The times., 1898-01-30
Iy

union. p
IV. --N~T
lord wilfred laid his plans with ingenious
. care and secrecy. He engaged tue brothers
Sandro and Pietro Robihi, the two most
powerful gondolierS in Venice.
[ Iney nau Just Completed, Tor ing pur-
poses, light, two-oared gondola; this he
purchased from them, had IL painted white,
and then disguised with "a removable Gov
ering of black Japanese six. with the true
color of his bark thus concealed, the intre-
pid lover sailed down the urand Canal on
the appointed evening. lie knew he could
depend on his gondohers, Pietro and San
dro, for they were true republicans, in fun
sympathy with abolishing the odious decree.
The wedding day OF Count Paiatza Was
drawing 10 d Close ana Anuila aud her
father Joined the festive throng on the
Aiolo, the gIrl feverisnly looking Gown the
canal for the coming or her love-; her father
no less anxious, but less confident The
lime seemed 10 Anuita an eternity as they
paced to and fro, eagerly scanning the crow
ed canal for the white gondola.
Al length, W uei the SOFT or Iulson glow of
the setting sun was fading from the domes
of st. Marks, the guests III the Doges
gilded barge We're growing languid ana IA
tgucd with the days festivities, and the
gay flotilla of accompany ying gondolas
anu ipJTstS " ere all SlDNlF MOVING iOWdTu
the Placcetta, q Courtier abruptly called
the Doge's attention To the white gondola,
now gliding by. 1t had suddenly appeared
"a il out of the sea for Lord Wilfred had
not removed the siIkcn covering until abreast
of the MolO, because he had so c0ntriyed
the cords which neld the casing that lie could
remove IL suddenly and at viii.
Annita had seen her lover soon as those
on the poge's barge. She spasmadicaIy
clutched her fathers arm, and with throb
bing heart, flashing eyes pd ba ed brea tn
watched all that followed.
1T must be some belated ambassa dor"
said the Doge to his chamberlain. Know
You of any SUCH"
No, your excellency. Besides, he has not
the color sof any anita ssa dors to your court" !"
replied the chamberlain.
True | had not noticed that. 1t is
strange, Make inquiries without delay"
Si@nor Palombo's gondola was passing
near, so the chamberlain called TO him:
Know you the owner of yon strange craft?
Is he an ambassador
"He is" answered Palombo, with mock
ing, satanic smile, THE ANITA ssa dor OF true
repubiicanism, the champion of ancient
Venetian rights!"
Say You so?'' cried the Doge in mounting
wrath. Then, by the grave of st. Mark,
he shall be speedily taught repentance for
he cried to lis chamberlain.
This waseasier ordered JnHn accomplished;
though signalled to come before the Doge.
the white gonuoia paid no need to the ue-
mand. but swiftly continued on It's course
toward the Lido.
Thr puge, seeing this, was beside himself
with rage.
'-scnu Two OF our best gondoliers after
him. he exclaimed, and let them not re-
urei
Inereupon two robust reta liners set out
after Lord wiIfreds craft; but they might
as wen have CHASED the ileeting sha dowS
OF the fading day, Tor the overt ed retainers
were no match for such well-trairied. mus
cular gondoliers as Pietro and sandro.
Their light, fine-lined gopdola glided
away from their pnrsucrs as easily as a
dove outwingS a rock; so that the white
sondola had vanished from the sight of the
Dvge's minions long before they reached
the Lido, and they had to return baffled,
utterly exhausted and disgraCed.
Sig. MaranZa had observed the discotn-
future of the D0ge with the utmost Sd tis-
faction, and returned home with his
daughter, extoling her lover all the way.
Next day all Venice was talking OF tue
exploit OF the white g0ndoia, and the Doge
offered handsome reward for the dis
Piero were 50 well disguised with false
boards, and so well had the ingenious COW
ering aided by the dusk, concealed the
craft, that the einiSsarieS OF the Doge were
utterly baffled, and could learn nothing
OF whence il came or where it had van
ished to.
But the Doge caused it to be reported that
the exploit had been traced To the tipsy
retainers of an Eastern anIla ssadGr, his
real crafty purpose being to entrap the
offender by leading hiu to believe that he
was not Suspected.
Lord Wiifred 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 cordial wei
come when he appeared, and said: The
first ilalf of your compact you have bra aveIy
kept. Where did you find such fleet gon-
doliers? Ttey shot away from the Doge's
guard like arrows from now
'Ah, Signor Matranza! / know you will
pardon me for keeping the names of these
brave fellows to myself until / have accom-
plisted my purpose
''As you wish it, for it was nobly done,
Now, when will you appear again? On
Ascension Day.
"Yes: If nay plans are complete
Il stall look for you"
And you shall not be disappointed
So, after blissful interview with his be-
loved one, the young noble returned to his
ship.