Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-10-02
THE WOMAN IN RED.
A Thrilling Italian Story Of the
Last Century.
In GEORGE w. II. REYNOLDS.
CHAPTER XXXI.


eel the story Of Francesca : escape anC
The 9ttack'of the robbers. he was at
Ia 10 determine N his own mind b,
whom they were led. He was mucl
eAaSp rated al the result of the schem,
and Ms regret were great At the loss
OF his ward again. the possession oi
whose person he thought he had made
himself sure of.
lie left Naples. forthwith, returned
To the VIC ~ of Genoa, where he had
been erect ng his house again. and al
ter few wees DELAY and inquiry. he
started once more IN search of the fu
81 YES. lie met with no success. how
eve. aud was unable, with all his
cum NJ, 10 obtain II word of accurate
Information regard NJ Claud OF
Francesca. AT last. though he dread
eel ihe per Of the undertaking. he re-
SOLVED upon 90 NJ to the mountains
once more among his old haunts.
via rr he would . able, haply. to
/ nee, " ia some o, as former follow
er> VINO, p rnals would give him
such a Gle 10 the whereabouts of his
caemy a. would afford HIM meeting
upoI Ill h terms a he could best ar
range afterward. With this determin-
alton. he left such Il rections for the
iln,>iI uf II mans on as were neceS-
sart. IN ucI arted upon his proposed
jour e.. " thin fortnight he had
learn Il all that he desired from com
nud car on with the siraggler. whom
he ~. ed 'en rou e. and with high
hopes instead OF returning to Genoa.
he proceeded on toward Leghorn. with
the full intent on of arrcs ne and de
nounctng !aud o a soon II, he should
chance TO fall n with him. But he
was not 80 e ~ trap ed. and had not
been idle. e ther, since his arri, al at
Leghorn.
On the li'rd evening after the inter
VIEW eiween Francesca and her hus-
band &c eman called at their lodg-
ng~ and inquired ii the Count Au-
tcn.e could be ,ccl-this title being
the cognomen which Claud still used
ior ms tempOrar, pu poses. The
Count Glanced TO be absent at the
opera. and the gentleman returned
again three hours subsequently. to see
HIM upon business # Importance.
When the Count alightcd from his
carriage the stranger stood quite near
the door. and the attendant passed
hm the latter's card a, he proceeded
To H. apartment. The gentleman fol-
lowed HIM dire, tly: and A. Claudio
read the name of Count Donati upon
the card in his hand, he started; but
The gentleman said:
AT your service, Count. De- YOU
rccollcct me?"
The attendant retired, the door was
closed, and the three old acquaintance
,tood together, not a Little EN- barrassed
or alarmed-Claudio. bernardo and
francesca.
Ii was was with the greatest difficult
~ that the young W fe found herself
able To stand for an instant; for she
could not account Tor this strange ap-
paration. A. for her husband his
" 4 not often desert him tutuow
he felt peculiarly i'll AT ease. under the
uneNpo cted clc INSTANCES. Count
Donati wa, stern, lirm. .mpudent. aud
as cold as marble.
81 see YOU DO recollect me. Count"
he remarked. IL soon as sufficient time
had elapsed for thorough recogni-
ton; land a. for you. ; gnora. he
continued. turning severed TO Fran
ceS 4. you. ! think, cannot have for
gotten Count Donaii. Your protector.
and legal guardian?
Claudio, who by tn : time had re-
covered from the impression which the
unant cpated presence of his enemy
had caused, qu ckly answered.
by what + ght. Signor, YOU intrude
Yourself upon my privacy. l am alto
gether AT loss TO decide. | am
hei G.
AS the Count Autienne. nominal I
~, - d Donati. with warmth: but
really a. an outlaw. robbcr. for
whose head there j. standing reward I
OF five thousand ducat..'
And YOU are
Count Donat'-a man who comes
hither with substantial credentials. /
which il is not now in your power to |
inNal date; and who has "a long ac- |
count To settle with knave and a .
thief. AS for the lad, yonder--" (
"She is my W fe.
"She ; my ward. responded Don
att. sharply. "and u, ! live. she shall .
leave IL ghorn IN my charge
''Neycr. said Frances "A bravely. /
''Oh : gnor'' she then added, more
tim dly. II there remain in your own
heart one spark of feeling for her
whom YOU protested to have regarded
as your child, conjure you do not
pursue u further; do no not place my
husband again in peril
Francesca! exclaimed Claudio.
81 de re- that YOU retire at
once and leave Us to al Ju,t our bust
ness like men.
NO, no. no shr'ekcd the wife, in
dread. Do not urge me
thus CLAUDIO; do not drive me away
beseech YOU, suffer me to remain be-
side YOU, whatever j. to be the result
Of this painful meetingr'
You VIII grant my request. Fran
resca. on this o'ca, ON. | know" res
pended Claudio k ndly.
o. no. / VII not leave YOU Ro-
iolpho. By our love. our hopes. our
prom se-. our faith ! beg YOU not to
deny my presence here. | will be
calm. deares AID, since YOU wish it,
viii have nothing more to saw
II have no secrets" mt rrupted
Count onat. aidres ,ng h msell to
Cia a o: "ior YOUR history j. no long
er secret in Leghorn. | had sworn
10 be- avenged on you. and the hour
IS come when your Gu Sc of infamy is
10 be- arrested Alread, the ch If of
he pol CO nforme Of the true char
lcter of the list, ed Count Autien-
ne. aud m mis- on here $ but brief.
demand pos e., on OF my ward; and