
opposition Of father whose abhorrences
Of the Venetian name would permit no re-
Cancellation and no royal sanction Of the
marriage. Thus they lived, outcasts from
Venice, and outlawed in France in the val
ley town of Avignon. With the death of
Pesaro the royal ambassador relented; but





sought him only to bequeath to his care the
child.


But Blanche Pesaro, child as she was,
could not love parent who had not loved
her mother; and the royal ambassador who
could steel his heart toward a suffering
daughter, could spend but little sympathy
on an Italian child. Therefore Blanche
was glad under the protection of a Repub-
lican General of Provence, to seek what
friends or kindred yet to be found III the
Island City, where her father had once lived
and her mother had loved. She found there
young Count (for the title had been re-
vived) Antonio Pesaro, her own fathers
name and her heart warmed toward him,
as to her nearest of kin. And the young
Antonio Pesaro, when he met this young
cousin from the West, felt his heart warm
ed toward one whose story seemed to lift a
crime from off the memory of his father
There was no question of inheritance, for
the two parties joined their claim, and
Blanche became Countess Pesaro.


But the pensive face which had bloomcd
among the olives, by Avignon dropped I'M
der the harsh wind that whistled among the
leaning houses of Venice And the Count
who had inherited sadness, found lasting
and deeper grief in the wasting away and
death Of Blanche, his wife


She died on dull November day, in the
tall dismal house, where the widowed
Count now lives. And there the daughter
Blanche left him to arrange flowers on the
ledge of the topmost windows, where a
little sunshine finds its way


The broken gentleman fingers for hours
at the portrait of the old Count, who was
the lnquisitor, and of Antonio who had
a wonderful escape ; and they say that he
has. inherited the deep selfreproaches which
his father cherished, and that with stern
and silent mourning for the sins and weak
nesses which have stained his family name,
he strides with his vacant air through the
ways of the ancient city. expecting no
friend but DEATH he MarrePS " Serca
Stories, lcdb Basement and Attic"


To Cook CABBACE.-Cut fine, add very
little water, cover closely and cook until
l. j Al.