Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-08-14
THE WOMAN IN RED
A chilling Italian StOIyOf the
last Century.
IlGIORCE W. NJ. REYNOLDA
CHAPTER XVIII.
Wv Ar AND HOPE. ~

Inc scene winch W0 have Sketched
IN the prec ding chapter was con
Quoted very quietly from the start. On
reaching the villa, Rodolpho took care,
first OF all, TO stop the alarm by killing
the hound, outside. Having previous
~ made himself acquainted with the
premises by bribing one of Ge slaves
he found little difficulty in securing
the three or four men-servants; and
then posting his companions. he forced
the window of the old Counts sleep
ing-room, NJ the opposite wing TO that
occupied by Francesca, when his
scheme was quickly and successfully
completed. a. we have seen. without
disturbing the other inmates of the
dwelling
Francesca Donati slept soundly and
Sweetly. She, too, dreamed that a
conquest had been made. She saw in
her slumbers, not the image of the &C.
complished uecromancer who had so
delighted the vast auditory on the
preceding evening. bat she was wan
dering in sweet grove by the side of
tho stranger who had been so rudely
treated at Donati's gate. She leaned
upon his arm. she heard his voice
low, soft and musicals he poured
into her willing ear the protestations
of lover. She started from that hap
py illusion. and awoke; for she thought
on sudden that she heard the stern
voice of Count Donati in the distance
She opened her ewes; but the moon was
Just sinking gently down into the west
and she tou that her hand still press
ed tbs gilte iged note which had so
mysteriou /, reached her.
Again >ne slumhered. aud again the
same form. the handsome features.
waited on b"~ dream. In the vine-cov-
cred arbOr OF Count Donati's garden,
whittier ste WAS won; to retire daily,
she thoug she sat and listened again
to the gent.r and tender aSsevcrations
of The rarC-r, who swOre eternal de-
yotOn ant truth to her-ah, 4 was a
hSppv deiu,,on!-an she suffered him
10 i.ise her hand to his lips. But the
sweet dream passed on, and Frances
ca the beautiful awoke; il was morn
ing.
Count Donati had very good cause
10 observe profound secresy in refer
ehoe TO tte part he had been forced to
p ay in the scene of the night Just
passed. he "reminiscences which had
laon Gale up in the course Of his
D. IF intcrN ,ew with the leader of the
r"bber-gaLg were too truthful and too
su plc Gus 10 permit his making men
: of the affair a second time if the
affair coul be avoided Through the
contrivauce of the treacherous ser
vaat WHOM Rodolpho had bribed. the
. . 4
ii al en- owed the evening right mer-
r L. over tnkards of choice wine, and
ere IN DIN ght came they were deep in
their cups They had an indstinct
recollection Of being attacked, threat
eLcd, and gagged subsequently; but
when morning came. and no serious
damage appeared to have occurred
fl ON the visit of what they believed to
have been a party of robbers, each
man kept hs own counsel. lest he
should expose himself 10 ridicule The
two dead hounds were put out Of sight,
therefore and no questions being
asked by anyone, no one had to an
swer for the disturbance.
The magician continued his STAY i'm
Genoa. and on the night of his per-
formance Count Donati was again in
duced through the appeals of his ward,
to pay second visit. accompanied BY
her to the opera house.
Previous to leaving her boudoir on
the evening they were again to visit
the opera house. the lovely Francesca
exhibited more than ordinary care in
the adjustment Of her dress and her
final toilet. The brilliant necklace
which clasped her ample throat never
rested upon fairer figure; the dia-
monds which sparkled from her flash
ing tiara were not more brilliant than
the wearer's piercing eyes; the pure
white satin robe which was so grace
fully looped with costly jewels at her
bosom and shoulders was not whittier
or clearer than her alabaster skin.
The ripe bloom Of health and matur-
ing beauty was on her round. full face,
and she was happy-very happy; for