Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-10-13
AN ATTEMPTED
REVENGE
By SARAH BOYD VAUGHAN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

| During the period Of Venetian su-
premacy when the court of the doge
was one Of the most splendid and de-
lightful in the world young patri-
clan, Leonardo di Guida, while riding
in his gondola on the Grand NAL pass
| ed a 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 Scnorita Lucia
ABBOTT. 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 q
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
fluences, 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 he 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 ABBOTT 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 Lu.
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
wifes account. Those were times
q 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 confidant of his wife
telling her all that had passed between
him and Senorita ABBOTT, urging Bian
e ca to accept the invitation and thus
: avert an enmity. Blanca yielded re
- luctantly.
> The bride and groom were received
with the same marks Of friendship
that Leonardo had received at her for
+ mer meeting with the woman he hat
: Tilted. Her expressions of cordially
S for his wife were especially warm
s She kissed Blanca, but Leonardo saw
S or thought he saw faint shiver pas:
over his wife. When the three wen
into dinner Senorita Aboti placed tn
bride on her right and the groom OF
= everything in her power to convince
}. Leonardo that she regarded the pas
!. affair between them obliterated.
b The last course of the dinner was
nuts and sweets. The hostess sal
cracking and eating nuts. chatting
s glibly till in an almond she found Q
{, double kernel. Tossing one to Leo
g nardo, she asked him to eat it, while
n she ate the other. He was about to pu
) it in his mouth when he saw his wife
looking at him in terror. He paused.
"Why do you not eat it?' asked Lu
!. cia. "You don't mean to tell me that
you fear to eat anything in my house.
There was change Of manner ant
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.
! "Well, then, give it to me. I'll eat II
t myself
"Let me have it," said Blanca under
her breath.
1 Leonardo reached across the table
: Lucia playfully tried to seize it, but
e Blanca got it. Lucia turned a ghastly
white.
{ Come said Blanca: at is time fol-
y us to go"
The hostess made no attempt to re
sumo her former manner. On her face
:, was look Of defeat, almost doom
ed expression. With silent bows the
guests descended the steps to theil
q gondola.
: The next morning. when Leonardo
g passed the palace where he had dined
g the night before. he saw that it was
: closed. At dawn Senorita Aboti had
departed for Florence.
1t was not for several days that
e Leonardo received report from {: