Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-06-26

she asked, abruptly, fixing her eyes on
his face.
"My mothcr?-no. She died while
j was yet too young, But truce to
this idle folly; begone, woman, or ]
will have you scourged through the
streets.
Rudiga's eyes flashed fire. She
dropped the hand of Francesca, and
confronted Claudio, deiiantly.
'Empty-brained coxcomb, you dare
10 threaten me! Beware! you know
not who you are. know"
What know youP"
More than | choose to say at your
bidding. You think yourself nobly born,
do you not? know better; your moth
or was an honest but poor village wo-
man, and ! held her in my arms as she
yielded up her life, numbered"
"Vile impostor, you lie!'
al have bid you beware how you an
ger me; again repeat the warning"
II defy you and your pretended arts.
Come, Francesca, let us leave this mad
woman, or I'shall be compelled to or
der her arrest.
Rudiga suddenly clutched Francesca
by the arm.
"Stay; you go not so. What would
you with this girl? What claim have
you on herP The voice of nature is
strong within me. | know her moth
er.
"What raving is thisP You know
her mother. the Countess Donati? l do
not believe II.
at is false; her mother was not the
Countess Donati.
"Unhand the lady, vile wretch.
cried Claudio, furiously.
by what right do YOU dare tell me
to do so me-me? Who are you that
claim her? Know YOU who she is?"
Francesca, pale and trembling, was
almost ready to faint while this violent
scene went on. The populace, too,
crowded around, attracted by the al
tercation between the sorceress and
Count Claudio.
Rudiga was rapidly working herself
up to pitch of ungovernable excite
ment Instead of releasing Francesca,
she held her arm with yet irmer grip.
1.-The woman is mad-mad!' ex-
claimed Claudio, trying to drag Fran
cesca away.
mo. no; not mad rash boy You
know not who she is. See-see-by this
token | know her.
Then, rs quick a thought. she tore
the dress from trancesca!s left should
er, leaving the flesh bare. A sharp cry.
almost shrek, broke from the Wo-
man in Red.
Il knew it knew tits she, and
then. before Francesca, who was dread
fully terrified. could escape, she cried,
II have found YOU at last
Claudio now rushed forward and at
tempted by force to drag Rudiga away.
He succeeded in his object; but in the
struggle an ivory eros, which Frances.
ca wore around her neck became de-
tached, and remained in the hand of
the so-called sorceress. Claudio cried
out. furiously:
"Sacrlcgc,- Sacrilege, This ac-
cursed Jewish sorceress has torn a
crucifN from the bosom of Il Christian
maiden.
Then arose on all sides the cay:
"Sacrilege. sacrilege Stone her
down her the witch.
And with these word, the mob crow
ded around Rudiga, and she was in
imminent danger of her life. But just
when her peril seemed most imminent.
aud even a the foremost Of the crowd
were aiming blows at her, Francesca
rushed forward with shrek.
mo. no. she cried, ''do not harm
her. II was an accident: the poor wo-
man did not mean TO steal the cross.
You shall not harm her. Ii she must
die. will die with her
The mob. but n moment before in
tent on murder. fell back before the
magic of Francesca bright beauty,
and Rudga. the Woman in Red, owed
her safety to the Christian maiden.
lis the voice of nature. cried
Rudiga. Naomi, Naomi. come to my
arms You were lost, and are found. -
But for Francesca this was quite UNI
ineligible. She had piticd the poor
woman. whom she feared to have seen
killed before her eyes. and had, there
fore. not without risk TO herself. saved
her from the fury OF the mob. But as
TO the meaning of this strange woman :
vehement demonstrations of affection
to herself, and her calling her Mao
mi, She was in utter ignorance. She
could only think her mad, and was
glad when she could escape from her
embrace, and be escorted home by
Claudio.