Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-11-01
CHAPTER ..
Cop,rsst. ise. Doal Ns.a . o.. \. :.

ChApIeH !.
The Shock In the Msrssiiles Depot.
II wonder II ! can head on those
Gu, sed Corsican murder enthusiasts?"
Inutters Mr.. Barnes. OF New York. as
he stands on the deck OF the French
steamer with Marseiiles looming up In
the heat mist ahead Of him on May
morning OF 1883. after the escape OF
the bridal party from Corsica.
There are very few passengers.
Barnes gold having sent the steamer
back on her return voyage to Mar
settles within two hours after her mr.
rival Mt AJaccio.
Ills glance Ii turned contcmplative-
ly beyond the whirlins. eddyinI wake
Of the propcilcr's foam toward that Gu.
rlous island of scmimediasvai race.
200 miles behind him. whose rugged
mountain slopes and chestnut valleys
are the home of that undyins revenge
that the corsicans think Is noble: that
they worship. idcaiixc and call tho
Vendetta"
The representative of New York
fashion. American sportsmnnship and
modern mntcrialism. who has nittcd
10 the island and pluckcd not only tho
young English lieutenant. Edwin Go
rard Anstru,hcr. but his bride. Marina.
the daughter Of tho Pnoiis. from the
Incshcs and cntanslcmcnts Of a fcud
that only ends with death. notwiih.
standing his reward IL to bc the hand
OF the beautiful girl he loves. cniis a
low. contcmpiatiSc. melancholy whis.
tie.
lie mcr ,iiy sianccs back and secs
tho house of Musso Danclla In tho
snooniit chestnut groves Of Boco.nnno.
and Marina In her brides gown. her
sensitive. passionate face fiilcd with
that weird mixture Of undyinr love
and uncanny horror ms she shuddcrcd
from the arms Of tho man she had jaut
sworn To cicavc to through life and
muttcrcd: ''Antouio's murderer"
Next he remembers tho strange proof
that brought back tho wild happiness
TO the brides face as shc learned there
was no taint of her brothers blood on
Edwin Anstruthcr. her husband: that
her horrible belief was due TO circum.
siantiai evidence and the jealous and
crafty plot of Musso Dancila. her guar.
dian. tho man lying dead upon the
floor OF the bridal chamber. Tomasso's
dagger In his heart: and then had fallen
fainting into her bridcgroom's arms.
With this. the mind Of Mr.. Harness
Tcvcrts TO his desperate efforts to sc,
tho whole party to Ajaecio before the
natives of the iittio commune u Doco-
Enano learned they had now another
20 a,cnsc. and to the death Of Ma.
rina's brother on the beach In the
dueiio had been added that Of Danclia.
their oid.timc friend. and TO his peas.
ants their kind maestro and propric-
tor.
Additional concern makes the face
OF the American even more grave as
he mentally hears the distant ringing |
of the rifles on the mountain side as
the carbincers shot old Tomasso Mon. |
adj. who having become an assassin. |
had fed as bandit. rs the party made 4
their weird ride to the corsican sea. |
port.
IF no deaths had followed tho an. |
pcarancc Of Marina's husband and me |
in the island. perhaps the accursed al. |
Dir might have slumbercd and died |
out" reflects Barnes. gloomily: ''as It |
IL. there's no telling where the dcviish |
thing may end. II they have money
enough TO pursue us. holy poker. they |
may even include me In the scrim. 4
mage"
A little. delicatcly eiovcd hand laid |
upon his arm interrupts his medita.
ton. Miss Enid Anstruther, standing |
beside him. looking like joyous fash.
ion.plate In n light Partisan travelling
dress. whispers archiy: Thinking of
mc?" then suddenly calculates in al.
most frightened tone: "Oh. I hope not!
Your face is so moody. dear" Bushes
spring upon the sensitive face, and his
young English hancee whispers with
q piquant pout: Gloomy. and going
to marry me In three days1 That's
not very complimentary. Burton"
NO. in two. II We can make auicx
connections for London answers Bur.
ton. rapturously. One day is past.
But wasn't thinking OF you. young
lady," he continues. tenderly. giving
her delicate cheek caressing. pro.
prietary pinch: Il was thinking of"
what We left behind u.s." shuddcrs
his vivacious betrothed. Don't let us
think of that weird horror, when
when The radiance OF her blue
eyes and the bushes on her fair checks
suggest the rest.
when our wedding day is 20 near"
whispers Burton, tenderly. II would
be very happy. too. II our Corsican
friends would only forget IT," He
checks himself. biting his lip and adds:
"I,owever. the modern world is before