Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-10-01
A VENDETTA.

mands, across the strait that bristles
with rocks, a good view OF the lowest
portion of the Sandman coast. At its
feet, on the other side, but almost
thanking it entirely, an opening in the
cliff shaped like i gigantic corridor
serves it for port, enabling the little
Italian or Sandman fishing smacks to
advance to the first line of houses. af-
ter a long circuit between two abrupt
walls. And every fifteen days comes
the old wheezy steamboat which plies
between the town and Ajacco.
Upon the white mountain the mass
of houses make still whittier STAIN
They seem like nests of wild birds at
tached to the rock. and overlooking
the terrible passage into which vessels
never venture. Without repose the
wind labors the sea, labors the naked
coast. which it gnaws forever, and
which has scarcely covering of green
lit rushcs into the narrow detroit
ravaging either shore. The long trails
of white foam, clinging to the points OF
the countless rocks which pierce the
water everywhere, have the aspect of
tatters of clothes floating and CULVER
ing on the surface.
The house of the widow Sayerini.
perched upon the very edge of the cliff,
as if soldered there, opened its three
windows to the wild and desolate hori-
Zon.
She lived there all alone with her son
and their dog Allcgro--a great, gaunt
beast with long, bristing hair, of sheep
dog breed. The dog aided the young
man in hunting.
nno avop;no .,ft,- a u,,n.,oI
Saverini was treachcrously killed
with n single knifc-thrust-by Ncolo
Ravoati, who. the same night, fled to
Sardinia.
When the old mother received the
corpse OF her child, that some passers-
by ha,t found aud carried TO her she
did not weep ut all, but remained for
long time motionless, staring ut the
body; then, stretching out her wrink-
led hand over the body she proclaim
cd u vendetta. She would not allow
e. anyone to remain with fer, and she
shut herself up alone with the dog,
which howlcd the brute howlcd con
tinuously, standing up with his fore
paws on the edge OF the bed, turning
his head toward his masters face, and
keeping his tail between his legs.
There he remained, motionlcss as the
mother, who now. bonding above the
corpse, contemplated it with fixed
stare. while great, dumb tears rolled
down her cheeks.
Lying on his back ut full length, still
wearing his great, coarse jacket, torn
and pierced at the breast. the youth
seemed TO sleep; but his blood was ey-
crywhcrc-- N The shirt. that had been
torn open when tnc first attempt 1T aid
VI made, on his vest, on his trousers,
ou his face, on his hands. Clots oil
b ODD had thickcucd in his beard and
hair.
Tie old mot or began TO speak to
him. At the sound of her voice the
dog 'aSrd to howl.
Never mind. never mind! Thou
wilt be avenged, my little one, my own
boy, my poor dear child. S,ccp! 81 en-!
Thou witt hc aycn .cd; dost hear? Ii
is mother who promises this To thee;
and she always keeps her word, m ,ther
docsr'
And She bent down slowly over him,
prcsSing'hcr lips upon the cold, dead
lips.
Then Allegro again began TO howl
lie uttered n lon, moHotonous plaiut,
piercing horr hr.
The two rcma net there until morn
ine-thc woman aud the animal
Antonio Svcrin was buried next
morning; and folks ,on ceased to
speak Of him in ionif; Go.
He had left no brother. nor even any
near cousins. There was no man t.
pursue the vendetta. The old WON IN
only thought If 1.-THE oil moth r.
From morning till night She watched
white spccS cleaning across the
straii-on the low shore beyond. 1t
was the little > rtuian village. Longo-
Safdo, g nithsr Cur>ican Dan Its stiil
rs Tor refuge when too closely pursued.
Ilry alone constitute Il most the cnl ~
lropu. ton of the han.ct fronting the
cra~, OF their own faihcr,and; and they
wall there tor the ch me to return to
the muunian thicktts. She kn " il
was ~ that village that y c)lo Il ayolatl
a,as hidin-.
a.. day long, while sitting aloac nj
her window. sue lonl,ed across the wa
ter. onderin yrngc nee But what
was She to do without any man to aid
IL weak old woman, with one foot IN
lromiscd-she had sworn upon the
corpse. She could not forgct-shc
couud not wait. What was she 10 do?
Sac could not sleep at night Tor think
ing OF it-shc could neither rest nor
lind peace OF mind she thought, and
planned, and devised necessarily. OBJ
Slnateiy. The dog. which slept at her
feet. occasionally lifted his head with
ct trt unH hAtutnI .,f
Since his master had been killed the
dog often howled like that, as ii his in
eonsolable animal-soul was also haunt
cd by Il memory which nothing could
eiiace.
Now. one night while Allegro was
howling a sudden idea came 10 his
mother-an idea worthy of vindictiye
and ferocious savage. She thought oy-
CT it until morning, and, rising at the
first CLEAN of dawn, she hurried to the
church. There, PROSTATE upon the
pavement, casting herself down before
God. she pray, d Him to aid her. to
sustain her, to give her poor old body
strength enough TO enable her to avenge
her son.
Then she went home. She had an
old barrel in her yard. which she used
10 cOl4tcl the raln-Water IN. IllS Sne
cmpticd, laid on its side, fixed firmly
TO the ground by means of stakes and
slaves. Then She chained Allegro to
this eXtemporizsd kennel and went into
the house.
She began to walk backward and for
ward in her room. without ever resting
--glaucing from time to time at the
Sandman coast. He was there-the
murderer!
All that day aud all the night follow
ing the dog howled. In the morning
the old woman brought him bowl OF
water, but nothing elsc-not even bit
of bread or drop of soup.
Another day passed. Allegro, worn
out with hunger, slept. When morn
ing came his eyes gittered. all his hair
brist,ed, and he pulled crafty at his
chain.
S;lt the old woman gave him moth
ing to eat. The brute became furious.
and barked hoarsely. Another night
passed.
L ,riy in the morning. Mother Save
riui went TO her nearest neighbor and
begged for some wispS of straw. Then
she took some old clothes that had
formerly belonged to her husband and
stuffed them with the straw so as to
initiate the form of human body.