Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-06-12
THE WOMAN IN RED.
A Thrilling italian Story Of the
Last Century.
DY GEORGE w. NJ. REYNOLDS.
CHAPTER |.
TIE srRoLLING PLAYERS.

The scene of our tale opens in the
village of CASTELAR,, on the French
side of the great Alpine range. The
inhabitants are simple. primitive
race, in character and habits partak-
ing of the gayety and enthusiastic ma
turc of the Frcnchman, and the quiet,
somewhat lazy, contentmcnt of the
Italian An honest living was easily
earned in CASTELAR,, without very hard
labor or privation. Taxes were scarce
ly known; the soil was prolific, rents
low; and the mountains afforded
abundant game for the huntSman, and
the valleys pasture for the shepherds
flocks. Thus. then, it happened that
the Supplemented inhabitants led a
very pleasant life. dividing their time
almost equally between work and
play. Fete-days and saints days
came so often, indeed, that, had all
been strictly observed, the crops and
the herds would have stood a poor
chance.
Bat TO our story.
We will introduce our readers to
the cottage of Margaret d'Arbel, n
widow woman with one soma child
of some four years Now the widow )
income was Scanty, and she did not
disdain to exc it out taking charge Of
young children whose parents might
be compelled 10 be absent. or unable
TO attend to themselves.
At the time of which we speak, the
good woman had conldcd to her
charge the infant daughter of one
Miriam, wife of Reuben. a jew trader
in gold and Jewels. The Jews at this
period, and in this happy valley, were
not only tolerated, but met with liber-
al and kind trcatment--a singular
thing in that age, when persecution
and contumely were the rule for that
unfortunate race, mercy and kindness
the exception.
Reuben had gone over the Alps on
an important trading journey, by
which he hoped to realize large sum
of money. In this he was not disap-
pointed, for he wrote from Genoa to
his wife Miriam TO join him there, as
he had business for which he needed
her aid. He added, at the end of his
letter, that he had been fortunate
beyond his fondcst hope, and not only
had made large sum of money by
his mercantile dealings, but had sue
ceeded in recovering n debt which had
long been owing him, and which he
had dcspaired of ever receiving.
And now, while the happy wife and
husband are hurrying homoward,
looking forward to again embrace
their infant Naomi, let us sec what
is being enacted at the cottage of Mar
garet b'Arbel. When business called
Margaret away from her cottage. she
was accustomed TO leave it in charge
Of a village girl named Nnon, who
tended the infant daughter of the
Jews, and Margaret own son Claude.
The girl Ninon young, light
hearted and coquettish one day
thus left in charge of the hut, when
the sound Of music fell on her ear,
and running TO the door, she espied
coming down the street of the village
a party of strolling players, headed
by band of few instruments.
One from among the players step
ped up to the girl and accosted her.
The man was not ill-loo king; but his
features bore a dissipated expression,
and his attire, though gaudy and pre-
tentious. was by no means neat or
elegant.
"Wcll. my pretty maid," he said in
jaunty tones, care you going TO pat
ronize us to-night-to see the thrilling
play, the moving scenes; to hear the