Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-07-10
CHAPTER TX.

"Naomi, behold your mother" before
Francesca could fully gather their i'm
port, or realize the truth. Then-still
gazing on the Woman in Red-she in.
voluntarily shrank away. There was
something terrible in the dramatic at
titudc and passionate utterance OF
Rudiga, which compelled feeling OF
dread to have place in the bosom OF
the gentle girl.
The Woman in Red watched the face
of Francesca, and read there the va
rying emotions which swept over her
soul.
Her own heart was filled with unut-
cradle anguish.
"Alas, ALAS she murmured, my
daughter loves me not; my daughter
fears me; my daughter hates meme,
her mothcr-who would lay down her
life TO serve her.
And as these thoughts passed
through her mind. her whole demeanor
changed and the almost fierce manner
in which she stood with outstretched
arms faded away. Her hands dropped
and fell by her side. An expression Of
utter misery and anguish peryaded her
worn features; the fountains of sorrow
from her eyes. and rained down her
cheeks; her emotion rose in degree,
till. deep sobs bursting from her over
laden bosom. she flung herself on her
knees at the feet of Francesca, and hid
ing her face ia her hands, cried, in utter
establishment:
MY daughter, oh, my daughter,
have pity on me!'
Francesca, ever gentle and kind
hearted. took pity on Rudiga's grief.
Tears suflused her eyes. and the deep
heart-broken pathos with which the
words, My daughter, oh, my daugh-
teri were uttered, powerfully affected
her. There could be no acting in such
a passionate outburst of sorrow, she
felt convinced; and her heart told her
that; whether mistaken or not, the
Jewess believed she was, indeed, her
mother But conviction amounting
almost to certainty, forced itself on
her mind-that she was not mistaken,
but that there was deep mystery
about her parentage; and that the
Countess Donati was not her natural
parent
The thought was full of bitterness;
for irrespective of her deep love for
her whom she had always supposed
her mother, there arose the torment
ing question. How will Count Clau-
do receive the news that | am not the
high-born and wealthy heress? VIII
his love stand the ordeal?n
She could not answer the query.
All these thoughts swept through
her mind in a very brief space of time,
mingled with feeling of compassion
for the weeping woman at her feet.
Rise, rise, my poor woman, she said
takngher hand; lido not give way to
such grief From my heart pity your
sorrows, and will do all | can to allie
/ viate them.
The Jewess arose, and, mastering
her emotion, asked:
"Supposing, oh, Naomi, that my
words are true-that | can convince
you; will YOU bestow a little love on
the poor Jewess, your wretched and
| injured mother?'
ALAS" said Francesca, sadly; cit is
! hard to give up the associations and
recollections of ones childhood
| look on those whom YOU have consid-
cred as parents in the light of stran-
! gers to regard a stranger as n mother!
! But if your words be indeed true; if
am not Francesca, daughter of tho
| Countess Donati but Naomi. the child
/ of Rudga. the Jowess the young
/ girl voice rose to pitch of sublime
expression IF | am indeed. Naomi,
your daughter, the laws of God and of
nature would compel me to yield to
YOU my duty and and-"-her voice
faltercd land my love"
Naomi my daughter! my dear
daughter come TO your mother :
arms"
Then she EMBODIED the young girl in
close embrace. and the two women,
mother and daughter Cfor such in truth
they were). mingled their tears to-
gethcr.'
While thus locked in close en-
7 brace. the Countess Donati. who had
returned TO the palace escorted 10y
Count Claudio, entered the saloon, UNI
seen and unheard.
Her eyes fell on Francesca-her
Francesca closely embraced by the
Woman in Red weeping on her shout
der.
a terrible cry of grief and rage
| broke from her.
"Ah!" she cried, "accursed Jewess,
what do you here? Begone, or | will
have YOU scourged through the
streets"
Rudiga released Francesca from her
embrace; and the two women stood
confronting each other, eyes flaming,
bosoms heaving angry tigresses in
defense of their young; for each looked
upon Francesca as daughter.
TO BE CONTINUED.