MY TALE.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 18, 31 May 1845, Page 4

MY TALE.

PART THE FIRST,

Milano is the city of pleasure—Milano is the city of the noble. It was there that I first saw the light. I was born, I care not who knows it, from amongst the very lowest of the citizens. My father was a Jew, my mother a little Milanese. Wretched was the life I led with them ; by the saints! I had no peace. When I was about ten years old, the relation between the sole of niy mother's shoe and my back became too intimate for endurance. So I left my parents one fine morning, and turning my face from the dirty hovels, strutted into the Cathedral. They were performing high mass. What magnificence met my eyes,—how I longed to handle the gold and silver. Zounds! the temptation was great. Monks, quoth I, are jolly fellows; it would be advantageous to join the fraternity. Totally absorbed with ideas of the luxuries of good living and indolence, I quitted the Cathedral, and not a little startled was I when a genteel looking cavalier, redolent with essences and perfumes, touched me on the shoulder, and exclaimed, ' Bello Giovane,, dost want a place?' Assuming an air of importance, I replied that it must be a good one to suit me. ' Rest content,' returned the cavalier, ' from henceforth the Count Gustiano di Gonora is your master.'

Notwithstanding the word master, which ill agreed with my late notions of self-importance, I permitted myself to be led away. Two years passed on, and I still served the Count. By this time I had become the most adept thief mall Milano, and yet my master kept me. Zooks! the reason was evident; I knew much ot him, and if dismissed his service, might whisper abroad reports which would not tend to increase his reputation. Once during this period I had seen my father. One cold evening in March I was dispatched with a message and by chance passed through the lane in which he lived. It was situated in one of the most miserable pavts of Milano; here poverty in the most hideous form had taken up its dwelling Observing that the door of the hovel was open prompted, not by affection, but by mere curiosity , I entered. The voice of bitter lamentation broke on my ear—l felt a chill come over me and unconsciously I crept on and entered the room, tor there was but one. Before a coffin dressed m the wretched rags of want, stood my lather; his stern countenance showed marks of recent grief. He fixed his eye on me, and I stood like a condemned criminal.

Base son, said he, ' hast thou come at this hour to disturb me? Thy mother is dead—she died of starvation, whilst thou hast been pampered m the mansions of the great. Away set the gone,' continued he, at the same time casting his eyes on a cudgel, the use of which I too well knew and I did not therefore require a second bidding, but departed immediately If my father had used the cudgel more leniently it is more than probable that he never would have had to complain' of my desertion. The Count Gonora had a nephew, on whom he bestowed great care; a master was procured to teach him Latin, and under his guidance the youth advanced in learning at a prodigious rate Oreat as was the outward show of the Count' he was # in reality as poor as a contadino. He had a rich uncle, to whom he displayed great regard, but often have I heard him say, ' Confound the man, he seems as hale as he was twenty years back. . From the first dawn of

whomFT was seized with a desire to travel, 5 asl increased in years, each day my longing to behold the world grew stronger. One evening, going into my master's study, I espied a bag of money. Now as this was a sight which seldom presented itself to my. notice I .resolved 5 profit by so lucky an accident. bag, I buttoned it beneath my vest. Ine next instant I heard footsteps on the> staircase, andiin the hurry of the moment I hid myself beneatti the table. , ~ r 'This way my dear uncle, this way, said Uonora, 'mind the step; tread carefully, we are nearly at the top.' , ... The gruff voice of the President sounded like a death knell in my ears. Gonora closed and locked the door. , •My dear lad,' said the President.' what made you bring me to this lone part of the house? Ugh! I am quite out of breath; the food will get cold coming up this distance. Didst tell them to serve up the guinea-fowl with fennel, hey, Gustiano?' continued he. Gonora endeavoured to appease his uncle. 'Well, well,'said the President, in a softer tone, 'we will to business first. To-day I have signed my will, and if I died this night, all my property would be yours. , . . At this juncture, I could not help giving a slight jerk, and without drawing the attention of either parties towards me, I ,was enabled to catch a glimpse of the Count's countenance. A smile of triumphant malice played around his lip, his eye shot fire, his cheek was flushed, but not a word did he speak. ' I think I may live somewhat longer though,' continued the President, without perceiving his nephew's altered manner, ' I am pretty robust —hey Gustiano?' Gonora rang a small silver bell which stood on the table, and then placed the key of the door in his hat.

' What are you doing V exclaimed the astonished uncle. Whilst he was waiting for a reply, a door in the wainscoting opened, and two men entered. Seizing the President, they flung him on the floor, and bound him hand and foot.

' Mercy, mercy!'cried the old man'Gustiano, help me.' 'Dost feel robust now old fellow! , said the Count, speaking for the first time, 'you are anx'ous' continued he, ' to know what this means —I will tell you. For years you have stood as an adder in my path, for years have I watched and longed for your death. The bud and blossom of my life has thus been passed in vain hopes, and until to-night it appeared doubtful who would die first—but I have you in my power, and neither man or devil shall turn me from my purpose.

• Gustiano,' replied the President, ' would to God that I had never lived to see this day. From the hour of your birth I have watched over you with more than parential care —every whim of your childhood was gratified no matter how capricious or absurd, and when you advanced to manhood, my whole time was spent in promoting your welfare. Gustiano. little did I expect this.' Here the old man wept bitterly: the thought of his nephew's ingratitude overwhelming him more than the fear of instant death.

'Dotaid!' cried Gonora, 'it is my intention to give you this powder, and then cast your body into the street; some worthy citizens will find it, and exclaim, "Alas! the President has met the death so long foretold him, and died in an apopletic fit."'

' Villain! scoundrel P roared the uncle, ' help, help? . Further utterance was stopped by the men leaning down, and gagging him. The Count then mixed the powder, and poured it down his throat. He gave one fearful struggle, the very bonds seemed to crack with the wild force of his efforts, but his endeavours grew feebler until he fell back dead. This was his reward for years of uneasiness spent in promoting the happiness of his nephew! Scarce had the last groan died away, when the door in the wainscoting was opened, and Giacomo, the Count's nephew, entered.

' Some one called for help,' said he, in his mild voice, 'who was it?' and then casting his eyes on the body of the President, he exclaimed, There has been murder here, uncle. , 'Fool! boy, begone, and meddle not!' roared Gonora.

Fool! , retorted Giacomo, 'he is indeed a fool who commits murder; and, mark me, uncle, wealth, prosperity, and the world's respect, may follow this, but the hour will come when you WI JI deeply rue what has happened this night.' The Count ordered one of his accomplices to lock Giacomo in his room; in executing thia order some scuffling ensued, and the table beneath which I was concealed, fell over. Hold1 7 m . ng 1 i ag wi J h a , firm S»Pe, I sprung up and darted through the passage. When the sun next rose on the earth, I looked back upon the city from a distance of many miles. 'The world is before me,' said I. ' and I mil enjoy it.

PART THE SECOND. Fourteen years passed away. During this time, I had visited many cities, and mixed largely with all classes of society. At one time serving the proud noble, or whinning the caprice of .* he 11 w / althy i. pl ? beian ' at an °tfier, receiving with all due submission, the daily orders of thp luxurious monk, or holding, with an air which wouM have done honour to the most sanctified or saints, the train of the courtezan as she re paired to morning mass. As I entered the city of my birth, my feelings were far from pleasant ones, not because I repented of my former life —no latent seeds of contrition lurked within me I fel no pang of remorse-but I had steeped myself in guilt for nought. One bold stroke thought I, has raised a beggarly Count to S noble but I have risked % Lcka Aousand times for a few paltry coins. The Count GiStiano di Gonora was now no longer the humble relative. His splendid mansion, the lofty rooms the gorgeous tapestries and embroidered JoucW the shining mirrors, and numerous attendants' all bespoke the man of wealth. Having soent several weeks in useless endeavours to obtain an interview, I began to despair. One morihSr however I called at his mansion as usual 3 instead of receiving a surly reply, I wae SS .to enter. Before fhad recovered from my ur prise at so sudden a change o f affair^S

— - ~Jj'*g_j«M|' elderly domestic, whose chief occupation con sisted in walking up and down the hall, admir ing his portly figure as it was reflected in .Li numerous mirrors which hung around tlie -vails requested me in polite terms to follow him H led me along a vast number of corridor's 'an! passages, and at length stopped before a door that was ascended to by a narrow flight of sten» After a little delay, we were informed, hi« peevish voice, that we could come in. Sealed m an arm-chair before a massive and antique table, sat an elderly man; he was apparentlyabout fifty years of age, of a middle height, and rather corpulent, but his countenance indicated rather one who had passed his life in, the camn than in the city. When the Count Gonora—f 0r it was he—beheld mo, he ordered the servant to retire, and we were left alone. I have generally attributted to myself no small share of animal courage, but I must confess that I did not stand before my former master without some slight feelings of trepidation. However, putting on a swaggering air, and smoothing down my moustachois, I said in an insolent voice— ' I believe, Count, that I am not entirely unknown to you.' • Pray explain yourself, sir,' replied Gonora with a most chilling hateur. ' ' Why,' said I, not at all abashed, 'some fourteen years ago, I served you in quality of page.' ' I do not keep a register of all the menial's who enter or leave my service,' answered he, in a sarcastic tone. {To he continued in our next.)