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

l
The clocks of Venice had just struck
the midnight hour.
An old man and youth were standing
on one OF the wharves, engaged in low
conversation and in looking earnestly to
ward the Lido.
zone spirit has been repeatedly seen
Paulo, pursued the old man, "and car
give youthe proofs. No longer ago than
last evening veracious friend of mine
the Count Bertram, was in-thc vicinity O.
the Lido n little after midnight, but by 4
mere chance, and not with the intention
of investigating the matter. He affirm:
that he saw the spirit, the night being
clear, and that his gondola passed within
few rods OF that in which she was silent
ly floating over the waters"
"Padre mio," responded the youth, "dc
you think this mysterious being is really o
spiri:?"
az have no doub. Of it whatever. But
why?" said he, Enthusiastically, taking
the youth by the buttonholc. Firstly,
because / know that spirits can commini.
cate with mortals in the flesh. Secondly,
because spirits, having the power of com.
muuicatipg with mortals in the flesh, have
also the power OF revealing themselves to
mortals IN the flesh. Thirdly, because
have seen spirits myself. Fourthly, and
lastly, because the reality of communica-
lions OF this kind has been established by
the wise and good of all nations"
The listener smiled, the while he looked
thoughtfully Mt u gondolier, n few PAGES
distant, who was waiting for q fare. He
then looked at tho moon, marking the ex.
guisite lOveIiness of the night, coughed
audibly, and finally said:-7--- -
81 thank you, Padre milo, for the kind
ness with which you have responded to
my queries. wish YOU good night"
"Stay, my'tlear Count Asan old friend
Of yoIrlite father, | must give you a lit
tie advice. Young blood is rash, and par
ticularly when beauty aud mystery are
concerned: Nothing good can. ever come
OF attempting to raise the veil by which
this hapless maiden is enshrouded. leon
iess to you, in this private way, that ! have
way Of explaining the matter to my own
satisfaction"
"WiIl You give me the explanation?"
"With pleasure, il you promise to keep
it secret. The daughter of the Duke de
Montei!ani, rs you are aware, disappeared
suddenly five weeks since, without leaving
n single clue behind her 10 the mystery OF
her disappearance Every possible inyes-
tigntion has been instituted by her father,
Int with no result. Many theories and
suspicious have been preached and receiy..
ed, with more or less respect, and some Of
them, BY an occasional person, with cred
ence. Nv suspicion is this, that the Count
ess Of M6nteliani was sseiEe'l by rutiian
whom she had offended, subjected to In.
dcscribable outragesr and drowned in the
yicinityof the Lido" liz. 4.
"TerribIew
'sHence il is that her unhappy spirit is
seen in that vicinity. Takem my advice, my
dear Count; do ottrustyourself ION those
accursed waters. That ismy parting coun-
sci. Goodnight"
As the old man walked away the Count
of Lontano looked searchingly around. a
few persons were pcrccivable here and
there, but profound silence-such rs is
unknown in everyother city OF the world
-reigncd around him.
The Count was on the eve OF embarking
In the gondola he had previously noticed,
VIXEN a party OF three persons appeared
ON tLe.threshold Off palatill looking man
sion behind him one ofthem an elderly
gentleman OF pleasing exterior, the second
Ills wife, and the third Z. yonng and glor-
iously beautiful maiden OF seventeen sum-
mers. Tie Count started us II shot the In
slant hiseyes rested upon the maiden's fea-
Yrhe Countess,of sMontelhlni!i he.mut-
tered. '.There is q mystery IN this affair
worthy.of a solutionl" sss ~ ~ AZ,
The Countess entered gondola and
seated herself within the canopy. The
condolier, disguised from head to foot,
piacetlf himself iatthe loat@ The elderly
rsntlemaf ana lis wife Placed Themselves
IN second gondola and took the lead to-
ward Lido. The party had advanced but q
few rods GRE the Count, snugly ensconsed
in a third gondola, was silently following
aPerhaps." said he to the gondolier,
"perhaps Shall annoy the Countess and
her friends. If you detect any signs OF
such n circumstance you will return to the
city," !.
But. MS the Count soon discovered, there
was no occasion for attention to he direct
ed to his solitary vessel, the sea being coy;
cred with gondOlas, advancing from all
ouarters TO the Lido in silence.
GThe mystery has been circulated in the
CITY "wLispercA the Counts boatman, land
hence this asscmbIage OF the curious"
'I1iatt an idea as soon asi saw the
Countess Of Mobtelldni, that. she could
give us an explanation, but it seems that l
was mistaken" 49,, az
ply. "tThe stotyof her disappearance-but
perhaps, my lord, YOU have heard only a
single version OF the affair. The Countess
eloped, leaving note for her fatherwhich
contained all necessary information on the
subject; but, BY some chance or other, ne
failed TO receive it, and hence the fearful
stories resulting from her absence. When
her father found that she had married a
man 10 obnoxious to him (by reason OF an
old family ieud) as the Count de Narree, he
did not care to contradictthc story which
ind gone abroad respecting the drowning
Of oil Ills daughter by some raftians in the
@Sn,l thc Count de YafTeP''5 J,ssi
AIS very iii at iiis residence. This gen.
tleman and lafly attending the Countess
are very respectable couple, VINO nave
long been intimate with the Wares.
And what are they all doing hcreI
"The same as we ute doing, replied the
sondulier, with smile. :.
"The attraction OF the mystery"
"That is It, without doubt ,,s.r.
.6ut do youthink We will make any dis
coyery with regard to Lthe identity OF the
spirit?"