Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-07-31

| TTdHccScd, 4 lONcu you, ana because
the very violence of my love impelled
me to an ndiscretion, you dismiss me
forever! BE il so. Cruel girl. YOU
care not to what YOU doom me--to n
| life Of violence. of crime; tn IA hitter,
dreary existence; with but little hope
for the future. no pleasure in looking
back ON the past. Adieu."
She was about To speak, perhaps
somewhat relentingly; but before she
/ could give utterance to the words he
was gone.
"Ala ~ she sighed inwardly, II
shall never see him again! Fate is
very cruel "
| The Jewess embraced her new found
| daughter, repeated her words Of warn
| ing and command. and also took her
departure.
| We will leave them for while and
follow the fortunes of Count Claudio
and others which are closely interwo-
ven with our story.
Reckless, driven to despair by the
words of Francesca, the young count
cared little now what became of him
He loved Francesca deeply and truly;
and though he looked TO the dowry he
|
him from his embarrassments, that
was not the object of his desires
Even when he learned that her faith
or. the Count, was ruined. and that
there was no hope of wealth With the
| daughter. he had determined not to
give her up. Now. then, that she had
discarded him, he felt the wound deep
| ly, and at once plunged into career
of reckless dissipation. The small
remnant of his property disappeared,
and in less than week he was utterly
ruined.
"The gaming table was now his on
| ly hope of retrieving his lost fortunes,
and there he was night after night, IA
constant attendant.
AT last the catastrophe of his for
tunes arrived. He had played all one
night, with desperate and ncvcr-failing
ill-fortunc, against the bank. His
watch, his ring. every article of Jew
elry-everything that could be turned
into money-all were stakcd, and all
swept away; till at four o'clock in the
morning. the once gay, dashing and
wealthy Count Claudio, stepped out
into the street penniless outcast.
There was another gentleman whose
ill-luck had even been worse than that
of Cou Claudio. in that he played
for heavier stakes and as uniformly
lost, till at the closing of the rooms he
rose as utterly ruined n the other
He was "A middlc-agcd man, richly
dressed, and by his appearance of some
! consequence.
He followed Count Claudio out of
the saloon, and walked behind him
unseen. down the broad stair case Lead
! ing To the street.
Ruined ruined, utterly and ire
/ trievablv ruined, calculated Claudio
/ 10 himself Il have not my sword left;
and. failing all else, must do rs many
an other ruined noble has done-turn
brigand."
by the saints, not n bad ideal" ex-
| claimed the other, who had overheard
! him. Excuse me, sir, for listening
but heard your words; and as | am
exactly in the same position myself,
take the liberty of addressing you
Were you serious when you spoke of
turning brigand?-or, rather, say
mountain-chicf; it is more polite"
SERIOUS! why not? sec no other
career open.
by heavens! young spark, l am
with you. Your name, young sir?"
! Count Claudio. And yours?n
II am the Count Donati."
An exclamation of surprise broke
from Claudio. Before him stood the
father-or the supposed fathcr-of
Francesca. Neither Claudio nor Count
Donati were acquainted with each 9TH
er, and this was the first time they
h ad met. Donati had not the least
| idea of the events of the last week at
his palace, as he had only been able 10
pay flying visit there, on account of
the desperate state of his affairs; even
now he was in Genoa incognito, and If
recognized. might be seized and incar-
ceratcd at any moment. His wife, the
! Countess, and Francesca were too
much in trouble about recent events,
and the impending ruin which hung
over the house of Donati, to enter into
the particulars of the past; and thus
| the Count remained in total ignorance
of the state of affairs. One thing he
! knew too well. and that was. that he
was utterly ruined.
! Count Claudio mastered his aston
ishment at hearing the name and re-
piled at once:
agreed; | am with you.
GLOW many men can YOU get TO fol
low you?'
Claudio thought for a moment.
"Hector Fiaramonte can procure me
as many vagabonds and cut-throats
as | want. He shall be my lieuten-
| ant
Then he replied to the Count:
IL dare say, about twenty
Good. i will provide forty. 1
have yet some silver plate at my pal
ace. | will obtain and sell it. The
Countess has "A small income in her
own right; she must manage to subsist
on it with Francesca; for henceforth
she will see but little of the noble
! Count. her husband. Come; it Is
agreed, l shall find forty men and arm
and equip them you find twenty.
will be the leader; you shall be my
! lieutenant Is it agrecdP"
Agreed
They shook hands on it; and thus it
was settled
LET us meet tomorrow night at
this hour" said Count Donati to Clau-
do. al will turn what few valuables
] have into money, and Herewith pur-
chase arms and equipments.
II will 90 seek my worthy friend
Hector Fiaramonte, who. doubt not
will suit our purpose. He and l will
meet you at the appointed time"
a Il. lr.