Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-09-18
ny response shall follow. be ready

A few minutes afterward, the chord
OF the guitar which Claudio IN
brought with him were swept in arts
TIC style, and "a clear, manly voice. ac
compan ed a melody familiar to tn
ears OF the prisoner within.
The young wife had retired TO he
couch for the night. She had went an
sighed, and yCarned to speak a few
parting words TO him she loved so dc
votedly, and from whom she had bee
SO suddenly separated. Her heart VIA
torn by the cruel act of Coent Donati
which she could scarcely believe VIA
not frightful dream. rather than a.
reality; aud her brain was wrought up
To point OF frenzy, when she p ctured
10 herself the thousand pcrils TO which
her beloved husband might be sub
iected. Heartsick and utterly broken
down with grief, she had thrown her
self upon her couch. and an interval
wakeful sleep had overcome her tenn
posarily. The night was far advanced
and as Francesca turned upon her un
easy pillow, she recognized. or though
she recognized, even amid her dream.
"A well-know and fayor.te air that She
had heard him sing before. II wa,
: phil ~ VI tllOuHus anu liit lovely
Tut prosecuted wife slept on; for il was
sweet even to dream of the happy
hours and scenes VIII Oh she had known
| so recently.
The screnade continued. the harp
str NJ leapcd with mclodious sweet
ness, the vO Gee was the same she had
! listened To in brighter hours than this
! and the word were fam liar indeed:
My ark is ON the water. love,
The brecz is fresh and fair:
Then lie then, n ath tlc starlight, love,
NV happiness To share
Ana we II away. Wen away.
For We NV not brook delay;
Our boat at the iOrr--
Let's away. Is away!
Francesca was awake.
She did not slumbrr: she did no,
dream; she was sure of this and she
sprang TO the lattice with heart full
OF hope. She gazed abroad she saw
the form of tn, SINGER She doubted
no longer it was Rodolpho her hus
band. Hid wa, safe. and had come to
claim his b~ide.
The faithful woman forgot Count
Donati; she forgot all he had said of
Rodolpho; she thought of nothing on
earth save 10 tly aud be with h III once
more. No matter what he was; no
matter whittier he could bear her: no
matter was I TO her heart that h )
name was a terror to Others she tore
him!
Her Gle nation was quickly
made Selling her veil she dvanced
TO the door of her chamb ~. resolved 10
escape " thout another or thought
But. To her surprise, after removing
her key, she found the door OF her
apartment was secured on the outs de.
Returning to the window. as qu ckly
as possible, she leaned forward, and
behe.d her husband below. backed by
half a score of men who had Just re-
sponded 10 the precoIcerted signal
III ST. she said, quickly; "Rodolpho
| am not deceived?h
NO. loved one you are correct.
come 10 rescue YOU. Haste: we have
hot "A moment TO lose.
Matter, were very soon explained,
and Claud o soon learnt that rs wife
had not thu means of egress from her
sleep ne apartment. l. cry apparently
appfoachable portion Of the dwelling
was quickly examined. but every point
was thoroughly cured. There was
""taqf IPtap r6 at. them dc m,.......,.," lid
Claudio, in low tone. to Pierre;
there is no other alternative. Let Us
retire To the south wing. dash out one
of the W ndows. and follow me within.
Is the horse saddle l?'
Yes CAPITA u, and in charge OF An
tome. close at hand.
Good. Now. then. br ne the men. y
In another moment dozen stout.
armed brigands. were clustered be
meath the shadow Of the plaza, and
crash was heard rs the easement and
lattice gave way be o g them. The en-
trance was effected and Claud o he'd
in. followed by one half of his band.
Mounting the broad sta IS he >prang
along tho corridor. crying aloud.
"Francesca Francesca! France ca
as he advanced.
The household was but slowly astir,
for both the propr ctor AMI his SER
wants slept >oundl, Yet tn confus, on
had become too great 10 escape the
observance of tn siccptra. and in few
seconds. as the shrieks of Francesca
increased amid her excite ncnt and
fears, the servants AMI the + master
began to tumble out of their beds and
their rooms to learn what was the
trouble.
The attendants rushed along through
the darkness. Francesca continued 10
shrek her husbands name; and
Claudio was soon before the door OF
her apartments.
Francesca" he shouted. II am
here and as the door gave way be
fore the shousand of his foremost men.
the brigand dashed into the room and
receive ed his wife in his arms.
Quickly he bore her from her place
of c nn"ment: and h : faithful com
rades advancing before him, cut
passage over the ling forms of the
terri fed servants. who had crowded
themselves for moment upon the
star and within tho hall below.
Pierre dyanced. his men closed up
the rear. The retreat was a sudden
as the entrance had been successful;
and long before the astOnished Mont
esque and h household had had time
10 gather up the stunned. Claudio, at
the SIDE of his lovely wife. were gallop-
ing out of Naples. followed by his vail.
ant and faithful men.
Count Donati. who. after his inter-
view lh Francesca. had retired To his
hotel. was quietly asleep. He had
made sure of his uict IN tn $ time. lac
thought. and would leave Naples in the
morn q. accompanied by his ward.
Such. at least, had been his intent on.