Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-10-09

not take the name OF the Lord thy God
in vain; for He will not hold him guilt.
less that taketh his name in vain.
Naomi, your answer. Wilt thou pur-
iure myself and doom thy soul TO ever
lasting perdition. or return TO thy
mother, to whom alone you owe ODE
dienceP"
The poor girl. in an agony of grief
and uncertainty. threw herself on her
knees, and with clasped hands inn
plored the aid and guidance of Heaven.
Torn by conflicting emotions, she knew
not what to do. On the one hand,
her love for her husband, and his ex-
press command not 10 listen to the
Woman in Red. her mother, inclined
her to resist her demands; but on the
the other hand, was the memory of the
terrible VOW she had taken-a VOW
from breaking which her soul recoiled
in horror.
Rudiga, her mother, stood on one
side Of the kneeling girl; Claudio, her
husband on the other.
Speak. Naomi, cried the Woman
in Red; "be true to yourself and your
vow.
Speak. Francesca, said Claudio;
"be true to your love and to me. "
a terrible conflict ragged in her
bosom. On the one side was
love and her husband; on the
other, her oaths, her duty. Con-
vulS We Sobs broke from her as she
knelt thus. racked by grief and uns
certainty but ultimately her religioue
tasl n MI q xxyhat al
r ght prevailed. She arose to her feet.
calm, pale as death, but with unaltcr-
able determination on her beautiful
features. Turning to the Woman in
Red. sic 81 d, with forced calmness:
Mother, for such know YOU to be.
YOU have conquered. Though it
brea my heart in the effort, will
keep nv VOW, and obey you.
W th wild cry of delight, Rudiga
or Il, she is now known, the Princes,
Esm ralda, rushed forward and threw
her arms around her daughter
My ch Id. my child, my restored
child. knew that the voice of nature
would SPEAK, and that you would re-
turn to me.
With cry Of fury Claudio started
forward. as If TO tear his wife from the
arms of her mother. But the .Jewess
waved him OF with one hand by
threatening gesture, while with the
other She encrcled the slender form of
Francesca.
Back. man, You are powerless
against the viii of God and the pr mpt-
ings of nature. The girl is my daugh-
ter; and though robbed of her from IN
fancy, nature now re.asserts her claim.
and in her name and mine DEFY YOU.
She stood thus for a moment or 20
deiiantly regarding him. and then sun-
ering her arm to drop. She released her
daughter
Il fear YOU not now. The die is
cast, and | have won. and YOU. who
would have robbed me of my child.
have lost the game. She is mine
mine only, whenever please TO claim
her and bear her away
That shall never be, accursed sor-
Gland o. said Francesca, mourn
fully, eur e her not remember that
she indeed my mother, and has been
deeply wronged. -
She is not Your mother. Francesca.
II cam / be; YOU are deceived it is
vie nposture.'
1T L. no impOSture, Claudio. Heay-
IN knows how my heart bleeds at the
thought Of separation from YOU. my
husband: but ! have sworn a solemn
oath and until she. my mother, shall
please d release me thereirom, am
not free TO act. 1t must be as she
avs.
And do you, too. turn against me
wife OF my bosom, life of my life?
Enough; VIII 90.
Then, sitting the choking sobs which
rose in his throat. Claud hurr ed
away. nor paused. although Francesca
called after him in heartrcnding ac-
cents:
CLAUDIO Claudio Come back. !
Forgive me; | knew not what | said. -
81 he could not follow him herself. /
'or The arms of her mother around her /
Yais, re ira ned her
Alas, he is gone. | shall never see /
lim more. My husband, my dear
husband
W th these words she tore herself /
away from her mother, and throwing /
lcrSelt on couch, gave way to her /
yriet n passionate burst of tears
Mac m. my child, grcve not for .
him. ! am with you; and am | not .
our mother?'
"Yes. yes" she sobbed: II know il,
md wish TO do my duty; but il is hard |
it is very cruel-to demand of me /
uch Sacr flee to compel me TO give
up my husband. home. the associa-
ions of M childhood all hold dear.
t is yer, hard y
The Jcwvss regarded her daughters
,r ef nj first with stern look but as
he noted how deep the sobs were torn
rom her bosom by excess of agony.
Ter heart relented.
Il cannot falter in my purpose; |
will not. This man stands between
ne and the sole object of my life-mv
laughter love. Once have gained
hat. ! ma releut; but for the present
here can bee no peace between him and
he. ! must, " II. part them.
Nevertheless. though these stern
houghts passed through her m nd. she
ould not view the poor girl heart
reaking sorrow unmoved
"Naom nv child, do not grieve,
he "a d. endeavoring to raise her from
er recumaeut pos ton on the couch
where she had thrown herself in her
litter or Of.
Leave me. " gasped the girl, through
er sobs. Leave me now | will
eep my vow. and do your dding. |
would e alone for a little while, to
ray and ask counsel from Heaven"