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

selves III Il second gOnuOla ana TOOK tne
lead toward Lido. The party had adj
vanced but few rods ere the Count,
snugly eusconced 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 circumstance you will
return to the city.
But, as the Count soon discovered,
there was no occasion for attention to
be directed to the solitary vessel, the
sea being covered with gondolas, ad-
vancing from all quarters to the Lido
in silence.
"The mystery has been circulated in
the city, whispered the Counts boat
man, land hence this assemblage OF
the curious"
81 had an idea, as soon as | saw the
Countess of Montenalli, that she could
give us an explanation, but 1t 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 Lave
heard only single version of the al
fair The Countess eloped, leaving a
note for her father. which contained
all necessary information on the sub
ject; but, by some chance or other, he
failed to receive it, and hence the fear
ful stories resulting from her absence.
When her father found that she had
married a man so obnoxious to him (by
reason of an old family feud) as the
Count de Narre. he did not care to con-
tradict the story which had gone abroad
respecting the drowning of his daugh-
ter 10y some rut1ians in the Lido.
And the Count de Narre? y
is very i'll at his residence. This
gentleman and lady attending the
Countess are very respectable couple,
who have long been intimate with the
Wares"
and what are they all doing here %
The same as we are doing, replied
the gondolier, with a smile.
The attraction of the mystery ~
"That is it, without doubt"
But do you think we will make any
discovery with regard to the identity
of the spirit -
Il do not. Spirits, my lord, do not
even appear in the midst of such con-
course as is now assembled hereabouts;
and if. as some are bold enough to de-
clare, the reputed spirit is a young
woman of our city. She will not be
very likely to exhibit herself to such a
promiscuous crowd as has been at
tracted hither.
A large assemblage Of boats bad now
arrived in the vicinity of the Lido,
taking up their positions around the
supposed locale of the mysterious dis
appearance, in such a manner as to
leave an open space in the form of a
circle, and half IA mile in diameter, as
the center upon which all eyes were
fixed.
There has been a small collection
here for several ever ings" said the
Counts gondolier, lin expectation of
seeing the spirit, but their curiosity
has not been gratifed. In fact, the
spirit has not appeared within a fort
night, and not at I'll since the attention
of the public was directed to the af-
fair.
As the gondolier ceased speaking,
the Count of LOutano saw that a great
deal of attention was being bestowed
upon a gondola advancing from the dl-
rection Of the city. He was not able,
on account of the intervening boats, to
discover the exact occasion of the eX-
element, which began to 60 the rounds
of the circle, the more especially as
not word was uttered aloud.
1t was not long, however, ere that
portion of the circle of boats which
was on the side next the city parted in
twain, leaving an open space between
them, by which the approaching gon-
dola might advance to the center Of the
circle.
\ few minutes later, the cause of all
the excitement was apparent to the OBJ
servers.
1T is the spirit" said the gondolier
of the Count Of Lontano, in a whisper.
Its appearance agrees with all the re-
liable information | have gathered on
the subject.
The reputed spirit of the Lido was
alone in an uncovered gondola, which
She herself sculled slowly through the
water. keeping her eyes fixed on the
direction Of the spot where the tyrants
Of Venice have drowned so many of the
noblest of men. She wore a long and
flowing garment Of snowy wilderness,
and her unbound hair hoated in wavy
riuglet, uroual a neck and shoulders
Of exquisite beauty.
"Gool heavens Is it possible?'
riel the Count Of Lontano, after gaz-
ing long and earnestly upon the myste
rloUs being, Il could swear, without
amy -pruulas tho. | an, o,azipp ON flo
face and figure Of Signora Ludoyico,