OCR Text |
Show THE what an ass andimbecile he had made of himself, he struck himself savagely in innecent; and if she smiled at they were ready to declare even the face with snarled: selves guilty. his clenched fist and But when the Masterof the Ducal Treasury stole the funds entrusted to him and then kicked himself because he had squandered everyth:ng on the fair one there could be no more mercy ex- “DAMNATION!” [TO BE CONTINUED.| Written for the Western Too A STORY Weekly.| tended. Beautiful FROM MEDIEVAL ITALY. _ B)\ MAURUS JABIA. (TRANSLATED BY LEO HAEFELI.) In the year when Ferdinand of Medicis ascended the throne of Florence it happened that they brought before the criminal tribunal a woman whose face was covered witha death mask. The re_ mainder of the figure was hidden to the ankles in a large cloak, the cowl of which was pulled over the forehead. Whoever beheld the ominous form saw nothing but the appalling mask and the corpse cerements: a spectre about to en- gage in the carnival of the dead. ‘This person was Rosaura Montalboni, who stood before . fourth time fourth her arraigned; time with judges for the charged an for the offense. which, strange to say, defends itself and contains in the very accusation its own exculpation. What was the accusation? They accused Rosaura Montalboni of being too beautiful. So beautiful, that when them, them- ona morning she stepped to her windows the people crowded togetherin the street and the vehicles could not pass for the throng and the officials of the Ducal Government kept on admiring her for hours instead of attending to their duties. So beautiful, that since she resided on the right bank of the Arno, a whole row of palaces were erected there while the left bank fellinto decay because noble- The fair dame was again Rosaura, for none could be found to execute the judgment against that swelling beauteous shoulder. Every one that saw it would kiss it, but not disfigure it with the glowing iron. The miracle came to the eyesof the Grand Duke. Casimo was then already an aged man, much inclined to piety; so that when they brought his behest he the lady before him at pardoned her and sus- pended the branding. sentence. Hence- forth Rosaura Montalboni dared be beautiful with impunity. Nobody dared any more to accuse her beaming eyes, the coral lips, the seductive dimples in the rosy cheeks,or the sin-enchanting smile. After Casimo young Ferdinand ascended the throne. Even asa boy he had _ become acquainted with Lorenzo Frascati, his senior. Lorenzo turned'‘painter, Ferdinand became ruler; but even as such he settled to have him participate in his power and in his pleasures. Lorenzo was a gay youth, ever inclined to jests, as painters mostly are, wards her, and took tion for their souls. and with his droll conceits he caused the Duke many a happy hour. All at once he began to be serious and meditative, and the merry jests came no more. Whenever the fishermen of a morning pulled out of the Arno the corpse of a ordered a new chapel to be erected, and with them from the sacred place chagrin and damnation instead of consolation and salva- pale youth, he was surely a miserable enthusiast who had killed Rosaura’s sake; when himself for the night watch in the dark streets came across the body of avelvet-clad knight, who with a‘dag- ger thrust in his heart, lay swimming in his blood, he had fallen for Rosaura, who, perhaps, had smiled sweetly on him and thereby kindled the raging jealousy of his rivals. Once famine ravaged the town. The mob was howling, having no bread, and burst ferociously into the palace Montalboni, whose mistress used to bathe in milk, tosprinkle den with wine quets while the ing of hunger. tude burst ace and the flowers of her garand to give daily banmasses outside were dyWhen the furious multi- open the portals of the driven to flight dressed attendants, the Rosaura pal- richly all alone On the bankof the Arno Ferdinand in order to give Lorenzo an occupation and pastime he commissioned him to adorn the interior with paintings. Liorenzo worked diligently. early dawn till late dusk he was up in the chapel and even when From locked he left it he locked the door behind him lest no one saw his work till it was finished. . Once Lorenzo did not leave the sacred edifice for three days, nor then did he admit any one, so that his anxious raiment, They had and clamored . gave them a were content. drink. Now the Duke himself hastened there, and when all the calling and knocking remained fruitless, he ordered the door burst open. Astounded he gazed around him, for mob withdrew. with the for bread, Rosaura Madonna smile and they Three times, for her beauty’ssake, had she been accused by indignant fathers whose sons had fallen victims to the fatal charmsof Rosaura. Three- times had they accused Rosaura of being too beautiful. The Judges heard the cherge and summoned the accused. Reality surpassed the charges of the most vehemont accusation, Rosaura more beautiful even than she accused of being. And still the charge Law; HG y. j was had b en Judge ruled: The The “The offense prisoner is has dis- Her beauty was a great offense, but a still greater excuse. When she looked her Judges in the face, they forgot the 4 oy Nthes of the Magdalen altar the face which filled countenance boni. the the of if she wept, they swore she was The Only Line Carrying the United How States Overland Mail. one image to the Steam Planing Mills. Denver, Cheyenne, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Sacramenio, san srrancisco, Los Angetes, Portiand, and all Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, California, shalt wear this death mask as long ton Territory and «all Princi-pal Missouri River and Pacific Coast Points. Baggage “~ YARDS. on NS ye © i ~ See A Vos oy * s seh, < Ss v OS. TY XSO° » & One Block East of U. C. Depot. Checked Through from all Points in Ao Pullman Palace Sleepers and Modern Coacnes on att 1nrough Trains. Did when Did her charming features quiver in horror? Did the rosy lips tremble in Institution. and dismay? The death mask remained stiff andimmovable. . * x x * k After 39 years Ferdinand died. He was followed by Casimo the Third. At his ascension tothe throne he issued a general amnesty for all who apply to I. A. BENTON, Salt Lake, Agent of the Union Pacific Railway; the Thos. L. Kimball, and Acting Gen’] Mgr. OMAHA, CG. Pk EA. NEB. TEASDEL’S removed discovered under it afaee just as cadaverous, withered, with deep sunk eyes, skin clinging to the bones as the mask. This was Rosaura Montalboni who, long, long years ago, had been con- demned so cruelly—because she The FOUR was Fpull-dog 2/2 inch barrel, Strictly Firstclass, $2 or 88 Caliber, $2.40 post paid. 44 Caliber, $2.75 post paid. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Order Now. This will not appear again J. 0. Philbrook, 148 Mention this paper. La Salle St., CHICAGO. Departments of the Are constantly filled with complete evolyer Five Shot, Double-Acting, Nickle Plate, Rubber Stock, Central Fire. lines of BRANCH | Dry Goods, Groceries, HOUSES AT We make a Specialty of Home-Made OOS Orders by Mail will receive prompt and careful attention. T.G. WEBBER, Supt. Goal! Goal! Goal! Boots and Shoes, EKtc., Ete. Christmas Fruits Cleaned ready for Family Use. Suitable for Holiday Trade. Call and Examine Prices. MAREET. Union Pacific Railway Go., Rock Agent. Springs, Red Canyon, Weber and Pleasant Valley Office, corner Main Streets. and Second Telephone 240. South W. J. Tuddenham, Contractor and Builder, Mantles, Grates, Tile Hearths, Etce., Ete. 39 S.West Courteous treatment and complete guaranteed. THE Order Your Winter's Supply Now, GOODS and IN C. EK. WANTLAND, CLOTHING, S. P. Teasdels. from CITY. OGDEN, Weber County, Utah. LOGAN, Cache County, Utah. PROVO, Utah County, Utah. BEST Goods house SALT LAKE EAGLE HOUSE “too beautiful.” Merican General Merchandise. J.S. Tebbets, sisted in being “too beautiful.’ For this she had been imprisoned for life and condemned to wear a_ death mask. they 1868. Salt Lake. Then it was learned that there wasa woman in prison whose offense had con- they released her 16, Manufacturers, Importers and Wholesale and Retail Dealers in J. V. PARKER, General Agent, lan- in the records and to establish in each case whether the amnetsy was deserved. When October agent of any connecting road, or address guished in the prisons of his realm. It was the duty of the Judges to search the death mask Organized For further information regarding the territory traversed, daily excursions, rates of fare, descriptive pamphlets, etc., pain ee Ge-oneratire. Mercantile Rosaura Montalboni turn pale this sentence was pronounced? Montal- other; he &* @ ¢ the East to Points Named. as the gliding LUMBER Washing- thou livest, that everybody who behold thee be frightened and feel only terror FREE Family Sleepers, Through on instead of love for thee.” all Mail and Express Trains. seated on the glancing and Builders. PIONEER BETWEEN “For the whole duration of thy life thou shalt remain imprisoned and secluded from all other prisoners. But lest thou mightest seduce with thy fair face thy gaolers or their superiors thou was the Rosaura Con tractors Makes Direct Connections And. whole same—it The artist himself was pulpit, his stolid and painting. Temple St., SALT LAKE CITY. satisfaction recognized N.C. Christensen & Bro | —$— neither his friend the Grand Duke, nor his companions, he saw nothing but his painted phantoms. He had become in- sane and so remained till he died. The Duke ordered the plaster removed from the walls, had the church dedicated-anew and closedits= is sustained. been committed. charged.” penitent. of God was ever . “THE OVERLAND ROUTE.” bunal: tants hurried to the Duke to inform him that some harm must have befallen their master, ashe hud already remained in the chapel three days without food or the gracius “T am,” replied the death mask. UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY assis- came down the» marble steps, her marvelous golder hair floating down her ala- the ceilings and the walls bore without baster shoulders, while she was cooling exception the one and the same female her rosy face with the graceful waving face—the same face with the palm-bearof her diamond-studded fan * * and ing Saints ascending to Heaven as with the the populace was struck dumb, the ring- the Angels smiling down on them; les ders of the uproar kissed the hem of same charmingly beautiful woman face: her beautiful eyes, the smile of her purple lips again bring the Law to naught. “Artthou that fair Rosaura Montalboni who causes ‘the perdition of young and old through the charm of her countenance?” Thus the Judge asked the death mask. ar- on the other side, So beautiful, that when she entered the Church of Santa Marie del Fiore the men turned away from the altar tohome WEEKLY. raigned before the tribunal and with a hollow the answer sounded from behind majority of one it was decreed that she the disguise. be banished for ever from Florence and “Is it true that whosoever beholds thee loses his reason over thy beauty?” her beautiful body be branded. The place of execution was in front of “It is true,” responded ‘he _ death the notorious Palazzo Pizzi. A dense mask, turning the frightening lone face humanity thronged the vast space and to the inquirer. “Knowest thou the number of those the roofs of the adjoining houses whence who foxthy sake rushed into death in they could see on the stage. The bewitchingly fair dame was led order to cast off the life that had become up; the executioner took the red hot to them a curse?” The death mask sobbed. It is true, branding iron and tore the silk gown from MRosaura’s shoulder. And when no tears poured from the empty eye he saw the velvety snow-white shoulder holes, but the sounds of weeping penehe forgot ;jthat he was the executioner, trated through the hard bones of the and instead of hot iron he pressed his mask. burning lips to it. ‘“Rosaura Montalboni, listen to the The jest cost him his head but saved judgment inflicted upon thee by the tri- did not forget his old friend. He had him come from Padua to his own castle men, merchants and skippers all WESTERN The Prince was yet young; —-AND—— ~:~ -| >> he knew not yet what witchcraft there is in the eyes of woman and that they are irresistible. For the fourth time Rosaura Montalboni was brought before the high tribunal; and this time they put a death mask on her face lest the beaming of her CHRISTMAS NEW YEARS AT——— 118 Main Street, Ogden, Uta, TEASDEL'S. Harness, Saddles And General Horse Furnishing Goods. 48 E. Second South St. Repairing Promptly Done. Large Stock of WALL PAPER AND PICTURE MOULDINGS Just Arrived at Midgley & Sons, 17 w. Second South Street. |