Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-02-27

low my instructions you shall not onlS
be saved, hut you viii become duke OF
FranCavelIa. .
"Hows Speaki''
Seem indifferent to my remarks
now. my lord. Have you ever heard Of
the Red Death, my lordl,'
Never, to my knowledge. -
1t is briefly tniss On the nights of
mask sits near the duke. At the close
of the feast this figure shakes hands
with all present, and it is rarely that
some one of the number does not die
shortly after. Does your lordship COM
prehends'i
~ think do-secret poison. .
t.yyhen this Red Mask takes Your
hand ON that night, ne will leave within
1t a paper of instruction, which you
must find an opportunity to read in Sc
cret and follow to the letter,
How do yon know this!i
You shall know if you come.
81 will come though how am to
lnow you mean mo weIlS''
If 1 meant you i'll, my lord, what
need to warn your
'True-it is enough-I will be here.
Punctual to the appointed time, the
Count OF Palmera appeared at tho ban-
quet of tho Duke of Francavella. AT
the close came the handwriting round
of the dreaded Red Death.
The count, being stranger, seemed
the most Indifferent of any, as was nat
ural he should. Hc poured out more
wine and drank and then seemed to re-
fleet. In this mood he held the small
paper which he had just received in
such way that ne could peruse it with
out being suspected. This paper con-
tanned these words:
Feign Illness and be shown to a private
apartment. l viii be there 10 complete the
design
In few minutes the duke, who had
been furtively watching tho count, re-
married., with seeming concern, that he
feared his lordship was i'll.
The mobiles exchanged glances. and
each breathed freer as he fancied he
had discovered the victim IN other than
himself.
But the count, instead of getting bet
ter, seemed to grow more faint, and his
kind host suggested that he should be
shown to u private apartment and his
chief physician be summoned.
BE offered his arm to the connt, who
leaned heavily on it, and thus left the
hall. Passing through an auteroom,
they entered one hung with damasls
and richly furnished.
The Red Mask, who had left the ban
quoting hall before them, was standing
here as if awaiting their coming, as
the duke assisted his guest to a divan
the Red Mask quietly closed and bolted
the door.
Then, producing small rope with
the slipknot OF a hangman, he glided
up to the duke MS he bent over the
count, and throwing the moose around
his neck drew it tight and strangled
him before he could comprehend his
murderous design and raise his voice
for help.
When the duke was quite dead, the
mask was removed, and the face OF An
tonic appeared before the count.
Quick, my lord!'' said Antonio,
pale and trembling at what he had done.
'Disrobe, put on the dress of the duke,
return to the hall and be lord of the
palace. If you succeed in deceiying tho
assembled guests-w which 1 trust youP
close resemblance will enable you to do
we are safe; if you fail, we are lost. !"
Assisted by Antonio, the Count of
Palmera was soon dressed in the gor.
geous robes OF the Duke of Francavel-
la, and the counterfeit was so perfect
that none but wife could have detect
ed the difference.
The plan of the iniquitous schemer
succeeded perfectly, and all the guests
that night retired in the belief that the
false duke was the real.
The next day the Count of Palmera
appeared in st. Marks place and other
parts of Venice in his own proper person.
This destroyed the suspicion that he
had been poisoned. as all at the ban
quet believed.
In fact, it was only through the dy-
ing confessions of the count himself that
the truth came out at MI, which many
would not believe even then.
Long before this event, however, the
Red Death had ceased to appear because
of the real death of Antonio, whom his
new master had murdered in turn for
fear of being himself murdered or be-
trayed by the only one who possessed his
fatal secret.-Ezchange.