Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-10-09
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE WOMAN IN RED CLAIMS He
DAUGHTER.

am " R'iAN ~ mn NlsAlhG
DAUGHTER.
There was a deep and solemn silence
for some time, which was broken by
the Jewess.
Naomi, my child. | have come to
claim the fulfillment of your vow. For
three years and two months nv ewes
have not fallen on the face of my
daughter. For three years have | been
roam ne about the world. endeayoring
10 purchase forgetfulness by gaycty
and luxury. In vain. Thy image, o
Naomi, ever rose before my eyes. Thy
memory, the knowledge that another
claimed Your love, turned all the
sweets Of life to gall But all that is
past; the stipulated time has elapsed.
and now | come 10 claim my daughter.
not as Rudiga the Jewess. the Woman
n Red, but a ESmeralda, the Eastern
Princess of fabulous wealth. Naoma.
dear Naomi. you know not what |.
YOUR mother. will do for YOU Your
brow shall glitter with diamond ara
Of priceless worth; str nos of costly
pearls hall hang around your neck;
your arms shall be bedecked with
bracelets of gold set with rubies and
Sapphires. for which expresses would
give their crowns;iyour ha r shall glis-
ten with gems; your dwelling shall be
OF marble and porphery; YOU shall take
your food of vessels of massive gold.
and hundre servants shall but await
your lghtest sign to do your pleas
ure. Come, Naomi. come TO your
mother.
But the girl faltered, and drew back
toward Claudio.
You viii not?' said the Jewe-s.
plaintively. Have YOU. then. no word
of greeting, of kindness. of pity. for
your unfortunate parent, whose / fc
has been one long sorrow? OH,
Naomi. Naomi this is indeed cruel.
yes, yes. cred Naomi, clasp ne
her hands and gazing wildly from her
husband TO her mother. II have pity.
| have deep sorrow in my heart for
you, my mother for such know YOU
are. But what can | do9 Claudio,
my husband cannot leave him..
A frown black as night settled on the
brow of the Jewess Her eyes cleaned
iicrcely on Count Claudio.
Yes she muttercd between her
teeth; II knew that this audac Gus up
start had dared to wed my daughter
without my consent | knew il. but
resolved not to break my pl GIFTED
word, nor TO appear before YOU until
after the expiration of the time. Now
| come to claim my daughter, and
charge her. by virtue of the oath she
took. To leave all-husband. home
and follow me. her mother Naomi,
demand the fulfilment of your vow;
nor dare to per .ure yourself. under
pain of eternal damnation, -
The child heart was racked by
conflict of terrible emotions. On the
one hand. her love for her husband and
home babe her refuse compliance: on
the other, the remembrance of the sol
emn vow she had taken made her
tremble at the thought of breaking it,
Speak, Naomi" said the Jewess.
sternly. II command YOU TO come
with me Dare YOU refuSe?'
"Oh! no, no. cannot, cannot.
Spare me-
Your oath, Naomi--you dare not
break it.
my oath-ah, It's true, dare not
forswear myself Claudio. husband,
YOU hear what she says, | must obey
Never interrupted Claudio. pas.
sionately. IAN oath extortcd as this
one was is never binding.
IAN oath is and must be forever
binding. Naomi your answer. In the
name of the Almighty, whom you
called to witness, ! charge you to for
sake this man, your husband. and fol-
low me. Your oath-remcmber your
oath. nor dare TO break it.
Francesca, cried Claudio, Selling
her arm, "be not imposed on or fright
encd by this woman. You shall not
leave me
II clam my daughter and appeal to
her TO fulfill her vow
"And | claim nv wife, and aver that
no one can or shall come between me
and her. Francesca. speak; tell this
woman that your place is with me.
your husband. and that no rash oath
can compel YOU TO leave me. 1cll her
that. b. the law of the land the hus-
band has control over the wife. Speak.
Francesca. and tell her this"
Aye, speak. Naom. and tell this
impious man that human laws avail
nothing against the Will and law of the
and He says, Thou shalt