The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
A VENDETTA.

Paolo Saverini's widow lived alone
with her son in miserable little house
on the ramparts of Bonnifacio. The city,
built upon projection of the mountain,
and even hanging directly above the sea
in some places, commands, across the
strait that bristles with rocks, good
view of the lowest portion ef the Sar.
dinian coast. At its feet, on the other
side, but almost flapking it entirely, an
opening in the cliff shaped like gigan-
tic corridor serves it for port enabling
the little Italian or Sardinian fishing
smacks to advance to the first line Jf
houses, after long circuit between two
abrupt walls. And every fifteen days
comes the old whcezy Steamboat which
plies between the town and Ajaccia.
Upon the white mountain the mass Of
houses make still whittier stain. They
seem like nests of wild birds attached 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 cover
ing of green-it rushes into the narrow
detroit, ravaging either shore. The
long trails of white foam, cingipg to
the points of the countless rocks which
pierce the water everywhere. have the
aspect Of tatters Of clothes floating and
quivering on the surface.
The house of the widow Savcrini,
perched upon the very edge of the cliff,
as if soldercd there, opened It's three
windows to the wild and dcsolate horizon.
She lived there all alone with her son
and their dog AlIcgro-a great, gaunt
beast with long, bristiing hair, OF sheep
dog breed. The dog aided the young
man in hunting.
One evening, after quarrel, Antonio
Saverini was trcacherousiy kilied-with
asingle knife -thrust-Dy Nicolo Ravolati,
who, the same night, fled TO Sardinia.
When the old mother received the
corpse of her child, that some passers-
by had found and carried to her, she
did not weep at all, but remained for a
long time motionless, staring at the
body; then, stretching out her wriuklcd
hand over the budy. she proc aimed a
vendetta. She would not allow anyone
to remain with her, and she shut herself
up alone with the dog, which howlcd.
The brute howled continuously, stand
ing up with his forepaws on the edge of
the bed, turning his head toward his
masters face, and keeping his tail be
tween his legs. There he remained, mo-
tionless rs the mother, who now, bend
Ing over the CORPSE, contemplated it
with fixed stare, while great, dumb
tears rolled down her cheeks.
Lying on his back at full length. still
wearing his great coarse jacket, torn
and pierced at the breast, the youth
seemed 20 sleep; but his blood was every
'where-on the shirt that had been torn
open when the first attempt at aid was
made, on his vest, on his trousers, on
his face, on his hands. Gouts of blood
had thickcned in his heard and hair.
The old mother began to speak to
him. At the sound of her voice the dog
ceased to howl.
'Nevcr mind, never mind! Thou
wilt be avenged, my little one, my own
boy, my poor dear child. Sleep. Sleep
thou wilt be avenged; dost hear9 1t is
mother who promises this to thee; and
she always keeps her word, mother
docs!'
And she bent down slowly over him
pressing her lips upon the cold, dead
lips.
Then Allegro again began to howl
lie uttered a long, monotonous plant
piercing, horrible.
The two remained there until morning
the woman and the animal.
Antonio Savcrini was buried mex
morning; and folks soon ceased to speak
of him in Bonifacio.
He had left no brother, nor even any
near cousins. There was no man t.
pursue the vendetta. The old woman
only thought of 1.-THE old mother.
From morning till nigh: she watched
q white spcck cleaning across the strait
ON the low shore beyond. 1t was thu
little Sandman village, Longo- o-Sardc
whittier Corsican bandits still fly fol
refuge when too closely pursued. They
alone constitute almost the entire popu
lation OF the hamlet, fronting the coas
of their own fatherland; and they wal
there for the chance to return to tht
mountain thickets Sine knew it was r
that village that Ncolo Ravo!ati wa
hiding.
All day long, while sitting alone at he
window, she looked across the water
ponderins vengeance. But what wa
she to do without any man to aid;
,rool, I'D yromon with opn foot in tb.