New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
CARLOS OATH.

who waited on him to get out bottle of Cap
Corse wine from the cupboard, for joseph car
ried his gun slung across his shoulders. AS
Joseph drew nearer however, the priests smile
changed into a frown, and he ordered the
woman to go down into the cellar and fetch up
a bottle of an older vintage, for there were
scratches upon Joseph's face
Scrafinos wife something of a shrew, as
the priest was well aware, since at times her
tongue wore out her husbands patience, and ne
would sling his gun across his shoulders, stuff
his pockets with cartridges and hurry to Father
Andreas house in the square. voWinS that ne
would put up with this dogs life no more. the
conversation which followed was of so invariable
a kind. and ended in so invariable a result. that
the priest could anticipate II with smile
Serafno would call the earth. the heaven above
the earth and the waters under the earth 10
witness that he had done with houses and
streets and his felloW-men that henceforth he
would live alone among the chestnut forests OF
Mount PadrO, where no women's tongues ciat-
tered and all the world still When Sierra
fino was tired of talking. the priest would per
suade him to drink a last bottle of wine before
he went. And. after the bottle was hnlshed, the
old man would propose one last game OF plquet
which Joseph allowed to win, and after the
game of piquet Joseph was led gently home.
Tonight, however there were scratches upon
SeIafno's face, and so Father Andrea ordered
his best white wine which had lain twenty years
in bottle. and thanked the Pope he was hlmseii
cebate. scratched face was a new thing
even in Serafno's experience. and the priest
wondered whether the conversation to-nght
might not have a different end. His wonder was
justified in the event.
Am / Mayor of Isola Rossa?' cried Serailno
Were my grandfathers corporals IN corsica
Was taught at the College Of Ajaccio? Dld
practise as advocate before | inherited my
lands? And shall | endure an eternal click
clack of abuse and-look father!-a woman
fngernas?'
both hands at his great beard Except for the
remark about the fnger-nails. the harangue was
familiar enough and the priest with soothing
word two GncCTked his bottle OF wine.
But Serf fIo waved mis- hand
NO father; | will not stay to-r.Ight," and he
turned to the window and gazed upward to the
olive slopes above the village. and above the
olive slopes to the thickets Of arbutus and myr
tie on the mountain sides.
ut has lain twenty years In the bottle. my
son. 1t comes from Luri." said the priest as he
poured out the wine. holding the bottle high
above the glasses so that the splash might sink
into Serafno's soul. But again Serafino waved
the wine aside
mo. father; going. Tonight I sleep up
there. ] leave my lands to my wife. but will
more Of her
This too, was familiar TO the priest, who re-
piled:
But you swore oath. my son. to your wife,
and will you break it for few cross words and
slap Of the hand? No good comes Of breaking
oaths." And. since Serafno remained silent, he
thought Of an instance.
Carlo Giammarchi broke his oath" he said,
land what came Of 1t. He persisted msera-
bly, ten years ago. and TO this day his memory
lies under reprOaCh."
Then SerafnO swung round from the window.
NrldHfndrCnl kept ms Odth, ne SAID quietly.
MY son, the old man answered, in an accent
OF reprCach. you were with me when he swOre
IT. Have you forgotten the little hut Monte
Cineraggia the man stretched a few branches
for bed and the oath he to me, that If
he recovered he would never again lift hand or
weapon against a fellow man."
Il have not forgotten. Giammarch kept that
oath"
The priest tapped gently with his fingers on
the table for little. Then, as gently he said:
THAT is not right, my son. Carlo Giammarchi
was your friend, know, but it is not right on
that account to deny the truth Giammarch
shot Angelo through the back"
who shall prove that?" asked Serafino
buntly.
The priest sat down in a chair and proceeded
10 argue with Serafino, in a soft persistent voice
though he p talking to obstinate child
He was not altogether displeased at Seraino's
stubbOrnness. since, in the argument, Seraino's
wife seemed likely to be forgotten.
THE two men were found dead upon the hill
side" he said Both were shot in the back
Angelo was gendarme. and is excused by his
duty. though | do not say he should not rather
have tried to capture Giammarchi 1t was evil
dent, however. that Giammarch escaping
few yards would have brought him into the
safety Of the woods, and so Angelo shot him"
Serafno nodded his head. agreeing far.
"But Angelo was shot too He also was shot
in the back Therefore he was turning away
down the hillside to join his fellows Clam
march, can only have been wounded and shot |
Angelo before he died"
who shall prove that" again asked SeraGno |
There was no witness, it is true said the |
priest. but there needs none for exploded |
6a-.-:.i"~ in the barrel of Giammarchis rife |
ii is proof enough"
Scrafno looked for long while at the priest. |
"Rut what if there a witness?' ne said |
slowly. Then he turned again to the window, |
and exclaimed abruptly, angelo Montaiti died |
q dogs death he deserved and Carlo Clam |
march, kept the oath he swore."
After he had spoken there was silence. The |
old priests object had at all events been Sc |
euret for both men had clean forgotten Sera- |