Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-06-23
THE WHITE GONDOLA.
A Story of Old Venice.
Continued.

and impetuosity, cried:
1T is a rash deed, which you must
not attempt for me. The Doge hates
my father and the hate is returned
tenfold, because when he was elected
Doge my father was a dangerous RI
val, and would have been chosen in
his stead but for INSCRIPTIONS bri-
berry; for he was beloved by the peo-
pie as a true republican, and had
promised and had gained them many
needed reforms. In spite of the
Doge's golden bribery my father
lacked but two votes of being elected.
Do you wonder he abhors him?'
Annita's eyes glowed and her breast
heaved with the intensity of her feel
ing, so that she looked to him more
beautiful than ever.
NO, l do not" replied the young
lover.
1T would be madness, she continu-
ed musingly. NO, you must not at
tempt the exploit for me-"
Then | must lose you"
Rather so than lose your head"
Nay; for my heart is already lost
to you, and without it what use is my
head?"
She could not reply; his voice was
so beguiling and his eyes so frank
and tender that she felt an irresistible
sense of confidence in him.
why does my father name such a
dangerous condition." she asked
half TO herself.
Because" he answered, there is
no one who will undertake the feat, if
do not. Your father tells me
have a rival"
Not to my heart, she flashed forth,
a dark scorn gathering in her eyes as
she thought of Palombo.
"Ha! is it SO? Then, by heaven!
will keep faith with your father"
Nay, l did not mean-1-I was be-
trayed i" she faltered, blushing.
But he pressed her to his heart and
smothered her protestations with ca
resses.
At length, with her head nesting
"ontentedly against his breast, She
looked up and murmured:
"Ah! l fear you will think me light
ly won"
May, nay, my darling; your
its undoubted truth
"Ah!" she sighed our Italian love
is a brooding summer storm, held in
check by a cloud of modesty, until
some lightning flash rends the vapor,
and a torrent of passion descends on
the object of our affection. Then our
love is jealous, constant and eternal.!'
Her fervid words thrilled him
through and through; her dark, lus-
trous eyes enchanted him. This was
love, indeed. When they parted he
vowed to her that nothing but the
will of heaven should prevent their
union
Lord Wilfred laid his plans with
ingenious care and secrecy. He en-
gagged the brothers Sandro and Pietro
Robini, the two most powerful gon
doliers in Venice.
They had just completed, for racing
purposes, light, two-oared gondola;
this he purchased from them, had 1t
painted white, and then disguised
with removable covering of black
Japanese silk. With the true color of
his bark thus concealed, the intrepid
lover sailed down the Grand Canal on
the appointed evening. He knew he
could depend ON his gondoliers, Pietro
and Sandro, for they were true re-
publicans, in full sympathy with
abolishing the odious decree.
The wedding day of Count Palatza
was drawing to a close and Annita
and her father joined the festive
throng on the Molo, the girl feverish-
ly looking down the canal for the
coming of her lover: her father no
less anxious, but less confident. The
time seemed to Annita an eternity as
they paced to and fro, eagerly scan
ming the crowded canal for the white
gondola
At length, when the soft crimson
Glow of the setting sun was fading
from the domes of St, Marks. the
guests in the gilded barge were grow
ing langud and fatigued with the
days festivities, and the gay fiotilla
of accompanying gondoas and bar
ges were all slowly moving toward
the Placcetta a courtier abruptly
called the Doges attention to the
white gondola, now gliding by. 1t
had suddenly appeared as II out of
the sea. for Lord Wilfred had not
removed the silken covering until
abreast of the Molo. because he had
so contrived the coris which held the
casing that he could remove 1t sud
denly and at will
anita had seen her lover as soon
Ms those on the Doge's barge. She
systematically clutched her father
arm. and with throbbing heart,
flashing eyes and bated breath
watched all that followed
1t must be some belated ambassa-
A.. IN HE oh n hp r.