Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-10-10
CHAPTER 1.
The Shock in the MarseilIes Depc


Il wonder if can head off those
cursed Corsican murder enthusiastic"
mutters Mr.. Barnes. of New York, as
he stands on the deck of the French
steamer with Marseilles looming up in
; the heat mist ahead of him on May
morning of 1888, 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 ar
rival at Ajaccio.
His glance is turned contemplative-
ly beyond the whirling, eddying wake
of the propellers foam toward that Gu
rious island of semi-mediaeval race,
200 miles behind him, whose rugged
mountain slopes and chestnut valleys
are the home of that undying revenge
that the Corsicans think is noble; that
they worship, idealize and call "the
Vendetta"
The representative of New York
fashion, American craftsmanship and
modern materialism, who has fitted
~ lAO loIduu anu pluthCo LII why SbS
young English lieutenant, Edwin Ge-
rard Anstruther, but his bride, Marina,
the daughter of the Paolis, from the
meshes and entanglements Of feud
that only ends with death, notwith-
standing his reward is to be the hand
of the beautiful girl he loves, emits
low, contemplative, melancholy whis-
tie.
He mentally glances back and sees
the house of Musso Danella In the
moonlit chestnut groves of BOcognano,
and Marina in her brides gown, her
sensitive, passionate face filled with
that weird mixture of undying love
and uncanny horror as she shuddered
from the arms of the man she had just
sworn to cleave to through life and
muttered: "Antonio's murderer"
Next he remembers the strange proof
that brought back the wild happiness
to the brides face as she learned there
was no faint of her brothers blood on
Edwin Anstruther, her husband; that
her horrible belief was due to circum-
stantial evidence and the jealous and
crafty plot of Musso Danella, her guar
dian, the man lying dead upon the
floor of the bridal chamber, Tomasso's
dagger in his heart; and then had fallen
fainting into her bridegroom's arms.
With this, the mind of Mr.. Barnes
reverts to his desperate efforts to get
the whole party to Ajaccio before the
natives of the little commune of Boco-
gnano learned they had now another
to avenge, and to the death of Ma
rina's brother on the beach in the
duello had been added that of Danella,
their old-time friend, and to his peas
ants their kind maestro and proprie-
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 carbineers shot old Tomasso Mon
aldi who having become an assassin,
had fled as a bandit, as the party made
their weird ride to the Corsican sea-
port.
IF no deaths had followed the ap-
pearance of Marina's husband and me
in the island, perhaps the accursed af-
fair might have slumbered and died
out" reflects Barnes, gloomily; "as it
is, there's no telling where the devish
thing may end. II they have money
enough to pursue us, holy poker, they
may even include me in the scrim-
mage"
A little, delicately gloved hand laid
upon his arm interrupts his medita
ton. Miss Enid Anstruther, standing
beside him, looking like joyous fash
ion-plate in light Partisan travelling
dress, whispers archly: Thinking of
me?" then suddenly calculates in al
most frightened tone; ooh, hope not!
Your face is so moody, dear" Bushes
spring upon the sensitive face, and his
young English fiancee whispers with
a piquant pout: Gloomy, and going
to marry me in three days? That's
not very complimentary, Burton"
mo, in two, if We can make quick
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." shudders
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 cheeks
suggest the rest.
when our wedding day is so near"
whispers Burton, tenderly. Il would
be very happy, too. if our Corsican
friends would only forget it." He
checks himself. biting his lip and adds:
"However, the modern world is before
US. I can see the Pharos light house
and the lies des Perdus"
'Why, we are nearly at Marseilles,"
calculates Enid.
Eyes, only breakfast between us and
everyday France" returns her escort.
''Now just run down and direct Thomp-
son to get your traps together and
then tell Edwin to hurry Marina. They
should be on deck. You know as soon
as landed, Wen get right on to Lon
don. We can probably catch the morn
ing train"
Miss Anstruther's answer makes
Burton chew his moustache; she says:
IF Marina is strong enough"
"Strong enough? She's got to be
strong enough. We must get out Of
France. The further we are away
from Corsica, the better. In France
they don't need reciprocity treaty to
take us back to that medieval island.
There is no telling what devilish COM
plexion the natives of Bocognano may
put upon the two dead men we left
behind us. I don't want to alarm you
II wouldn't say this to Edwin or his