Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-10-05
AN ATTEMPTED
REVENGE
By SARAH BOYD VAUGHAN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

was one Of the most splendid and de-
lightful in the world a young patri-
clan. Leonardo di Guida, while riding
in his gondola on the Grand lnal pass
ed woman who at once attracted his
attention. She was one of those stat
uesque beauties with lustrous eyes, a
wealth of black hair. full round cheeks
and lips. Instead Of lowering her eyes
as Di Guida passed she brought them
to bear boldly upon him,
Di Guida instructed his gondolier to
turn about and follow the lady She
disembarked on the steps of house
near the rialto. Di Guida shot by as
she was stepping from her gondola.
She turned and gave him another look.
The young man learned that this
charming creature was Senorita Lucia
Aboti. recently arrived from Florence.
He, being one of the prominent young
men at the doge's court. had no trouble
in securing an introduction to her, and
his visits at once became frequent.
Leonardo was at the time betrothed
to Blanca VincenZa, the daughter OF
Venetian noble, a girl just the reverse
from Lucia Aboti-a pure, religious wo-
man. beloved and respected by all who
knew her For awhile Leonardo was
like shuttlecock between the two in
fuences, though neither woman knew
of the others existence. One night
after a visit to Lucia he went home
with his brain in a whirl. He strug-
gled with himself till morning. when
he swore before a crucifix that he
would never visit her again.
Lucia, expecting him the next even
ing, had all arranged to make him her
slave. When the usual hour for his
coming arrived and ne did not appear
she was troubled.
Leonardo fastened his marriage with
Blanca, and after the wedding they
were both exquisitely happy. Leonar-
do did not happen to meet his other
love for some time after his marriage.
Then it was at dinner. After TAX
ing his seat he looked up and saw Lu-
cia Aboti sitting opposite him. looking
at him. He expected to see some indi-
cation of resentment. He was agree
ably disappointed. She gently chided
him for not having invited her to his
wedding and asked him to tell her all
about his wife, who sat at another
part of the table. manifesting through
out marked friendliness.
There was no danger in all this to
Leonardo. Once he had conquered
himself he remained conquered. He
loved his wife. and loved her alone.
But he was deceived in the woman's
proffers of good will, and when Luz
cia begged him to bring his wife and
dine with her the next evening he
consented. He did not relish the en-
nifty of any woman, especially on his
wife's account. Those were times
when death lurked anywhere, every
where, and If this woman were really
friendly he desired to fix her friend
ship, not to excite her enmity.
He made a confidant of his wife,
telling her all that had passed between
him and Senorita Aboti, urging Bian-
ca to accept the invitation and thus
avert an enmity. Blanca yielded re-
luctantly
The bride and groom We're received
with the same marks of friendship
that Leonardo had received AT her for
mer meeting with the woman he had
Tilted. Her expressions of cordially
for his wife were especially warm.
She kissed Blanca. but Leonardo saw
or thought he saw faint SILVER pass
over his wife. When the three went
into dinner Senorita Aboti placed the
bride on her right and the groom on
her left and seemed anxious to do
everything in her power to convince
Leonardo that she regarded the past
affair between them obliterated.
The last course of the dinner was
nuts and sweets. The hostess sat
cracking and eating nuts. chatting
glibly till in an almond she found
double kernel. Tossing one to Leo
nardo, she asked him to eat it, while
she ate the other. He was about to put
it in his mouth when he saw his wife
looking at him in terror. He paused.
"Whv do you not eat it," asked Luz
cha. You don't mean to tell me that
you fear TO eat anything IN my mousse.
There was a change of manner and
tone in speaking the words which SEEM
ed to indicate an intention TO dominate
Leonardo to obedience by force of
will. He held the kernel in his finger.
undecided.
We'll. then. give it to me. I'll eat it
myself"
LET me have it." said Blanca under
her breath.
Leonardo reached across the table.
Lucia playfully tried to seize 1t, but
Blanca got it. Lucia turned CHASTITY
white.
Come" said Blanca: 'it is time for
US to CO.
The hostess made no attempt to re-
sumo her former manner. On her face
was a look of defeat almost a doom
ed expression. With silent bows the
guests descended the steps to their