The midland journal., 1886-01-22
Of Istria--a rumor which Wal soon a1EaH.
wards contradicted.

than usual by the Custom House men.
the police and the gendArnes was caas
tain but there would probably be mo
difficulty in evading the guard whGs
night came on.
The embargo, as we know, had only
been put on the long voyage ships and
the Mediterranean coa<ters and not on
the local fishing boats The ballencellN
would thus be able to get under sail
without suspicion.
But Andrea Ferrato had not reckopA5
on visit he received in the evening.
This visit was surprise at the first, and
made him anxious, although he did moi
understand the meaning of the threat
until after his visitors departure.
Eight o'clock was on the point Of
striking, and Maria was preparing the
supper and had already laid the table in
the large room when there came two
knocks at the door, Andrea did not hesi-
tate to go and open it. Much surprised
he found himself in the presence of the
Spaniard. Carpena
This Carpena was native Of Almayatj,
little town in the province of Malaga.
As Ferrato had left Corsica SO had hO
left Spain to settle in Istria. There he
found employment in the salt works and
in carrying the products of the western
ooast into the interior-a thankless occra-
patton that barely brought him sEfaugh
to live upon.
He was strong fellow, still young
being not more than five and twenty.
short of statue, but broad of shoulder
with large head covered with curly,
coarse black hair, and one of those bull
dog faces that look as forbidding on @
man as on dog. Carpena was unsoci-
able, spiteful, vindictive, and q good
deal of scoundrel. and was anything
but popular. It was not known why he
had left his country. Several quarrels
with his fellow workmen. good deal
of threatening with one and the other,
followed by fights and scuf1es. had noA
added to his reputation. People liked
Carpena best at a distance.
He, however, had sufficiently good
opinion of himself and his person-as
we shall see-and was ambitious Of
becoming Ferrato's son in law. Tho
fisherman, it must be confessed, did not
give his overtures o cordial reception.
And that will be understood better when
the mans pretensions have been. dis
closed in the conversation that followed.
Carpena had hardly set foot in the
room than Andrea stopped him short
with
"What have you come here for?"
81 was passing, and as l saw light
in your window I came in"
''And why?"
''To visit you, neighbor."
But your visits are not wanted, you
know"
"Not usually. answered the Spaniard:
"but tonight it may be different
Ferrato did not understand and could
not guess what suoh enigmatic words
meant in Carpenas mouth. But he
could not repress sudden start. which
did not escape his visitor, who shut the
door behind him.
II wont to speak to you!" said he
"No. You have nothing to say to me-.
"Yes-I must speak to you-in pri-
vate," added the Spaniard, lowering his
voice.
Come thrn," answered tho fisher
man, who during this day had his
reasons tor nor refusing anyone admit
tance. Carpena. at a sign from Ferrato.
crossed the room and entered his bed
room, which was separated only by .
thin partition from that occupied by
Sandorf and bis companion. One room
opened on to the front, the other on to
the back of the house. AS soon as they
were alone
What do you want with me?" asked
the fisherman.
"Neighbor," answered Carpcnn, "I
again come to appeal to your Kindness"
What for?"
about your daughter"
"Not another word.
"Listen then! You know that love
Maria, and that my dearest wish is to
make her my wife"
And in fact Carpena had for several
months been pursuing tine girl with his
attentions. As may be imagined, these
were due more to interest than to love.
Ferrato was well off fora fisherman and.
compared to the Spaniard, who possessed
he was rich. Nothing could be
more natural than that Carpena should
wish to become his son-in-law and on
the other hand nothing could be more
natural than that the fisherman invari-
ably showed him the door,
"Carpena," answered Ferrato, "you
have already spoken to my daughter