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

/ uHu WclI-icu HtilAl'ihuH' VI SUNNI my
years of age He is called Count Do
natl and is said TO have come from
/ Paris. Little is known about him.
and as he is wealthy and pays literally
for everything. people do not trouble
1 themselves much about his business.
/ Still. there are rumors alloat anything
/ but complimentary To the past life OF
the Count. Ii is known that he disap-
pear,d some years back. deeply in
debt, and also under the diSpleasure OF
the government. II is known that all
/ his estates We're coniiscated, and he
was generally supposed to be penni-
less outcast, bankrupt alike in fortune
and reputation.
There had been terrible scenes in tho
| Palace Donati, at Genoa. before the
! final crash came. The Countess and
her supposed daughter, Francesca,
suddenly disappeared. No one knew
whittier they went or what became of
them. \ the sal time, to, thr gay
and dashing Count Claudio = Young
nobleman renowned alikc for HI hand
some person, his rockies ness, and his
extravaganza also disappeared. He.
too, it was well known. had dissipated
the whole of his property, and was be
sides heavily in debt Strange rumors
were alloat shortly after the vanishing
of these two mobiles as to their pursuits.
A band of audacious brigands sudden
! became notorious for the success and
daring of their robber,es The chief OF
| this lawless band was called Bernardo
and his second in command, Rodolpho.
But it was reported that Bernardo was
no other than Count Donati and RO-
| dolpho Young Count Claudio. There
was nothing improbable in such IA story
in those days; and IN that country
many bankrupt noble might be found
among the lawless bands that infested
the mountains. These gentry, having
! lost, gambled or dissipatcd their prop
erty. as a last resource. either joined
an existing band. or. contriving to BEG
or borrow little money. themselves
raised one, and became frec-booters.
robbing and plundering travellers in
the mountains, and occasionally max
! ing dcsccnts on to the plains.
Though the government, at once
feeble and tyrannic. did their utmost
| To suppress these lawlcss maraudercs
/ their efforts were vain. Occasionally
one of the chiefs would be taken and
! hanged without mercy; but this had
no effect Barring the unpleasant con
tingcncy of this sudden termination OF
a laWless career, the life had it.,
attractions. The peasantry feared and
admired these mountan-robbcrs
while even the rich. who fell victims,
did not look upon them as very helm
GUS offenders, and usually went on
.
/ To protect them from attack. But ai
/ ter the Disappearance ul Count DOuuli
and Claudio. there arose. "a band 80
. numerous. wcll-appuulcd. and audac
/ iOus, that no one Was sale. and even
/ the government cOnvoNs of treasure
! had been attacked. aud the soldier do
| fcatcd. As We have said, it was ru-
mored that these two ruined noble.
were at the head of the brigauds
whose dcpredations and boldness cN-
cecded anything that had previously
! been heard of. Count Donati. after dis.
! appearance of nearly three years, sud
denly rcappcared in Genoa, where he
| took up his abode. Kumor said that he
was himself the notorious Bernardo. and
! he cared nothing for a vague report
| He brought with him a Young lady.
his daughter, As was supposed. But OF
| her more anon.
The Count at the time of which we
! speak, is reclining on rich divan, en-
! ioying his afternoon siesta. Beside
! him there sat two slaves engaged, the
one in shading his masters face and
the other in welding large fan over
! his head. Whether the generous din
ner he had devoured had oppressed
him, or whether the copious draughts
of wine in which he had INDUCED had
! disturbed his brain. would be difficult
to say; but, at all events he did not
| seem at ease, but tossed and turned on
/ the couch unable TO rest.
"a cigarette, Copo. The said present
| " TO one of his servants, IN gruH and
| unpleasant tones.
Copo disappeared, and returned in
! an instant with some choice cigarettes
on silver salyer lie had scarcely
! lighted his delicate cigar, which he
| smoked through an amber mouth
! piece, when cloud of dust was seen
/ at the end of the courtyard in front,
and faded horse, apparently worn
out with fatigue and rough usage,
halted at the outer gate. The beast
was mounted by an addressed stran-
ger. whose slouched hat ard dust-cov-
cred clothes offered very slight war
rant for welcome at this l0rdly old
! dwelling. Count Donati looked out a
moment ut the intruder, and then
/ throwing himself back On his divan.
/ i'm the lazy attitude which he most
| loved. he awaited further develop
mcnts, with the simple query to Cope:
"Who j. thatP'
| Now Copo, or his companion in ser
vice, the sharp-witted Pinta, knew lit
! tie and cared less who came 10 see his
master; and SO they looked, and both
answered that they didn't know.
At the further extreme of the long
piazza of the main house, there were
three rows of lattice work. or Spanish
blinds. which Swallowed three windows
of the great rcception-room. When
the old Italian inquired: 'Who is
! thatPn the middle range of lattice
turned with quick movement; and as
the stranger alighted and came up the
walk slowly. pair of brilliant eyes
might have been seen through one of
the interstices fixed intently and Curl
ously upon the newcomer. He was a
yOungish nan. apparently; but his mo-
tions were heavy. and seemingly in a
measure decrepit He secured his
horse at the gate, and advancing TO
the very last stair on the terrace, he
removed his slouchcd hat. and wiped
the perspiration from his forehead with