Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-08-21
CHAPTER XXI.
TIE NIGHTS EVENTS.

w men count tldullO iOOh ltdNc OF
Francesca before he re ir,d. il will Ice
recollected that an unusual emotion
was suddenly eNhibiie by that lady,
who. rs he wen on It lggered back II
astonishment nj dist oyery she sud
denly made. Il wasa ngular fact;
but as he pre- cl,cd h hand TO her sho
saw upon h finger hr dGmOHd yiHg;
and when the door closed behind him
as he went out, she discovered also a
small note in her hand. subscri oil in
the same handwrit ny a at II precious
one had been. and VIII e. was 4 rcctcd
to he self.
Both these cir umStances were Gu
rious. but both o. them wee quickly
unraveled rs Mao M ul ed the note,
and cad as follows:
CHARMIN LADl DO not be sur
pr:sed that tie h mble magician should
reso TO su h II a.sr rs this to com
municate with lo', afte your kind re-
'ponse to his first appeal.
"Ah. lady, YOU cannot conceive the
Joy VIII ch that brief sentence
has created in the strangers
heart. We had met before, and YOU
will not have forgotten Claudio. who
years ago had the III fortune To fall
under your displc .u"r nor him, per.
haps. who had tn honor of meeting
you, AT an oppor.unc moment, when
your personal safety was endangered.
1.-The poor ne r mancer. the dusty
traveller, your forum lte deliycrcr from
peril, and Count { laudio. are one ard
the same per on. Do not start ut this
announ ,cmo n ;all shall be satisfactorily
explained 10 " OF. I'm YOUR palm grove,
near your fayorite Dor. grant me an
interview VIII YOU tonight Trust
all TO the honor of him who loves YOU
with adorat on. and know me only for
the pres, mt a. Yours dcvotedly,
''RODOLPHO."
Thrice did Francesca peruse that
sing Jlar note; IN a. it. contents were
being digc>ted in her mind. she could
scarcely bring herself to realize that
the hall o. il va true. She had not
forgotten the gala I service that some
one ha rendered her cw day IRE
viouS V during a morning ride. when
her horse had become unmanagcable.
and her servant wa not in attendance
a usual upon her. She remembered
that act with the deepest gratitude:
and. hel She complimented the gen
tleman who had so bravely served her on
that occasion Ivy riding q 'sperate
gallop To her rel I cher ralfry having
taken fright, and dashed of at full
speed with her against her will) when
he overlook her. cndcavored in vain TO
check her crazy StCei. and finally
lifted her in safety from her saddle TO
the ground. ard probably saved her
life-when France ca thanked the
stranger with n + whole heart for his
gallantry. she tile dreamed that she
should meet with him again so soon
and least of all. under the present
circumstances.
Rodolpho was hen in search of old
Donati and hc had traced him TO the
vicinity of the place Were he CHANGED
to meet with Francesca who was en-
loving her customary morning ride.
when the above a c.dcnt occurred. She
invited the &c tleman to return to her
guardian mansion, only three miles
distant. the dwell NO of Count Donat.
This put Coun eau Ito ut olce upon
the right scent; but he wa, not tlen
well prepared u meet his former as
soc ate. ii left francesca in charge
of one of her neighbor who was pass
ing at the time. and then galloped
away in an Oppos t. direct on. Very
soon afterwarl. howe er, the dusty
traveller called upon the Count on 9th
err business. Francesca did not then
recognize him. but now she saw it all.
As we have already stated, the hour
of midn ght had struck, and Count
Donat still reposed in his library.
The young moon threw pale light
over the garden and foliage which sur
rounded the dwelling of the old Count;
CLAUDIO had escaped from his
sleeo ng apartment, and, at
tended by one of his faithful
followers, was now quietly and softly
vending his way to the upper wing of
the villa, fronting along the outward
walk that led to the winery, guitar in
hand. for the purpose of Offering his
signoreta tribute in song, at which
he was as accomplished as in most or
binary affairs.
A midnight serenade was so common
a matter in the vicinity of Donati's
habitation. that had he overheard it,
he would ONLY have cursed the singer
or singers that some other night had
not been chosen for their compliments
TO Francesca, rather than have sup
posed il singular. But he still slept,
and heard nothing.
Francesca had not retired. She had
again peruscd that letter, and her ro-
mantle hart babe her respond TO it
without hesitation; but her maidenly
pride and feelings of female delicacy
forbade her TO bc too hasty. She
thought of Count Donati; she turned
over in her mind all the chances, good
and bad that seemed to present them
selves; she reflected upon her present
position and her future hopes; she be-
lieved that she was deeply IN love
that ,he was as deeply beloved; and
she strove to argue herself into the be-
lief that such meeting might not be
indecorous or improper under allthe cir
cumstances. While she thus pondered.
the midnight hour struck. and she was
on the point of throwing her veil upon
her shoulders TO repair TO ner own pri-
vate bower beyond the terrace. when
her motions were arrested by the
sound of a guitar beneath her lattice
window. the cords of which were evil
IDENTITY swept by master-hand.
Naomi retired instantly to divan
in the recess of the window, where
her form was hidden in shadow be-
meath the heavy drapery, and where.
unobserved. she could listen to the
serenade. In tender. passionate strains
of vocal sweetness. soft and gentle,
but manly and noble in sentiment, the
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