The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-08-25
grace !" replied the count.

/ ana ueadly nate.
As Antonio left the presence of his
noble master, he seized the first oppor.
/ tunity t., say TO the count:
"My lord, | have private word foi
/ your ear
IL listen"
"We are countrymen.
'1ndeed ~
"Yes,' pursued Antonio, speaking
low and in Spanish, 81 know your
house well, and I would serve you
Your life is in danger here"
$50 | believe"
Il think this banquet is given express
lyto destroy YOU"
81 had my fears
"Yet, il you will come to it, aud fol
low my Instructions, you shall not only
be saved, but may become the Duke OF
Francavella
"How? speak ~
"Seem Indifferent to my remarks,
now, my lord-for all beneath this root
are spies upon each and every other
and if be suspected of what am say.
ing, my life will not be worth song
Have you ever heard of the Red Death
Mash, my lord7"
Never, to my knowledge"
at is briefly this: On the nights OF
festivity, figure in red domino and
red mask sits near the duke At the
close of the feast, this figure shakes
hands with all present, and it is rare
that some one of the number does not
die shortly after. Does your lordship
comprehend :"
81 think | do-secret poison"
, "rhrough the Death Ring, my lord!
"Ah! well?'
"When this Red Mask takes your
hand on that night, he will leave with
in it paper of instruction, which you
must find an opportunity to read in Sc
cret and follow to the letter.
GLOW do you know this7"
81 ko1uo it, my lord-that must suf
! flee for the present. Will yonr Iordship
come and seize dukedom!' 2
"But how that?"
"Tou shall know if you come"
II will come-though how am | to
know you mean me well ?"
IF | meant you i'll, my lord, what
need to warn you?"
"True-it is enough--I will be here. -
Punctual to the appointed time, the
Count of Palmera appeared at the ban
quet of the Duke of Francavella. The
Venetian received him with apparent
pleasure, and, as he had promised, in
trodnced him to many noble guest.
The feast began and the wine crculat-
ed freely. At the close came the hand.
shaking round of the dreaded Re
Death Mask. Scarcely one of all those
present that did not turn pale at the
though that perhaps his own time had
come at last. The count, being a strang.
er, seemed the most Indifferent of any,
as was natural he should He poured
ont more wine and drank, aud then
seemed to reflect. In this mood he held
the small paper, which he had Just re-
ceived, in such way that he could pe
ruse it without being suspected. This
paper contained these words:
''Feign illness, and be shown to a
private apartment. | will be there to
complete the design"
In a few minutes the duke, who had
been furtively watching the count, re
marked, with seeming concern, that he
feared his lorjship was ill.
The count certainly did appear rather
faint, but effected to believe it only a
temporary ailment, which would speed
lily pass away. The mobiles exchanged
glances, and each bleathed freer as he
| fancied he had discovered the victim in
! other than himself.
But the count, instead of getting bet.
ter, seemed to grow more faint, and his
Kind host suggested that he should be
shown to a private apartment and his
chief physician be summoned.
II will accept the kind offer of your
grace, with many thanks !" said the
count, in a low, faint tone.
Il will do myself the honor to at
tend your lordship!" was the courteous
reply. "My lords and gentlemen, pray
excuse brief absence! will shortly
rejoin You"
He offered his arm to the count, who
leaned heavily ON it, and thus they left
the hall. Passing through the ante
room, they entered one hung with
damask, and richly furnished. The Red
Mask, who had left the banqueting hal
before them, was standing there, as if
awaiting their coming AS the duke
assisted his guest to divan, the Red
Mask quietly closed and bolted the
door Then producing small rope
with the slip knot of hangman, he
gIided up to the duke, as he bent ovel
the count, and throwing the noos
around his neck, drew it tight, and
strangled him before he could compre
heni his murderous design and raisl
his voice for help. When the duke wa,
quite dead, the mask was removed an(
the face of Antonio appeared before the
count
"Quicll, my lord !" said Antonio, pal,
and trembling at what he had dont
''dsrobe, put on the dress of the duke
return to the hall, and be lord of til,
palace. If you succeed in deceivina
the assembled guests-which trus
your close resemblance will enable yot
to dove are safe; if you fail, we ar,
lost Leave the dukes body to me.
can put it forever beyond human sight
where its bones will keep company will
those OF more than one Of his victims
Assisted by Antonio, the Count o
Palmera was soon dressed in the gor
geous robes of the Duke of Francavella
and the counterfeit was so perfect tina
none but wife could have detecte,
the liiferencnce,
"liemember your grace is now Duk,
of Francavella; and say your guest i
much better, and will be we'll by to
morrow were the instructions Of An
tonic.
The plan of the iniquitous scheme
succeeded perfectly, and all the guest
that night retired in the belief that tn
false duke was the real.
The next day the Count of Palmer
| Innnanrnl "a, - A,.,l,i, Dlooo o.,I o.h.,