The times., 1898-01-30

| No, no. sweet Annita; ba nisn your
fears. You snail see thatrI Will triumph,
ia spite or the little dusky peacock, ra-
lombo."
| Iurn he kissed her tenderly and gayly
| said: Il shall soon return for you, my
I darling" and went his way.
1 lie mad not been gone, dong when hef
| father returned homie sdaewnat disap-
| pointed. % -'i,
| Well, Annta - he said, Il begin to think
| your lovers courage sfeileu MIN; moth
! ing has been seen OF the wnite gondola."
All, fatnsr, you Wiong ma. ne is
| prepared, and will boldly pass before the
| Doge's barge tonight when the revels are
at their height
! ''.inen, ny my faith he deserves you,''
| Thereupon, in a burst OF gratitude at
his praisS, ana proud Of ner lover, she
told her father he had Just left her, and
| how he had disguised his gOndOla.
= He is III ing emo Bti brave young hero!
! Annita, you shall watch with me, from
| the PIazetta, the Doge's discomfiture."
| Nay, father, l Will remain at home;
for 1t would drive me mad to see him in
such danger and not share it with him."
Very well, as you please; but l would
not miss the sight for a duketiom.''
At this 1uncture Palombo came for an
interview with Signor Matranza, and the
| girl retired. But Annita's maid, WHO was
! bethrothed TO the gondolIeI, Pietro, and
| in sympathy will her mistress love affair i,
concealed herself in the heavy curtains
! and listened to all that passed between
them.
Yes" she heard Signor Matranza say,
| the youth will fulfill his promise to-
night
| so you think" said Palombo, with a
| scoffing laugh.
II know he WILL This Briton has more
| courage than we thought. My adIlira-
| tion grows the more see OF him.
| Then" said PaonGo, with ii dark,
oIninous scowI, you really intend to give
| him to your daughter-if he succeeds"
Il do. Have / not so promsed?"
! bah! What isa promise to such rs her
Il have given him my wordif he sue.
| ceeds i'll keep it..
Then he shall not succeed Pal0mbo
| fairly missed this threat FROM between his
| glcaming teeth.
you would not thwart him."
~ have discovered his rendezvous.
| "Ah! Ana you VIII betray hiu'?"
| mo; not unt il he has again ffrouted the
| Doge: then he shall not escape
II viii he no party to this treachery."
| But, Signor Matranza, if the Doge
! learns, as he may, that you have given your
| daughter bride for this insult to him,
| what of you? Ah!"
II care nothing md fear nothing for
myselr."
But, failing to secure the Englishman,
| he would wreak his vengeance on you,
| Signor Matranza.'
How can he learn?"
Your daughter would be gone; the
story would he all over Venice. and his
| eiuiSssries would soon connect you with the
! conspiracy"
"Alas signor Palomho, there is reason
| in what you say" and Signor Matrauze
| paced the room W ith puzzled and dis
| tressed coUntenance.
Now this is my purpose, rapidly con
| tinued Paloubo; II Will join and pretend
| To assist him. but i will go arrange mat
| ters that after he has discovered himself in
| the white gondola he shall be 'entrapped.
! brought before the Ddge, and there W i'll be
| an end OF him.
This CRATES on my consceience; can
| not assent to it," 90
| "Pah! he is only an idle English strip
| ling; why need you trouble your conscience
! about him? Besides! this WAS the agree
! ment between US. / demand it's fulfill
! Inent," he said. imperiousiy.
"Demand.'' cried Signor MatranZa, bis
| eyes flashing angrily at the others tone.
! Yes; demand. 1t is my due"
Then you demand, in vain TetOrted the
| Old senator, fterCei iy. 49,
what, Do You deny ne?'
II do. You first proposed this affront TO
the Doge: and now that the noble yOuthnay
| succeed, you would betray iHta. 4 VIII con-
| sent 70 no such treachery.'''Ie
"Even though you lose my friendship"
Even so. No threat will change me.
Then, Signor Mariana, You had best
| beware OF me Zoe. For, by st. Marx.
botn Of you shall reel my vengeance
| With this they parted; andthe maid at once
| acquainted her mistress with all she had
! heard.
Itt laor Fat thpr
My child, he said, Il have quarreIled
! with Signor Palombo, for the means to be
! tray Lord Wifred.''
"Oh, father" she gasped, throwing her
arms auouL hrs neck III distress
Have no fear, my CHILD. Your lover must
be told of Ills danger Know you OF his
rendezvous
II do; l 10! l viii let him know, she
cried, impstiently. Il will send my maid
at once
And tell him this continuedber father
IF I've succeeds, viii Join his ship at the
Lido late tonight, aud you shal follow in
the morning We had better not 20 to-
getiler. for Palombo will have spies a I work.
Then. my dear, in some Adriatic port, you
shall be joined in wedlock.f
''Oh, father, father! how can / thank
you?' cried the girl, as she kissed him
rnpturousy, while tears of gratitude filled
her beautiful eyes.
I'VE must leave Venice for time, my
dear for Palumho VIII hesitate a no vii
lany to injure me now"
signor Mstranza rapidly ma Tie all prepars
tions for lea wing. Then telling Ills daughter
to follow him in the morniIy If he did not
return that night he went forth in his
gontloia to watch events
When her father had departed, Annita
hastily summoned her private gondola and
proceeded othe rendezvous I'm side canan
where Lord Wilfred's craft lay concealed,
for she wished to be sure he was made aware
of his danger. When she found her lover
she breathlessly told him of Palombo's in
tended treachery, and pIeaued with ;iul not
to attempt the perious feat for her sake.
''Ah, give me up! give me up fear ihy
father will be sacrificed bythis nnscrupulous
Palombo. He is now his en- emy because he
would not join in betraying YOU"
Young Wilfred stood perPIexed, deep in
thought, AMI irresoiute for some seconds,
and then observed:
say?''
Yes But do not trust him! All, do not
trust him, Wilfred!''
But l will as | would an adder,' he
said fierceiy.
Then he lei her into the cabin OF the white
goudola, and tenderly said
Your father Annita, intends to eep faitn
Win nave now uouDt-
.'He does, WiIrred; he does; l AIN sure,
am sure!'' - 80
Then. my darling, T know shall succeed.
Will you face this exploit with me?"
"Ah, nothing would content me more than
to share your danger.
And If fail --'ff t@, -
II will still share whatever is to come, for
know no " orld without your
.sThen may the angels guide our gOndOla
into placid waters-iii heaven or earth-I