The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-10-04
Ny FAIR COUSIN.
The Career Of Fascinating Woman in
Two Continents.
IHU"dcLphu .Smad"y Press.
PARr II.

IAKE IL.
We laborcd patiently to discover
some one who remembered Lafontc
and could furnish Il clue to his destina-
ton. He certainly would not be tray
cling all the while. There must be a
time when he would settle somewhere.
We had almost given up the case as
hopeless, when the little clerk, with an
eye to a greater gratuity, had been
questioning the female servants, and
learned that the English lady had prom
ised Martha, who waited on her floor,
a wedding present, when she married
Peter, the FISHERMAN. Martha had
been married since last winter, and
lived somewhere in town it would not
be difficult to discover her abode. All
this the clark repeated volunteering the
shrewd remark, E'perhaps the address
of the lady being known may furnish
a clue to the gentleman in question"
GO ahead, only be quick" replied
Madison.
The man found Martha and learned
the lady had been as good as her word,
sending her beautiful dress and cap.
The package came from Ravenna, in
Central Italy. Quite way off, re-
marked the clerk.
In confirmation of what he reported,
he exhibited the address on the pack
age which Martha had gratefully strip
| ped off and retained. Once more the
little mans hand was crossed with gold.
and the next morning Jim and myself
were speeding away from Ostend as
fast as steam could carry us.
The three days spent in Ravenna
were increasingly devoted to the object
ofourvisit. Wewere fortunate in making
the acquaintance of an intelligent hair
dresser, who was able to put us on the
trail of Monsieur Lafonte.
The parsonage said he was quite sure
that he did not reside in Ravenna, but
he occasionally was seen there. He
had visited his shop. In fact, he knew
the gentleman by sight years ago,when
he was learning his business in Brussels.
He never knew him to be addressed
by the title of Count. He had no
knowledge of him further than by casual
observation. Didn't know whether he
was rich or poor, but was inclined to
think he was not a man of large means.
The last time he was in Ravenna he
came in company with Luigi Lavoni,
who resided in Ferrara where he car
ried on the business of matchmaker.
He krew Signor Lavoni very well, in
fact, his wife was remotely related to
him, and he would be happy to give us
a letter commencing US to the Signor's
favorable consideration. He was GER
tain he could give us the information
we desired.
Securing the note we left for Ferrara,
and on arriving proceeded to Signor
Lavoni's shop, where we found him
perched on stool with a par of horn
spcctacles on his nose, at work beside
an apprentice He read the letter
Madison presented very deliberately,
shook us by the hand, produced a
large box and proh;ered us some snuff,
and, taking a huge pinch himself, said |
Eyes, | am fortunately able to give
you my friend NJ. Lafonte's address.
He resides at the town Of Lugo, some
thirty-odd miles distant. But" he
added, with a shrug, " It's very I'M
fortunate time to call upon him, for his
wife is very i'll, and the man is in much
trouble. He married a widow lady
when he was abroad. | think she is
English or of English extraction. She
was wealthy, but lost much property by
some unfortunate means, but" with
another shrug, '.what is riches without
health?"
NJ. Lafonte," he continued, did
not live exactly in the town proper,
but in the suburbs, as it were. There
would be no difficulty in finding him,
however. Lugo was not a large place.
If there was any thing farther he would
be happy to oblge us.
Thanking him for his politeness, we
babe him adieu, and two hours later
were standing in the streets of Lugo,
which were filled to OVERLOOKING, as it
happened to be the occasion of the an
nual fair. 1t was with much difficulty
that we could procure accommodation
but we arranged it by sharing a room
with a fat old wool merchant, who
snored most terribly and kept us awake
half the night
"Signor Lavoni was correct, we were
directed to Mons. Lafonte's dwelling
as soon as we made the inquiry. l held
an earnest conversation with Madison
upon the mode of our procedure, and
eXacted from him a promise that he
would not offer any violence at the first
meeting, unless Lafonte was the ag-
gressOr.
1t was not without reluctance that
Madison could be induced to yield to
my persuasions, and he consented with
so much hesitation that for the moment
| almost regretted having abetted him
in the matter, now that we could act
ually put our hands on the man who
had SO cruelty wronged him. We agreed |
to make a preliminary and cautious
reconnaissance before deciding upon a
plan of action, but this was suddenly |
changed by an unlocked for circum-
! !: u.