Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-06-20
THE WHITE GONDOLA.
A Story of Old Venice.
Continued.

Exploit! What is the exploit?"
Thereupon he told her what he had
promised to do. She was silent a mo-
ment, and then, with some emotion
and impetuosity, cried:
''It is 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 bril-
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
beautiful than ever
mo, I do not replied the young
lover.
1T would be Madness she continu-
ed musingly- mo, you must not at
tempt the exploit for me-
Then I must lose you
Rather so than lose your head"
May; for my heart is already lost
to you, and without it what use is my
1 head?"
She could not reply; his voice was
J SO beguiling and his eyes so frank
j 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 rival"
mot to- my heart, she flashed forth,
dark scorn gathering in her eyes as
she thought Of Palombo.
"Ha! is it SO? Then, by heaven! l
will keep faith with your father"
NAY, did not mean-I-I was be-
trayed i" she faltered, blushing
But he pressed her to his heart and
smOthered her protestations with ca
resses
1t length, with her head nesting
~ontentedly against his breast, she
looked up and murmured:
"Ah! fear you will think me light
ly won."
Nay, nay, my darling; your
its undoubted truth"
"Ah!" she sighed, "our Italian love
is a brooding summer storm, held in
check by cloud of modesty, until
some lightning-fash rends the vapor,
and 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, a light, two-oared gondola;
this he purchased from them, had it
| 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 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 languid and fatigued with the
days festivities, and the gay fotilla
of accompanying gondolas and bar
ges were all slowly moving toward
the Placcetta, courtier abruptly
called the Doges attention to the
white gondola, now gliding by. It
had suddenly appeared as if 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 sud-
denly and at will.
anita had seen her lover as soon
| uS those on tho DOpo'c horCo Che