Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-07-10
THE WOMAN in RED.
A Thrilling Italian Story of the
Last Century.
by GEORGE w. NJ. REYNOLDS
CHAPTER w.
THE YELLED LADY.

Rudiga seated herself, and looked
around the apartment. Whether from
taste or to foster the superstitious
ideas of the people, her house was fit
ted up in grotesque, even repulSive
manner.
Skulls grinned from the walls; stuff
fed reptiles, owls, and birds looked
down with their sightless eyes from
all sides. Tit ssh2eelEes-around were
filled with large books, strange look
ing apparatus. bottles, and myster-
ious objects, of which the use could
not even be guessed by the initiated.
The apartment was lighted by a
lurid flame, which, itself being invis-
ible, cast demoniacal glare on the
massive furniture and on the queer be-
longings. Two large iron safes or
caskets stood on stands, each by the
side of pillar to which they were
chained. These were rcputed to con-
tain vast sums of money, and to the
uninitiated appeared to be formed of
solid blocks of iron-to have no door
or opening whatever. But the mys-
terious mistress of this place could,
with a simple touch of the fingers.
cause the invisible windows TO fly
open, revealing the treasures con-
! cealed within.
The Woman in Red glanced bitterly
around.
and they call me sorceress." she
muttered to herself, because. By my
/ skill and deep desgning,.I know so
much of the private history of most
! Genoese families as TO be able to tell
1 them of the past, and form shrewd
ideas of the future. And yet, all
powerful as they think me, my heart
l. desolate. | have discovered my
daughter, my long lost Naomi; | am
powcrless TO reclaim her; nay, despite
her gentleness, she shrinks from me
with aversion-from me, her mother
and clings to that prating coXcomb
who dared TO insult me. Oh, Naomi,
Naomil why have | found you, only
to see without the power 10 clasp YOU
in my arms, to call you mine-Hark
n knock! Some one comes TO consult
the fortune-teller.
1t was indeed continued rapping
at the outer door which had disturbed
her. She arose, and. touching a
spring on one of the pillars, the door
flew open.
A lady, dressed in black and closely
yelled, entered, and stood before her.
The sorceress had rcscatcd herself,
and gazed iixedly at the newcomer
What would you with me, ladyP''
she asked, ''your fortune told? or
wouldst hear of your past life?'
Rudiga's penetrating glance dis
cerned, attached to gold chain. q
iewelcd watch, engraved on the back
with the arms of the Donati family
One glance was enough, and She knew
her visitor.
$50. sor' she thought; "the Count
ess Constanza Donati-the woman who
robbed me of my child. What wants
She money? She shall have it; bu
only at my price"
II want not to have my fortune told
am not so credulous as the veal
multitude
What want you then, with me
Countess Constanza DonatiP'
"Ah. how knew you my namep'
''By the same art which you despise
/ know not only your name, but youl
object in visiting me-in one word
mOneVr
This woman's knowledge is mar
NelOuS4 Is IL pOssiDle ihdt tHtIc II III
deed something in her art, and tina
, she can read both the past and the fu
ture9"
And supposing such were my Oh
iectP" she asked aloud.
Money! That would depend OF
what you offered me in return. Count
ess. have money-a vast treasure
See!"
she touched a spring, and instantl
the iron door of one of the safes flew
{ open, revealing great number o
, caskets, bags, and iron-bound boxes.
r Approach, and view them " sh
, said.
, The Countess did so; and as Rudig
, threw them open, her astonished gaz
rested on piles of gold and heaps O
flashing iewelTy,