The Van Buren press., 1878-10-22
MISCELLANY.
The Mysterious Gondo|ier.

the midnight hour.
An old man and youth were standing
on one of the wharves, engaged in o
low conversation, and in looking earn
estly toward the Lido.
Gone spirit has been repeatedly seen,
Paulo,' pursued the old man, land
can give you the proofs. No longer ago
than last evening q veracious friend
of mine, the Count Bertram, was in the
vicinity OF the Lido little after mid
night, but by mere chance, and no,
with the intention of investigating the
matter He afirns that he saw the spir.
It, the night being cleas, and that his
gondola passed within few rods of that
in which she was silently floating over
the waters.
"Padre moi responded the youth,
"do you think this mysterious being is
really spiritf"
81 have no reason to doubt it whatev-
er. But why?' said he characteristic
cally, taking the youth by the buttonhole,
+" Firstly, because l know that spirits
can communicate with mortals in the
flesh. Secondly, because spirits, hap-
ing the power OF communicating with
mo-tals in the flesh, have also the
power Of revealing themselves to NOR.
tails in the flesh. Thirdly, because
have seen spirits myself Fourthly,
and lastly because the reality of com.
municationS of this kind has been es-
tablished by the wise and good of all
nations
The listener smiled, the while he look.
ed thoughtfully at gondolies, few pa.
ces distant, who was waiting for fare.
He then looked at the moon, marking
the exquisite loneliness Of the night,
coughed audibly, ana finally said:
Thank you, Padre moi, for the
kindness with which you have respon
ded to my queries. l wish you good.
night
"Stay, my dear Count. As an old
friend of your late father, I must give
you little advice. Young blood is
rash. particularly when beauty and mys-
terry is concerned. Nothing good can
ever come of attempting to raise the
veil by which this hapless maiden is en-.
shrouded. l confess to you, in this pri-
vate way that have the way of ex.
planning the matter to my own satisfac-
ton"
"Will you please give me the explana-
ton"
with pleasure, il you promise to
keep it secret. The daughter of the
Duke de Mon.ellani. as you ere a y.,aJe,
without leaving q single clue behind
her to the mystery of her disappear
ance. Every possible investigation has
been instituted by her father. but with
no result. Many theories and suspicious
have been preached, and received with
more or less respect, and some of them,
by an occasional person, with credence.
My suspicion is this, that the Countess
of Montellani was seized by a ruffian
whom she had offended subjected to in
describable outragcs and drowned in the
vicinity of Lido"
Terrible!' ".....
Hence it is her unhappy spirit is seen
in that vicinity Take my advice, my
dear Count do not trust yourself on those
accursed waters. That is my parting
counsel. Good night
As the old man walked away the
Count of Lontano looked searchingly
around. A few persons we're perceiv.
able here and there, but a profound ST.
lence-such silence as is unknown in
every other city of the world-reigned
around him. .....
The Count was on the eve Of embark
ing in the gondola he had previously
noticed, when a party Of three persons
appeared on the threshold Of palatial-
looking mansion behidd him--one Of
them al elderly gentleman Of pleasing
exterior, the second his wife, and the
third young and gloriously beautiful
maiden of seventeen summers. The
Count started as if shot the instant his
eyes rested upon the maiden's fes-
lures.
1.-THE Countess of Montellani!" he
muttered. There is mystery in this
affair worthy Of solution
The Countess entered gondola and
seated herself within the canopy. The
gondolier, disguised from head to foot,
placed himself at the oars. The elder
~ gentleman and his wife placed them.
selves in second gondola and took the
lead toward Lido. The party hud nd
vanced but few rods ere the Count,
snugly esconed in third gondola, was
silently following in their wake.
Perhaps" said he to the gondolier,
Perhaps / shall annoy the Countess
and her friends. If you detect any signs
of such a circumstance you will return
to the city,
But rs the Count soon discovered
there was no occasion for attention to
be directed to the solitary vessel, the
sea being covered with gondolas, advan.
vancing from all quarters to the Lido in
silence.
"The Mystery has been circulated in
the city," whispered the Counts boat
man, "and hence this assemblages of the
curious.
IL had an idea. as soon as l saw the
Countess of Montenalli, that she could
give us an explanation, but it seems that
was mistaken"
"Oh, she is not the spirit" was the
reply. 1.-THE story Of her disappear
ance-but perhaps, my lord, you have
heard only single version of the af'
fair. The Countess eloped, leaving a
note for her father, which contained
all necessary information on the sub
iect; but by some chance or other, he
failed to receive it. and hence the fear
9 , .-:., xo,ult;,n from har ahaanpe