The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-16
The White Gondola.
a Tale of Old Venice. In Five Chapters)
Chapter III.

| brothers Sandro and Pietro Robini, the two
| most powerful gondoIers in Venice.
They had just completed, for racing pur-
| noses. a light, two-oared gondola: this ne
purchased from them, had it painted white
| and then disguised with a removable COW
| er:ng of black japanese silk. With the
| true color of his bark thus concealed, the
| intrepid lover sailed down the Grand Ca
nal On the appointed evening. He knew
| he could depend on his gondoEers, Pc
| tro and Sandro. for they were true repub-
| leans, in full sympathy with abolishine
! the odious decree.
The wedding day Of Count Palatza was
| drawing 10 a close as Ann.ta and her faith
| er joined the festive throng on the Dolo,
| the girl feverishly looking down the canal
| for the coming Of her lover; her father
no less anxious, but less confident. The
time seemed TO Ann.ta eternity as they
| paced to and fro, eagerly scanning the
| crowded canal for the white gondola-
At length, when the soft crimson glow
| OF the setting sun was fading from the
| dome of ST. Marks and the guests in the
| Doge's gilded barge were growing languid,
| and fatigued with the days festivities, and
| the gay fotilla Of accompanying gondolas
and barges were all slowly moving towards
| the Doge's attention to the white gondola,
row gliding by 1t had suddenly appeared
as # out Of the sea, for Lord Wilfred had
| not removed the silken covering until
abreast of the Molo, because he had so
contrived the cords which held the casing
| that he could remove it suddenly and
| at will.
| .Annita had seen her lover as soon as
| those on the Doge's barge. She spasmodi-
cally cIutched her fathers arm, and with
! throbbing heart, flashing eyes, and bated
breath, watched all that followed.
ut must be some beiated ambassador"
said the Doge TO rs chamberlain. know
you of any such?''
mo, your Excellency. Besides, he has
rot the colors of any ambassadors to your
| court" replied the chamberlain.
True 1 had not noticed that. 1t is
strange. Make inquiries without delay
S:gnor Palombo's gondoia was passing
near. SO the chamberlain called to him:
Know you the owner OF yon strange
craft? Is he an ambassador"
He Isl answered Palombo. with mock
ing, So tan.c smile, .'the ambassador of
true republicanism, the champion of an
Client Venetian rights"
Say you sou cried the Doge in mount
ing wrath. Then, by the grave of st.
Mark, he shall be speedily taught repent
ance for his insolence. Have him brought
before ne"' he cried to MS chamberlain.
This was easier ordered than accomplish
ed; though signalled TO come before the
Doge, the white gondola paid no heed to
the demand, but swiftly continued on its
course towards the Lido.
The Doge, seeing this, was beside himself
with rage.
Send two of our best gondoliers after
him. he exclaimed, land let them not re-
turn without him on pain of our displeas-
ure."
Thereupon two robust retainers set out
after Lord Wilfred'S craft; but they might
as well have chased the feet;ng shadows
of the fading day, for the over-fed retain
ers were no match for such welI-trained
muscular gondoters as P.etro and San
dro.
Their light, fine-lined gondola glded
away from their pursuers as easily as a
dove outwings a rock; so that white gon-
dola had vanished from the sight of the
Doge's minions long before they reached
the Lido and they had to return baffled,
utterly exhausted, and disgraced
Signor Matranza had observed the dis
comfiture of the Doge with the utmost sat
isfaction, and returned home with his
daughter, extolling her lover all the way.
Next day all Venice was talking of the
exploit of the white gondola, and the Doge
offered a handsome reward for the discov-
cry of the culpr.t. But SandrO and Pietro
were so well disguised with false boards,
and so we'll had the ingenious covering,
aided by the dusk, concealed the craft,
that the emissaries OF the Doge were ut
terly baffled, and could learn nothing of
whence it came or where IL had vanished
TO.
But the Doge caused il to be reported
that the exploit had been traced 10 the
tipsy retainers Of an eastern ambassador.
his real crafty purpose being 10 entrap
the offender by leading him to believe he
was not suspected.
Lord Wifred had taken refuge on board
his ship, and only ventured into the city
on the fourth night after the wedding
fete.
Signor MatranZa gave him a cordial vel
come when he appeared, and said: The
first half of your compact you have brave
ly kept. Where did you find such fleet
gondoliers? They shot away from the
Doge's guard like arrows from bow
All, Signor Matranza, L know you will
pardon me for keeping the names of these
brave fellows 20 myself until 1 have &C
complished my purpose"
LAS you wish, for it was nobly done.
Now, when VIII you appear again? On
Ascension Day.
Yes, + my plans are complete
II shall look for you
And you shall not be Disappointed
So after blissful interview with MS be-
loved one, the young noble returned 10 his
ship.
On Ascension Day all Venice was in gala
dress. Hundreds of dark gOndolas follow
ed the Doge and mis- superbly attired ret.-
nue. IN the magnificent state barge, the
Bucentaur, over the azure waters 70 the
castle Of ST. N:cholo, 10 witness the an
nuaI ceremony Of the Doge espousing the
Adristc.
Andria Palonbo accompanied the aquat-
ic pageant. eagerly watching for the white
gondoia (for Signor Matranzs had ted
him), but it DID not appear, much 20 his
cha grin, for ne had secretly sent word 10
the Doge's chamberlain that the decree
would again be defied. Signor Matranza
took no part n the festivities, but watched
the departure and return of the fioJl!a
from the P.azzetta, hoping TO witness the
consummat:on Of the scheme which he had
SET his heart upon.
Lord WIlfred shrewdly decided that the
same plan might not be successful a sec
ord time: so he had smaller goudola
painted white, and covered WITH black silk
saturated with oil. Tbs ne intended 20
accompany aim. ard when approaching
the Doges barge. 10 set fire 70 he silk,
which would fame up, revealing the white
hull; then. while attention was diverted.
row boldly past the state barge. remove
the disguise OF rs own craft, and Z pur-