The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-05

As the pOnlOlier ceased speaking, the
C'6nnt ~ 4 ontano saw Tint n great deal Of
attention was being bestowed upon q
yondnla advancing from the direction Of
,ha c;tv He was NOT able, on account OF
he intervening boats to discover the exact
occas;nn If ,he excitement, which began
~ t ,o he rounds 81 the circle, the more cs.
nnSialiv no moi n word was uttered aloud.
\ %5s moi long however. ere that por.
ton Of the circle Of boats which was on the
side next the city parted in twain, leaving
The approaching gondOla might advance to
the the s ca4ter Of sald circle.
A few minutes later, the cause Of the ex-
element was apparent to all observers.
AIT is the spirit!n said the gondolier Of
the Count Of Lontano, in whisper.
dts appearance agrees with all the reli-
able Information have gathered on the
subject"
The reputed spirit Of the Lido was alone
in nm uncovered gondola, which she her
seIf srnlle,l slowly through the water,
keening her ewes fixed in the direction OF
the snot where the tyrants OF Venice have
drowned SO many OF the nOblest OF men.
She wore long and flowing garment OF
snowy whitencss, and her unbound hair
floated in wayyringlets around neck and
shoulders Of exquisit beauty.
Good heavens! is II possible?" cried the
Count OF Lontano, after gazing long and
earnestly upon the mysterious being. 81
could swear, without any scruples, that !
nm gazing on the face and figure OF Signora
Lnioyico, nv own betrothed, whom lhaye
not seen for two months" he added to the
gondOlier, "having been absent from the
Civ"
"Does the lady walk in her sleep, my
lordY"
The Count started arose to his feet
with considerable eXcitement-contlnuedi
5is gIass-thcn sat down with smile
upon his features.
"IIcra's grandfather was drowned by
the government in the Lido" .he mutter-
ed, "and that must be the reason OF her
yisitsW
The rondola OF the reputed spirit was
now resting motiOnless in the center of
the encircIed boats, while she herself re-
NAMED silent and motionless therein, her
n rms folded upon herbosom, and her eyes
turned toward heaven.
1t was not long ere strange feature
WINS given to the scene.
The gondola and the mysterious being
therein, while all eyes were fixed SO in.
tently upon it, suddenly disappeared De-
meath the surface OF the sea. But few Of
those who witnessed the event could
realize its actually, ere the closing waters
were us placid above the sunken gon1ola
babe
There arose from all those spectators q
wild cry OF horror'and astonlshment TN
mixed with fear and supcrstitiOn,while boat
after boat shot forward in the direction OF
The spot,
"Hasten, hastenw cried tho Count Of
Lontano to his gondolier. ~ was prob
ably mistaken in thinking I knew the
lady; but it is my duty and privilege to
make some effort to save the mysterious
and unfortunate bcingw
The gondolier regarded the Count fixed
liz. without touching the oars, whilea sim
crlar smile rested upon his features.
"That Is not woman, my lord said he,
with quietness peculiar 10 himself.
Not woman?" cried the Count.
",yould YOU attempt to make me believe
~ was hplrltt
ut WIS not SPIRIT"
"Whatl Would you have mo dlstruSt
that / have seen any woman or gondola
at all?"
The boatmen repeated his earnest scru-
tiny OF the Counts features, and replied to
his question by asking another.
"Can YOUR lordship keep an important
sccret?"
nCert0inly," responded the Count, in
much wonder and curiosity, again assur-
ing himself by GLANCE that the other
gondolas were doing all that could be
done for the rescue OF the mysterious being
WDo You pledge Yourself to keep the re-
yelation i make an inyiolable secret?"
81 dol!
"Know then, my lord, that the gOndOla
and woman is-an automaton of my own
manufactured
rep pE TIC sondolier resumed his oars
and commenced rowing toward the city.
"Wonderful mani" exclaimed tho Count.
nj last, ''it is pity that such . piece OF
Lii shoultl be forever lost!n '
WHaye no anxiety upon that point, my
lord" was the reply; Sin about three
hours that boat and woman will return to
receive rec SS'i IT, "D
Il do not see," said the Count, muslng-
IL, "why I mistook the figure for Signora
Iudoyico9n
at is because the figure Is perfect like
ness OF that lady"
The Count Started to his feet, motion
ing to the gondolier to cease rowing. He
theR eAteLIuea ~. has n iI ,,o,dorf,, ,on;ua -
soid he a I tsbu It'll perceive YOU ARE q friend