The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-10-24

II WAS uol lOuS ere u StlubSS i'"eui'
was given to the scene.
The gondola and the mysterious
being therein, while all eyes were fixed
so inten.ly upon it, suddenly disap-
peared beneath the surface of the sea.
But few of those who witnessed the
event could realize its actually, ere the
closing waters were as placid above
the sunken gondola and its burden as
the brow of a smiling babe.
There arose from all those spectators
a wild cry of horror and establishment
unmixed with fear and superstition,
while boat after boat shot forwad in the
direction of the spot.
Hasten. hastenl" cried the Count of
Lontano to his gondolier. 81 was prob
ably mistaken in thinking knew The
lady; but it is my duty and privilege
to make some effort to save the mystic
rious and unfortunate being!'
The gondolier regarded the Count
fixedly, without touching the oars,
while single smile rested upon his
features.
THAT is not a woman, my Ior' said
he, with quietness peculiar t. him
self.
mot womln?" cried the Count.
"would you attempt to N Ike me be-
lleve 1t was a spirit :!
SIT was not spirit !!
"What Would you have me dis
trust that | have seen any woman or
gondola at all?'
The boatman repeated his earnest
scrutiny of the Counts features, and
replied to his question by asking an
other.
Can your lordship keep an import
ant secret?'
Certainly" responded the Count,
in much wonder and curiosity, again
assuring himself by a glance that the
other gondolas were doing all that could
be done for the rescue of the mysteri-
Gus being.
do you pledge yourself to keep the
revelation l make an inviolable Sc
cret ?"
Il do!'
know then, my lord, that 'he gon-
dola and the woman is-an au, omaton
of my own manufacturer
The Count was too much astoIfished
" lCDlN. Lie lNouiiN'a
oars and commenced rowing toward the
city.
Wonderful mani" exclaimed the
Count, at last, 'it is pity that such
piece of skill should be forever lost!'
Have no anxiety upon that point,
my lord" was the reply; "in about
three hours that boat and woman will
return to the surface, and | shall be on
the spot to receive it."
Il do not see," said the Count,
musingly. why l mistook the figure
for Signora Ludovico q
1T is because the figure is a perfect
likeness of that lady"
The G )unt stirte to his feet, mott on
ing to the gondolier to cease rowi ng
He then extended his hand.
You are not only wonderful
genius" said he, "but perceive You
are friend to me and mine!"
Your father. my lord" responded
the boatman, saved my father from an
ignominious death. Moreover, rs an
other reason # my attachment to your
r'sbip, my betrothed is in the service
of Signora Ludovico. perhaps he
added suggestively perhaps, when
your lordship weds your ladyship-"
You and the bride You have chosen
shall not be forgotten interrupted the
Count, again pressing the hand of the
boatman.
In conclusion. We have only to say
that the Count Loutano and the Count
ess are living in elegant style upon the
grand canal of Venice. Each has a
faithful and confidential servant.
As to the mystery of the Esprit of
the Lido, to the generality of the Nene-
tians it is as dark as ever. A few of
them, however, have gained an idea by
seeing the automaton gondolier in the
Vatican, where you may see it at your
leisure, the next time you visit the
Eternal City.
A CANNox's AWFUL STRENGTH
krupp has just finished a cannon, each
ball for which costs $50, and will
pierce the thickest armor plating of n
vessel at a distance of eight miles, while
it Is supposed that two shots at n range
of 5000 feet would be enough to sink
the most powerful ship. Some faint
idea of the destructive force of one of
those balls may be formed from the
carefully-preparel estimate that if it
were to hit man weighing three or four
hundred pounds, and standing on an
inverted nail-keg, at distance of a
mile and ahalf or two miles, he could
hardly persuade his own mother to rec
ognize him afterward. -COurier.Jour-
huI
CHICKEN SALAD.-Boil tender two
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