Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-10-16


final crash / realized considerable
sum, and fondly battered myself that
| might live in peace and obscurity
with you, my adopted daughter. We
left Genoa for Paris; and, as you re-
member. Francesca, | was taken i'll on
the road, and compelled To make a
long stay ut Turin. just as was re-
covering, and thinking of pursuing
our journey, an event occurred which
changed the whole currant of my eX-
istencc. | was alone; you, l think,
had gone for n walk. One of the at
PENDANTS at the hotel informed me that
IA lady wished to see me. / ordered
her TO be admitted and in brief space
there stood before me your mother
your terrible mothcr-the Woman in
Red ~
Francesca gave n slight shudder in
spite of herself The very words, the
"Woman in Red" struck chill to her
soul. To her they were pregnant with
sorrow and ill-omen.
The Countess continues "She adj
dressed me at once in an abrupt and
stern manner.
Where is Naomip
"Shc is out replied.
"'You must see her no more after
to-day. She must leave you
despite my weakness, my uncon-
qucrable terror of the woman, | braved
her anger and deted her.
" She shall not leave me- i cried,
passionatelv, unless she herself de-
cides so To do. Will appeal to the
authorit G.. 10 the law TO protect us
from your persecution.
4" You W II appeal to the law? she
said, sarcasti cally. Good; come with
me to the Office of the Commissary of
the Police.
Come with youP-neverr l re-
piled.
Come with me, and | will show
you your husband.
My husbandP
Yes Count Donati. To-day q
prisoner. tomorrow condemned TO
death. the next day shot
"A cry broke from me.
You do not believe me- she said.
with terrible smile Come with me.
Il VIII come, replied. eXcitcdly;
and 4 our words prove false, it is
YOU who shall be punished.
"Shc only laughed; and in n few
minutes we were at the police Office.
| know not by what means she OBJ
tanned the power. but her words were
all. sufficient there. | suppose her
boundlcss wealth proved her passport.
She said few words to the official in
attendance, aud we were at once con-
Quoted along corr dor. Arrived at
the end, cell door was thrown open,
and beheld my husband loaded with
chains.
'Beholdr she cried triumphantly,
and know that speak truth.
"A few words from the unfortunate
Count DOnati convinced me that she
had i'm no way exaggerated. He would
infallibly be condemned. and suffer
death, could ne not escape. She Of
fered an alternative-a means by
VIII Oh he might avoid his otherwise
certa fate: that was that should re-
linqush YOU. | reminded her of her
promise. She replied, that until the
expiration of the time agreed upon
(thrcc years. she would not claim
YOU, but neither should have posses
sion of you; YOU should be handed
over to the custody of the Count Do
matt. now fclon. condemned to death.
Such was her will She promised,
moreover, 10 compass the Counts es-
cape to the mountains, and provided
that YOU should be sent to him by a
trusty messenger Then this imperi-
Gus woman compelled him to take an
oath TO abandon this lawless life and
live in quiet and obscurty with you,
who had been supposed his daughter
until it should please her to come and
claim you had no choice but to con-
sent; and he. with an ignominious
death staring h m in the face, was but
too glad to embrace the offer.
Il returned to the hotel in fear and
trembling, and the first news | heard
in the morning was that n prisoner
had escaped from the jail-a noted
bandit called Barnardo. AT noon a
messenger called with note, bidding
me send YOU w ia the bearer | dared
not disobey. but could not meet you
myself; so without even bidding you
farewell, left letter commanding
you TO commit yourself to the stran-
gers care, and myself hurried to
Paris, miserable broken hearted and
broken-spirited. Hence, Francesca
my apparent deserton of YOU.
"The Count. my husband, shortly
renounced his lawless life; but still
dared not come to YOU. Day by day
witnessed evidences of her power; and
she had warned me that if | sought an
interview il should be the signal for
the ruin of all-of me, of my husband,
of you. Continually saw and heard
of her Her wealth appeared bound
less and the power that wealth gave
her. skillfuly handled was enormous.
Her spies. her cmissaries. were every
where: and convinced that should |
attempt 10 thwart her impcrious will
il would he alike useless and disas-
trous. resigned myself TO my fate.
IA short me back | heard of my
husbands untimcly death in Sicily,
and Your MARI age with Claudio.
was informed that YOU had again re-
turned TO Genoa, and were living hap
PLY. OF her had heard nothing for a
long time; and as the three years had
elapsed, | again hurried to embrace
and claim my daughter.
"Alas, too late!" exclaimed Fran
cesca. sorrowfuly. "My mother has
been here she has this evening sought
me out. and claimed the fulfllment of
my vow. | dare not refuse. The
three years have elapsed; | must go
with her. have sworn to it. Hank"
There was heard the rolling of car
riagc-whecls and the clatter of horses
hoOfs.
.She comes ~ cricd Francesca.