The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-08-19

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element than exertion. They said
nothing for time, but listened to the
men in the room they had just left.
They were quarreling. They cursed
each other in angry tones, and finally
the click of steel told the pair under the
trees that they were fighting. There
was cry of pain, an oath or two, and
then from the tavern door the brawlers
ran, falling over each other in their
drunken haste to escape from the place.
Then all was still. The boy spoke
after little.
'Shall we see what it is?" he asked
the girl. He took her hand and they
walked to the door. There was no liv-
| ing person there. The benches and
tables were overturned; broken glasses
were strewn over the floor, and in the
center of the room upon his back and
with the blood streaming from dozen
wounds lay Petro. The girl began to
sob. Her companion tried to comfort
her.
ut is useless to cry said he. "Come,
will take you home"
CHAPTER II.
High on the hills above Palermo IA
Castlemonte. 1t is a ruin now and no
one has lived there since Marquis Bor-
gaizi died, ten years ago. But at that
time it was the oldest and one of the
grandest castles in Sicily. Travellers al
ways visited the place as they do yet,
but then the marquis was always there
to receive them and to serve a great dim
ner under the trees.
1t was to this place, upon whose lands
her father was a tenant. that Gabrielle
and her cavalier came just as day was
breaking. No one was yet astir and the
girl showed the boy where to put the
donkey and cart. Then he followed her
to her home, cabin on the hillside.
There was excitement enough when
Gabrielle's parents learned what had
happened. 1t was useless to weep. for
Petro was not worth much. And here
was somebody to take his place-not so
big and strong, perhaps, but he would
grow. AS Gabrielle said he had saved
her and wanted him to remain, place
was given him at the table and he was
shown to Petro's bunk in the shed.
Thus it was that Antonio became a
member of the household. After that
he took the sheep out to their pasturage
in the morning and brought them back
as the sun was falling like a golden
meteor into the Mediterranean.
The vineyards were not then ready
to give out their harvest and Gabrielle
had little to do. She used to wander ont
upon the hillside, where Antonio was
watching and talk to him. TWAS beau
tiful there. For hours they would lie
on the grass and look up into the clear
blue of the heavens or watch Mount
Etna as the little line of black smoke
curled through the air and finally van
ished. Many condolences were ex-
changed there, and Gabrielle promised
the boy that when they were few
years older the priest in the chapel
should marry them and they would
have a cottage of their own.
Then there was a war and Italy was
filled with armies. 1t was not for long,
but when it was all over there was much |
trouble caused by bands of men which !
had been organized in the war. Gabri- |
elle's father was member of one of |
these societies. He violated some oath |
and was compelled to flee for his life. |
For many months he hid in the hills,
occasionally visiting his family.
One night he came to them and said |
he was going to America. He kissed
them good-by and started for sea-
port town. That day his body was
'ound alongside the road to Castle
monte. He had been stabbed in the
back. Gabrielle and her mother did
lot remain in Sicily after that. The
mother had relatives in this country,
md four years Ngo she left her italy
md came to the United States. Anto-
Ito, lonesome and rt-broken, was
eft behind.
CHAPTER III.
The other day a train from Chi.
ago brought car into the Union sta
ion that was filed with emigrants.
hey were bound for New Orleans, and
hey had nearly four hours to wait be-
ore their train left. They spent the
ime in the Midway, walking about or
itting on their bundles. Shortly after
TX o'clock another train bearing emil
rants rolled into the train she'd They
Mingled with the earlier arrivals, and
Many found old friends whom they had
OF seen for years.
Near the baggage Office, however, sat
young man who took no part in the /
onversation about him. lie seemed to {
AXE no interest in what was going on. :,
Two women, one well along in life, ]
ne other many years younger, walked 1
own the Midway. They looked at the
migrant who sat apart from the {
hprS 10 ,ff - /