The times., 1899-07-16

him to get out Dollle ol zap SS4SS
wine from the cupboard. for Joseph car
ried his gun slung across his shoulders ,,
AS Joseph drew nearer, however, the
priests smile changed into frown,' and
he ordered the woman to 90 down into the
cellar and fetch up a bottle of an older
vintage. for there were scratches upon
Joseph's face.
Serafnos wife was something of a
shrew, as the priest was well aware,
since at times her tongue wore out her
husbands patience. and he would sling
his gun across his shoulders, stuff his
pockets with cartridges and hurry TO Fa-
ther Andrea's house in the square, vowing
that he would put up with his 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 it with a smile. Serafno would
call the earth, the heaven above the earth,
and the waters under the earth to witness
that he had done with houses and streets
and his fellow-men: that henceforth he
would live among the chestnut forests OF
Mount Padro, where no women's tongues
chattered and all the world was still. When
Serafno was tired Of talking, the priest
would persuade him to drink last bottle
of wine before he went And, after the
bottle was finished, the old man would pro-
pose one last game OF piquet, which Jo-
seph was allowed to win, and after the
game of piquet Joseph was led gently
home.
Tonight. however. there were scratches
upon Serafino's face, and so Father An
drea ordered his best white wine. which
had lain twenty years in bottle, and thank
ed the Pope he was himself a celibate. a
ag,l- i foo
Seraino's experience, and the priest won
dered whether the conversation tonight
might not have different end. His won
der was justified in the event
Am l mayer of Isola Rossa?" cried
Sersfno. Were my grandfathers corpor-
ais in Corsica? Was l taught at the Col
lege of Ajaccio? Did ! practice as an ad-
vocate before ! inherited my lands? And
shall l endure an eternal elick-claek Of
abuse and-look, father.-a woman's fin
gernails?''
Serafno walked about the room. tug
ging with both hands at his great beard
Except for the remark about the finger
nails the harangue was familiar enough
and the priest with a soothing word or
two uncorked his bottle of wine.
But Serafino waved his hand.
No father; ] Will not stay tonight"
and he turned to the window and gazed
upward to the olive slopes above the viii
lage. and above the olive slopes to the
thickets Of arbutus and myrtle on the
mountain sides.
1T has lain twenty years in the bottle
my SON 1t comes from Luri," said the
priest, as he poured cut 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, 1 am going. Tonight
sleep up there. ] leave my lands to my
% hTNrT Il will M Of hur-
This, too. was familiar to the priest,
who replied:
But you swore an oath. my son. to your
wife, and will break it for a 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, ''and see what came of it. He per-
ished miserably ten years ago, and TO this
day his memory lies under reproach."
Then Serafno swung round from the
window.
"Giammarchi kept HIS OATH" he said,
quietly
NV son." the old man answered, in an
accent of reproaeh, you were with me
when he swore it. Have you forgotten the
little hut on Monte Cineraggia, the man
stretched on a few branches for bed, and
the oath he swore to me- that If he re-
covered he would never again lift hand or
weapon against fellow-man?"
II have not forgotten. Giammarchi kept
that cath
Tue priest tapped gently with his finger:
on the table for little. Then. as gently
he said:
THAT is not right, my son. Carlo Clam
march, was your friend, l know, but it i.
not right on that account to deny the
truth. Giammarchi shot Angelo through
the back"
who shall prove thatg asked serafno
bluntly
The priest sat down in chair and pro
ceeded to argue with Serafno, in soft
persistent voice, as though he were talkinl
to an obstinate child. He was not alto
gether displeased at Serafno's stubborn
ness, since, in the argument, Serafinoi
wife seemed likely TO be forgotten.
THE two men were found dead upon tn
hillside" he said. Both were shot in tn
back Angelo was a gendarme and is ex
cused by his duty, though ! do not say b
should not rather have tried to captur
Giammarchi. II was evident, however
that Ciammarchi was escaping. a fey
yards woud have brought him into tn
safety Of the woods, and SO Angelo sho
him"
seranno nodded his head. agreeing s.
far.
but angelo was SnOts TOO. he ais
was shot in the back. Therefore. he wa
turning away down the hillside to join hi
fellows. Giammarchi can only have beel
wounded. and shot Angelo before he died.
who shall prove that?" again askel
Serafino.
There was no witness, it Is true sal
the priest, but there needs none for al
exploded cartridge was in the barrel o
Giammarchfs rife. 1t is proof enough. &"
Serafino looked for a long while at tn
priest.
But what II there was a witness?" h
said, slowly. Then he turned again to IN
window and exclaimed abruptly, Angel
Montalti died a dogs death, as he desery
ed, and Carlo Giammarehi kept the oat
he swore."
After be had spoken there was silence
The old priests object had at all event
been secured. for both men had clean for
gotten Serahno's wife. Joseph stared OF
OF the window; the priest stared at tn
wine in his glass.
At last the priest spoke timidly:
Il do not understand, my SON.
Serafno made 10 movement but an
swered in a musing voice, as he looked OF
up 10 the mountains, and the maqui
trees and shrubs which clothed the noun
tain TANKS.
why should I not tell you? For te
years Giammarchi's memory has lain un
der this reproach, and he was my frient
rs for myself. / would just as soon lly
among the hills"
He called the priest TO his side, an
pointed across the square 10 the larg
house at the corner.
There Carlo Giammarchi lived twent