The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-15
Margherita's Vendetta

Near the French market in New Orleans
young Sicilian, Luigi Rossi, was killed on
New Years eve of 1882 An-American gen.
tleman who was arrested for the murder
proved by the testimony of a companion
that while he was returning late from some
festiyity, he was assaulted by Rossi, and
killed him in self-defense.
He was honorably acquitted but remem-
bered with remorse that he himself had been
drinking freely that night, and, as he was
coming rapidly round a corner, Rossi had
stumbled against him.
He cursed the Sicilian, and he was by no
means certain in his own mind that he die
not strike him with his his fist. At any rate,
in spite of his friends testimony, the city be-
came hateful to Charles Stannard after the
tragedy, and he settled in another part OF
the state.
The affair passed out of the minds Of peo-
pie but among Sicilans it was a vivid mem
ory. Over the body of her brother, her only
relative Margherita had been led to take the
oath of the vendetta.
You are only girl, it is true" said Man,
uel Salcetti, the head of the Siicians, land
you are but fourteen; but some day you VIII
be a woman, and on You, as Luigi's only
blood kin, the vow of the vendetta is Land
Wherever you meet the murderer, even II you
know that your own life will be the penalty,
YOU are sworn to avenge your brother. DO
you know what will happen to you If you
break your VOW"
''Luigi's spirit will curse mel! soboed tee
girl. INV people will drive me out, and II
starve, they will give me no bread; If l am
sick, they will turn from me. They Will cry
MaledictaI when they meet me, and when
am dead, they will spit on my grave, ana say
'Maledicta!' over it"
"You know your lesson, girl" said Manuel,
sternly. you have lost one brother, but we
will all be your brothers, and help you TO
your revenge.
Perhaps the readers of the Companion
think the vendetta, or vow of vengeance, be-
longs to an older day and different country
from ours? 1t hardly seems possible that IN
the nineteenth century, and in an American
city, such a relic of a savage period can i've
and flourish; but we in New Orleans know
that it is as common among the Corslcan
and Sicilian population as it is on the soil
which originated it and made revenge holy
obligation.
There are mysterious murders in their
quarters, where, one by one, whole family
are killed. Law is powerless to bring these
criminals to trial or to identify them, .for
they all band together to protect and hide
the guilty. 1t is point of honor, too, With
the family and friends of the victims never to
give information against their enemies, nor
appear in court as witnesses against them.
They will bide their time and kill them some
day, but they would scorn to denounce them
Margherita grew up a handsome, high
spirited girl She had no relatives, but her
people never suffered her to want. She kept
the name of her brothers slayer in a little
locket she wore round her neck, and would
look at it, grind her teeth, and renew hervoW
of vengeance. The VOW did not require
that she should pursue Charles STAN
nard into another country. She was too
poor for that, besides she needed the help OF
her friends in her vendetta; but she held her.
self in readiness for him when he should re-
turn to the city, which be might do any day.
She learned English, 80 that she could
make inquiries among the Americans, and
few who noticed the handsome Sicilian at her
fruit-stall in Canal Street dreamed that she
had consecrated herself to such purpose.
She had never seen Mr. Stannard, but many
OF her people knew him well by sight, and
VIXEN he returned, there would be enough to
identify him. So she waited in stern patience
The hot summer of 1886 brought fatal ILL
ness to the Sicilian quarter. Margherita was
one of the first victims, and
as the family in which she lived
were all i'll, at the urgent request of the ply
stefan who attended her, she was removed to
hospital. AS a rule, Sicilians prefer to be
sick, and recover or die, in their own quar-
ters,-but Margherita had no kinsfolk to re-
monstrate. She was carried to charitable In
stitution, which is visited, and in measure
supported, by the benevolent ladies of the
city and the low fever which Frustrated hel
strength and clouded her mind did not abate
for weeks. She was too i'll to know or cart
where she was, but one pleasant autumn
morning her laguid eyes opened, and she was
conscious of the strangeness of her surround
ings.
She watched the white curtains of the oper
windows waving to Ind fro in the soft breeze
and then her eyes fell on q lady who was ar
ranging some roses in glass which stood OF
a small stand near her bed. A lady with
| lovely face; and somehow to the girl the per
fums of the roses and their delicate tints wer
ever after always associated in her mind witt
| this first glimpse of Helen Carroll.
Miss Carroll looked up from her task ant
saw the girls eyes fixed upon her.
"Ah, you are better?" she said with {
| pleased smile, advancing to the cot and lay
ing her hand Margherita's wrist. "You
| skin is cool and moist at last. Do you un
derstand me? Can you speak English"
| EYES," said the girl, family.
| An, UndU Is well. LOU Will SOoH uO oOioht
| again, but you must not talk, and you mus
mind what say. I'm your nurse, you see
and you must take some of this soup now.
She raised Margherita in her strong youn,
| arms and fed her as if she was helpless
infant; then beat up her pillow, and turne'
| them, and laid the weak head back.
| Now you look ever so much betterl" sal
| Miss Carroll, with her beautiful smile. ctr
to sleep little"
L 100 ff,f ool iuc
| How she came in such acomfortable bed, wit
such lovely lady for nurse, did not troubl
| her in the least, and not until she recovere
| did she know that she owed her life to Hele
Carroll's faithful care.
People called Miss Carroll eccentric. Youn
rich and handsome, she cared nothing TO
society. but, as people said, she was Away
taking up some craze, and her latest wa
philanthropic work.
Her world prophesied that she would wear
oft in month, buta year had rolled by
found her faithful to her selfimposed dutie
pnlarging the sphere of her usefulness. Sh
had been attracted by Marghenta's beaut
when the girl was first brought to the ho
pisal, and made her her special charge. A
the girl grew better, the interest deepenet
until the thought OF parting with her becam
more and more distastefHl to Miss Carroll.
"You will soon be able to return to you
family, Margherita," she said one day, Q
she supported the invalid to an easy cha
near the window. Several Sicilians wei
here last week inquiring about you but 20
were to weak too see them, and their Englis
was so bad l could not understand them"
81 hat no family" Marguerite said sadl.
"No padre, no madre, no nobody"
"But whom, then, do you live with?"
my people is good to me, but no bloc
like mine in dis country. Some day ma
maybe go back to Sicily; some day VIXEN
free again"
As she spoke the last words, with shudd'
her hands touched the black cord to while
was suspended the small brass locket whit
held the doomed name.
"Free!" echoed Miss Carroll, with laug
Everybody in this country is free. All, u
!, derstand That is a love token, isn't it, Ma
gherita? You held on to that locket lil
grim death if any one touched it, and no
you want to be free from the lover who ga
it to yon."
Margherita laughed scornfully.
"a love token" she repeated, Eyes, We
Love and hate love and hatel But you u
derstand not All no. / can tell NJ
even you, for you are like the saints in heave
All Do milo, go away and see you no mol
What will Margherita do when edays s
and de nights come, and de sweet good ia
looks at me no more?"
{ She burst into tears and wept vehement
. To her passionate Southern nature, adoril