The Elbert County tribune., 1908-04-16

| leading them through pines, beeches
and the Inevitable chestnut trees.
They have passed no one in the
darkness. In fact, they have not yet
gone far enough to have any hope of
overtaking Marina unless accident has
befallen her vehicle. Besides. her
horses were fresh; theirs, according
to the hostler, had been ridden during
the preceding day.
Soon after, they dash through the
| village of Vivario. announced By the
barking OF some ours and the grunting
| of some pigs. Every house in the vii
lage Is closed and no one would open
for us in the dead of night In this land
of the vendetta remarks Barnes.
| They go to climbing again, and soon
after descend through the gorge OF the
rapid Vecchio. the river foaming far
beneath the road. while rocky hills
and sharp mountains rise on either
side.
They have knocked at no doors;
they have made no inquiries; they
have only hurried on. But some hour
after the red-tiled houses of Corte
loom up before them and few min
utes later they Jog their tired steeds
up one of the principal streets Of the
central inland town OF Corsica the
great Monte Rotondo now looking
down upon them.
Above them are tall elm trees that
catch the rays Of the rising sun.
Flanked on each side by white stone.
red-roofed houses, they pass between
the hotels Pierracci and Paoli, almost
deserted now. this being the beginning
Of the hot summer season. Along the
street are many placards indicating
the approaching election. Every time
he sees the name of Saliceu, Barnes.
compressing his lips. thinks OF his lost
darling.
At the Pierracci they learn from one
of the walters that lady had paused
to obtain relay of horses, and mad
brought out to her at her request
cup of coffee.
Was she driven by an old man."
questions Edwin. hurriedly.
"Yes, with beard like a bandit"
answers the man with a grin. "The
carriage was full OF cyclamen flowers
You could smell them all over the
street"
Its your wife" whispers Barnes,
giving the man 2O-franc piece that
makes him look almost as happy as
this news does Anstruther
only an hour ago. We will over
take Marina long before she reaches
Bastia." cries Edwin.
They ride hurriedly the road skirt.
ing the torrent of the foaming Vecchio
until considerably over an hour after
leaving Corte they reach Ponte-alla-
Lecchio, where the big bridge crosses
the river Colo. During this the horse
men note more signs of the coming
casting of votes.
Some of the "Lucchese" workmen
from Italy are throwing stones at an
election placard that displeases them.
The pests from Lucca," mutters a
Corsican shopkeeper as they buy
glass of wine from him, ARE always
riotous. and at election times batter
every ones heads with stones-their
own included. They've been here since
sunrise fighting and brawling. heard
their shouts when / was in bed But
everyone pardons the Lucchese; they
do all our hard work." adds the man
with grin. pocketing the coin Edwin
hands him.
But the wine shop keeper can tell
them nothing of a woman travelling,
and to their astonishment, though they
make many inquiries, they hear of no
lady in a carriage passing through
the village this morning.
Its quite possible says Edwin to
Barnes, "she didn't stop here Her
horses were fresh. She's gone on. No
one has noticed her."
That's very true" answers Burton,
though his face grows more concerned
and gloomy.
Therefore they ride rapidly along
over the now well-kept road, which
generally skirts the Colo. Turning
north. they spur on over the cause
way that crosses the great lagoons
and soon after passing through some
small villages, they come out upon the
sea and ride almost straight along its
shores, to enter that miniature Genoa,
called Bastia, some two hours before
midday.
Barnes pilots his companion to the
Hotel de France. you should like this
inn,' he observes; its on the Boule-
ward Paoli.'
Catching sight of gentleman In a
tall hat and swallowtail coat, Barnes
says: These are the only ones in
Corsica. think. and that's Monsieur
Staffe. the head of the hotel know
MIN. Now we'll get news of your
wife; she's probably put up here"
lTO BE CONTINIrEnA