Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-10-23
THE WOMAN IN RED.
A Thrilling Italian Story Of the
Last Century.
BY GEORGE W. NJ. REyoLNDs.
CHAPTER XL.
ALL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL

ALL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL
Beautiful Venice. the queen of the
sea! The splash of the oars, and the
harmonious chanting of the Condo
liers, mingled occasionally with the
tinkhng of guitar as some lovesick
swan serenades his lady-love, alone
break the ST illness of the night. The
moon shines clear. bright and beauti-
full on the grand old city. with num-
berless canals serving as roads.
1t wants three hours of midnight,
and the palace of the Princess EsrLe-
calda is br liantly illuminated. for the
birthday of her daughte Naomi is be-
ing celebrated with great pomp and
display. A thousand lights glittered
in the gorgeous residence of the mill
ioRaire Princess. The most costly
viands. the rarest wines. decked the
tables; and all the wealth and nobility
of Venice are present al the fetc. De-
casionally there bursts forth on the
stiffness of the night ravishng strains
of harmony, played by the most &C
complished musicians TO be procured
for money.
But am d all the splendor and gilt
ter there is one heart bowed down
with grief and sorrowful memories.
Naomi, the only daughter of the
Princess Esmeralda, refuses TO take
any part n the gay and glittering fes
invites n her honor. In vain her
fond mother begs and imploreS her TO
arouse herself from her lethargy, and
at least come among the company for
short time.
Mother. | cannot; my heart would
break | should burst into tears in
in public. Leave me-oh, pray leave
me alone TO my own wretched
thoughts
With a deep Oh, the Princess was
compelled 10 leave her, and return TO
! her COMPANY.
Naoml-who. in the earlier part of
this tale, the reader has known as
| lran cesca Donat remains seated.
! pale. weary. and disconsolate in her
own room. looking over the canal.
! he cham er is one on the basement
story. and from the low window it is
easy to step out into gondola
moored beneath The fair Young
girl is seated at this window, leaning
her head on her hand. lost in sad
ton is arrested by the sound of
guitar accompanying a rich and mel
| low voice.
She listens intently for a moment,
and then leans out of the W ndow, as
though endeavor ng 10 catch sight of
! the gondola from which the strains
proceed. A flush is now on her usually
pale cheek. and her eyes CLEAN bright
l..
Again. she mutters. half aloud;
this IS the third time | have heard
that ar chanted by uthe same voice.
The melody VI know kell;t one my
poor. lost mother. the Countess Donat,
taught me. How often have we not,
with Claudio. sung it together? What
can it mean? DO my ears deceive me?
or is that the voice of Claudio, my
husband?'
Her heart beat wildly as she asked
herself the question Could il indeed
be be? Had he traced her ami takel
this means of informing he of his
presence? On the prev Gus nights,
when she had heard the same melody
sung by the same vo ce. others were
present so she was forced to conceal
the deep emotion which thrilled her
soul. Now, however. all in the palace
of the Princess Esmeralda were too
much engrossed in the festivities 90 NJ
on to heed the serenade from a solitary
gondola.
Slowly the craft from which came
the voice approached Francesca
could hear the plash Of the oar as the
gondoler impelled her 18th measured
nd Oh 81
TO keep time with the music.
Soon she could distinguish the shape
Of the vessel as it bore down toward
her and was able to make out three
figures on board. One was the Condo
Ter who stood up and piled the pad
die; and the other two were seated
beneath the awning, and Naomi's
heart thrilled with strange emotion as
she fancied she recognized in one the
figure of her lost husband. Count
Claudio.
The gondola swept slowly by: and as
1t passed n front OF her ndow. the
moon ,treamed full on the face of the
passengers. and Naomi could plainly
make out that the one was a tall and
handsome Young man. the other a
middle aged LADY, In the one she
knew her husband; in the other. the
Countess Donati, whom she loved as
fondly as though she had been, indeed
her mother. She wa ched the boat glide
placldly by; and then. stretch
ing forth her arms to the water, she
gave vent to cry of despair:
"Claudio-mother. do not leave
me-"
The tinkling of the guitar and the
mellow sound of his voice, as he chant
ed the mournful air, were the mourn
ful reply, and the gondola swept slow
ly on. Soon il grew faint to sight, and
the strains of the melody faded on her
ear,till it was lost in distant tinkling,
like that of a tiny bell.
She uttered a sharp cry OF misery.
and buryng her head in her hands,
gave vent 10 her grief in tears and
sobs.
Presently. however. there again fell
on her ears the sound of music Ii
was the same song, sang by the same
mellow voice, and accompanied by the
guitar as before. She ia sed her head
and stoned
Yes; the gondola again approached.
Slowly, lently, it glided along over