Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-21

said, "and carry on top ropes; mind, we
can almost reach Naples before our
flight is discovered"
"By lingo, my lord, she shall show
them her heels then"
But in that moment Leonora sudden
ly grasped her lovers arm with shud-
der and stifed cry of wild terror
@Guido-look back-that fearful man
is upon us!'
st. Maur turned sharply, they had
heard no plash of oars in the water,
seen no boat in their wake, yet there,
close alongside, little boat, black from
stem to stem, lay, and the terrible mys
ferrous stranger, Venice had known
only as Geraldi-his eyes cleaning as
with an inward fire, the more visible
from the deathly pallor of his dark face
was springing up the ladder by which
they had so recently assembled.
~Ah, EngliShman!" he cried, aloud,
"you would dare rob me of my bride
body and soul-but she is doomed, and
those"
His foot was planted firmly on the
deck, when st. Maur, with one step for
ward, seized the uplifted arm with a
grasp to which he seemed given tenfold
strength.
Whether man, or spirit Or emissary
from the realms of darkness" he said,
between his set teeth, Gin the name of
all that is holy above, go, return for
ever whence thou came"
There was such cry as might have
surely come from condemned spirit,
and in that moment, whether hurled
back by ST. Maur, or whether he stag
gered, the dark form of the strange as
sailant was seen to cleave the blue wa
tiers as it fell, and disappeared beneath
the ocean.
The men looked at each other with
strange awed faces, the girl, shuddering,
hid hers on her lovers bosom.
Late in the morning the beautiful
Venetian was missed, and Venice rang
with the news of the flight of the dark
browed Geraldi's unwilling betrothed-
beyond all doubt she was gone-and so
was the English mobiles yacht.
Strangest of all the mysterious Ger
adj was never more seen or heard of,
and men whispered fancifully that he
had cast no shadow,-and when they
passed the palace where he had dwelt,
signed the cross and muttered a prayer.
Happy is the bride the sun shines
On,"-if so, then indeed that fair young
bride who knelt before the altar of that
little Consulate chapel at Naples will be
a happy one, for the sun is bright with
out and makes the white foam Of the
wavelets in the bay glisten and sparkle,
as once more, an hour later, the fairy
like vessel trips her anchor and sets sail
for Old England.
"And a mothers welcome to my
wife," says Guy ST. Maur smiling. Il
know she will laugh at my letter, and
say-'Oh Guy, Guy! it is just like my
madcap boy won't she Frank"
"Ahl yes, my lord, and methinks she
will add my new daughter is not much
less of a madcap,-eh, Lady ST. Maur?
never mind We'll drink the good old
toast in your honor
Here's to the wind that blows
And the ship that goes,
And the lass that loves sailor.'''
X
A noble lady stands in the stately
halls that owns her son as lord, to well
come that beloved son and his young
bride home to her heart, and home in
the good old Christmas time, and when
they come scarce hears the words
"This is my wife, mother!". before she
had clasped her to her bosom closely.
NJ "My daughter" she says tenderly; "my
boys wife this is indeed Happy
Christmas!"