The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-06-27

interrupted Isidora: "but we have
strong reasons for doubling it. 1t wa.
Martha Corbari who went to demand
Broggi as a husband for her daughter
and, angry at being repulsed, has
framed this lie. Marco forewarned
us of it."
"Martha is an honest woman, my
children" replied ]; "and / see no ob.
ject she could have in so wicked an
action; she has always told me tha,
her daughter should never marry"
"I will inquire into this" said Erica.
in gloomy tone: "and woe to those
who have deceived me!
~ shall be always indebted to you
for your kindness, chevalier,n added
she, extending her hand to me- II
have still further. need nf y~--- -;oes |;
yoa -w,li permit me, will you not, sir,
| to claim them again, and You will not
be discouraged by your failure today
of course, continued the chevalie1
| I promised to do all within my powet,
if called upon, and after this promise
took my leave of the amiable sisters,
whom I did not see again for several
days. -.
The following Sunday, Martinoli
came to see me. He told me that he
had had a very calm explanation with
his daughter. and that he had found her
much more reasonable, though she was
no, willing to engage torenounce Marco.
He. on his side, had not believed it his
duty to forbid friendly relations between
the two young people: his respect for
the customs of the country had pre-
vailed over his paternal solicitude, and
he had beside full confidence in the
virtue of Erica.
"She is proud,' said he to me; "with
that a woman always is safely guard.
ed"
The summer glided by: my neigh
borlv relations with the family of Mar
tinoii continued as of old; but Erica
did not claim my promised aid, and her
father did not speak to me of the mar
rage. One single time. as we were
returning together from church, the
anniversary day of the death of his
wife. lovely and noble creature, whom
he had lost fifteen years before, he said
that house without a mother for her
family was almost always doomed 10
misfortune: and thought that in thus
expressing himself, he made in his own
, mind allusion to the love of his daugh.
ter for Marco Broggi.
oThe latter came less frequently to
| the house of the worthy magistrate,
who still continued to receive him with
) the utmost cordiality. Did he believe
Erica to be cured of her passion. or al
least determined to resist it, That
was not to be supposed, for It was 4
matter Of public notoriety that the
young couple were as intimate. theiI
interviews as frequent as ever, although
they did not meet so often at the house
] of Martinoli. Sometimes they were
, seen in the morning, riding on horse
I back, through the shady roads in the
| poetic forest of Mills, one of the won
| ders of our island. At other times
4 they were seen in the evening, walk
0 ing arm in arm, by the sea-shore. A,
balls, Erica would only dance with
: Marco; at the prize-shooting, wher
+ Marcos bullet reached the mark, Erics
became as red as the pulp of the ripe
: pomegranate. Once Marco was quite
: sick. As long as his illness lasted
Erica burnt candles night and day be
t fore the altar Of the Madonna. In the
t meanwhile, all the gossips of Temple
e would say: sThey love each other
y no doubt, butt if the daughter of Marth;
9 Carbari recover, she is the one Marc'
S Broggi will marry, because she is th'
richest girl in the country"
1 In the month of December, as wa
o in the habit of doing, I left Sardinia t
$ pass the winter in Genoa. The even
4 ing before my departure made part
ing call upon my friend Martinoli, an,
' for moment found myself alone witt
9 the two sisters.
t "when will you returnw demande'
E Erica.
o sAs usual, somewhere in May"
% at is probable you will find m
J. married.
III had no time to ask questions: MAJ
r tinoli came in; and Erica made sig
d with her finger for me to be silent.
I'll On the 25th of May of the follow
3 ing year-it is now some thiyteel
u months since, Presumed the chevalieI
% after . pause Of several minutes,)
y passed through Tempo, on my way t
o my own villa, where they had bee
swaiting me several days. 1t was Sun
. day, but it did not seem to me that tn
Il town appeared as it was wont on ths
70 day. The faces of all seemed nnusu
. ally lsng-groups were whispering Il
gether IN = mysterious manner. 70
s-I would have said that some great cata.
. tnphe lad plunged that peaceful tow
IN nourning. In. my anxiety l stoPpe
N my vehicle and accosted citize
whomI knew, and demanded Of hir
y; what had happened.
le "a Rrsat misfortune Aas befallen rs,
"a ~ replied. aMaJeo Broggi was thi
nogning found assassinated, near Sa
/: Gsrmano. Jtappesss he had been dea
ID sevssal hours, for the body was COX
and the bload coagulated around tn
le vound'n
~ q AM, vho en- haye committed thj