Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-08-07

" the slave could control her. She
pranced and danced and plunged in
his hands, and would have disengagcd
herself altogether at last, but for q
sharp voice she suddenly heard behind
her: Eli, Peri, hir'
The beautiful creature quickly point
ed her small thin ears toward the por-
tai of the mansion, and, arching her
full round neck, she responded To that
wcll-known voice i'm self-safisiied
whinny, as if she would have said,
could she have spoken, "Ah. master
1 feared you were gone and on the
instant, the sagacious Peri was "a quiet
as lamb again.
by ST. Mark" exclaimed Count
Donati, CHANGING at the beautiful
quadruped in readiness to be mounted,
you are borne by fine steed! give
You good-day, young man; and trust,
II YOU ever have occasion To call again
that you will make your business not
only more acceptable 10 me. but more
profitable to yourself.
Farewell, Sir Count, responded
the young man cheerfully. Eve shall
meet again, be sure of il. y
With this salutatiOn, the stranger
sprung into the saddle, and in a few
minute, was out of sight.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
old Count returned again to his divan,
and relighted his cigarette. he was ev-
identity Ill at ease after the interview.
lie knew Rodolpho, and he secretly
feared him; yet his cupidity prompted
the course he had now chosen, and he
determined to abide the result of his
refusal to loan so much money though
his means were ample TO accomplish
ali accommodation for five times the
sum, at Il moments notice, if he desir-
ed SO to do.
He tossed about uneasily till night
fell. and then retired TO his own pri-
vate apartment in very ill-humor;
for he repented having been so per
emptory and thoughtlesS. all things
considered
Francesca had heard the stranger 5
voice. she had seen his face, and she
had become strangely interested in
him AZ the first sight She noted his
sudden derarture, with reluctance,
too; but his graceful carriage, his fine
form and manly beauty, had left deep
impression. Besides her heart whis-
pered that it was no stranger. but her
old lover. Count Claudio.
This lovely girl was generous mind
ed 10 a fault; and she would have gone
boldly TO Count Donati. her protector.
aud asked the travellers name and
business. but. for the first time. she
observed that her old friend summed
her at evening. and she felt certain
that he did not desire her 10 become
acquainted with either one II lhc 9TH
a. Il
fore, for awhile. resolved wfsr the
right opportunt, presented. thrt she
would satisi, herself on he subject.
On the third day >ub-e ,ucut Z the
visit we have described, al Gcnoa vas
alive with excitement IN reference 10
the arrival of distingu i,hed me-, D.
maucer one Ferdinand Bletlcr, a. e
called himself. a celebrated IN giciVn
/ and iuggl~r. His reputation Sld hVt
recently preceded him in this place, l. i
he was highly Landed. and hi, fca'.
were said TO be OF the most singular
and astounding character. While hi,
performances were described aS being
/ highly entertaining and decorous. il
was also stated that many Il his feats
were OF Il philosophical and interest
ing chemical character, such rs had
/ astonishcd the world wherever he had
I appeared thus far His exhibitions
also, were conducted ON scale OF
magniiicence in appointments and
/ appurtenanccs, such as had never be-.
fore been witncsSci and in his vOca-
ton, the Signor (who profe~Scd TO bee
a Spaniard) was said TO be altogether
unriyalcd.
Such reputation and such induce
ments for display, naturally stirred up
the sluggish spirits of the inhabltant,
for the time being. and all went To Wit
ness the magical wonder of the age.
who had dropped in upon them in
moment when there was nothing ast.r
in the town to compete with him. The
nobility turned out ch mdSSC to wit
ness the strange performances which
/ had been So loudly talked OF. When
the curtain was drawn up at the Opera
/ house (Which had been engaged for
the cXhibitiOn), q most ari>tocratic
and select auditory greeted the dcGU
of the accomplished magician o.
Genoa.
When the talented iuggler made HI
appearance in the midst of the stump.
tuOuS and costly surroundings, a deaf
ening burs of enthusiasm and aston.
ishment greeted him. He was superb.
ly attreC in the snowy costume OF an
Eastern ,akir, and his performance,
proved of the most wonderful and
startling character He was master OF
the "black-art, evidently; and even
in that superStitiouS and wizard be-
lieying. wonder-loving community. he
out-did all his predecessors in every
species and grade of chicanery. sleight-
of-hand and legerdemain, To the utter
aStonishment and gratilica' on of all
who were fortunate enough to obtain
an entrance to the theater
As we have stated. the stage was
one mass of elegant and costly trap
pings. peculiarly adapted to the use OF
the great performer, from the mag
niticent, poliShed-silver mirror Of
fate. upon which the magician read
the passing thoughts of any of his aiI-
dience who dared to submit to the
trial, down to the tiny golden thimblc,
less than an inch in depth. out of
which he showered scores of boquets
and bon bons, and the rarest of ripened
fruit among the ladies present.
Directly in front of the dress circle "A
dias or platform had been arranged,
on level with the stage, extending
around the entire circle of the par
quet, to enable the performer to com
municate directly with the arstocratic
portion of the house. in order TO eX-