Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
uAPDRAGO!.
CHAPTER I.
IN A VENETIAN THEATRE.

ly beautiful face! it is the very picture
of the Venetian type"
The speaker was a handsome diSttng1tt
looking man, perhaps seven or eight
and-twenty, who with another young
Englishman had just taken their places
in row of stalls at leading theatre in
Venice.
Frank Trevanian asked
Where is this Diva, my dear fellow?T
There, you duffer, just come into
that lowest box at the end Of the next
roW-not far, SO don't be caught in a
stare"
81 haven't quite such naturalYeil OF
long laShes as you have, my lord, laugh
ed Frank, glancing in the direction in
dicated. "Who, I wonder too, is that
grim-looking old hunks with her. Who
is she?"
Don't know, but I mean to find out,
by Jove," said the other, with flash In
his bright dark eyes, 'and get chance
to speak to her, too"
Take care, Guy" warned Trevanian,
you're such a reckless daredevil, that
you will get into mischief yet for the
sake Of some bright eyes; the old fellow
may be her husband"
$50 much the worse for him, then; it
will necessitate pistols for two, coffee
for one," returned my Lord St. Maur,
unmoved; ut would be simply an act of
Christian piety to relieYeher from such
an old maladetto. I am just going to
find out her name now"
He left his place, and did not return
for six or seven minutes; when he did,
the beautiful Venetian, who had so cap
tiYated him, evidently noticed him, for
she glanced round and gave the hand
some Englishman keen look, and turn
ed away with a half-smile as she met
his gaze, full of an undisguised admira-
ton, to which she was evidently too
used to feel disconnected.
WELL" said Treyanian, "what isyOur
fate?"
Her name is Leonora Casamina,"
whispered ST. Maur, "and the old boy is
her uncle-noble family"
"She has got lover, I'll swear" said
Frank, go it's no use, Guy"
eve shall see, my son."
Little attention paid theyOung noble
man to the stage, but under veil of the
singularIy beautiful long laSheS, alluded
to by Frank, he covertly watched the
girl who had so stirred his fiery and i'm
pulsive nature.
lie had travelled much (he had come
out now in his yacht, the "Sea Queen"
on cruise), and seen lovely women by
the dozen, but never yet such one as
this young Venetian's fair features and
slender form. If it was not entirely a
case of love at first sight, it was certain
" something very like it on his part.
When the first act ended, Frank said
he should go and get a glass Of lemon
ade.
December here" said he, isn't like
in England, is it? and Pm hot and
thirsty. Are you coming?"
mo, thanks. [ am neither the one
nor the other, and don't care to move"
Trevanian nodded and left the audi
forum; and at the same time ST. Maur
saw the old Count Casamina also rise,
and heard him say
Il see the Marchesa d'Urbino in her
box, my dear, and must just go round
and see her,"
Every well, uncle. Carry her ny
compliments, and say we shall be at her
ball next week, of course"
The girl S voice was like music, but
her manner was cold and naughty; and
look Of relief came into her eyes as
the Count left the box.
st. Maur noticed both, and drew his
own conclusions. What happiness to
win smile from those beautiful eyesl
How like an ocean queen she would
look standing on the deck Of his beauti-
full yacht, now lying at anchor in the
lagoons.
L VOW" he muttered, "that her name
ought to be changed from Sea Queen
to 'Leonora'; but they gave me the
Soubriquet of SnapdragOn at school, and
SO my ocean mistress should have had
that. But"
That "but" never had its ending, for
at that moment red glow was sudden
ly perceived behind the act drop, and
voice from the gallery cried out the aw-
ful word 'sFireI"
1T is nothing" exclaimed st. Maur,
instantly in Italian, standing erect.
Keep your places for your lives, and
all is safe!"
Quiet as he was, he might as well
have tried to stem tiood-tide as the
panic that seized the crowd. In a mo-
ment there was wild confusion as q
flame leaped up above the curtain. Wo-
men shrieked; men and women alike
crushed and pressed madly towards
every exit; some crying to keep back,
others shrieking frantically to push on,
or they would be burnt-climbing over
or under seats; trampling over those
that fell.
In the midst of it all, Guy ST. Maur
saw that Leonora, white and calm, still
sat in her box. She had been his only
thought, and he directly forced his way
between those who were crushing their
passage towards a door between HIM
self and the box, which was the second
tier only. he lifted his hand to the
beautiful girl who now stood up bend
ing forward with parted lips watching
his advance with intense eagerness and