The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-06
90. A.. "..A.'"'. 49,. '.A.'':. .A.'"' "..A.''
CARLOS OATH,
How the Truth Came to Light
Through q Scratched Face.

Through Scratched Face. >
v.v'...V'....'v....'v'. ..'v'....'v...'v'....'
-he old priest of Isola Rosa, stand
ing ut his door in the cool Of the even
Ing, saw Joseph Serafino stamp furi-
cusly across the square. He smiled
and called over his shoulder to the
crone who waited on him to get out q
bottle Of Cap Corse wine from the cup
,oard for Joseph carried his gun
sting across his shoulders. AS Joseph
drew nearer. however, the priests
smile changed into frown, and he or
dered the woman to go down into the
cellar and fetch UP bottle Of an older
vintage, for there were scratches upon
jcseph's face.
ScrafinO's wife was something Of q
slrew, 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
Father Andrea's house In the square,
vowing that he would put up with this
dogs life no longer. The conversation
which followed was of 80 invariable
kind and ended in 80 invariable q re-
suit that the priest could anticipate it
with smile. Serafino 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 hence
forth he would live alone among the
chestnut forests OF Mount Padro,
where no women's tongues clattered
and all the world was STILL When
SeTaflno was tired Of talking, the
priest would persuade him to drink q
last bottle of wine before he went.
And after the bottle was finished, the
old man would propose one last game
Of piquet, which Joseph was allowed
to win, and after the game Of piquet
Joseph was led gently home.
Tonight, however, there were scratch
es upon Serafino's face, and so Father
Andrea ordered his best white wine,
which had lain 20 years in bottle. and
thanked the pope he was himself
celibate. A scratched face was a new
thing even in Seraf1no's experience,
and the priest wondered whether the
conversation tonight might not have
tilted In the event.
Am mayor Of Isola Rossa?" cried
Seraflno. "Were my grandfathers cor
porals of Corsica? Was taught at the
College Of Ajaccio? Did practice as
al advocate before 1 inherited my
lands? And shall endure an eternal
click-clack Of abuse and-look, father!
n wOman's finger nails?"
Serafino 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 haad.
mo, father; will not stay tonight"
and he turned to the window and gaz-
ed upward to the olive slopes above
the village and above the olive slopes
to the thickets of arbutus and myrtle
on the mountain sides.
1T has lain 20 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 glass-
es 80 that the splash might nink into
serafino's soul. But again Serafino
waved the wine aside.
No, father; I am going. Tonight /
sleep up there. leave my lands TO
ms wife. but will see &c more OF
her."
This, too. was familiar to the priest,
who replied:
But you swore an oath, my son, to
your wife, and will you break It for a
iew cross words and slap OF the
hand? No good comes of breaking
oaths." And. since Serafino remained
Silent, he thought OF an instance.
Carlo Giammarchi broke his OATH"
ne said. "and see what came of it. He
perished miserably ten years ago, ana
to this day HIS memory lies under re-
proach."
/ Then serafino swung round from the
window.
"Giammarchi kept his OATH" he said
quietly.
MY son." the old man answered, In
an accent OF reproach, "you were with
me when he Swore It. Have you for
gotten the little hut on Monte CInerag-
ga, the man stretched on q few
Branches for bed, and the oath he
swore to me, that IL he recovered he
would never again lift hand or weapon
against fellow man r, &, +,
Il have not forgotten. Giammarchi
kept that oath.', 81!
The priest tapped gently with his
hngers on the table for a little. Then.
as gently, he said.
That ic not right. nv son. Carlo
Siammarchi was your friend, I know,
sut It isnnos right on that account to
oeny the truth. Ginmmarchi shot An
gelo through the back. r.'
Who shall prove thntf'' asked sera-
hno hluntly.
The priest sat down. in a chair and