Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-07-03

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does not pause.
But as he reaches the confines OF
the village, the young husband starts
and his eyes. which fatigue had dulled,
glisten with hope. Here are two paths,
a trail leading 10 the north. the other
and broader one pointing east toward
the Tuscan sea. Along the latter. eye
lamen branches have been dropped
several times in short hundred yards.
Their number is significant, they
have been strewn quite continuously
from the forks of the road. My dar
ling's message to me" murmurs An
struther, and rides as hastily as his
tired though wiry little horse viii take
him.
The branches OF the sweet-smelling
posies he still encounters on the trail
hurry him up hill and down hill, over
running mountain streams, through
wooded Wales. Yet at least Nature
must have its meed--despite all efforts
of the rider. his head droops and his
figure becomes lax in the saddle.
His steed with whinny of JOY al
most runs down into little valley and
drawing suddenly up before a high
eampanile stone building, Anstruther
falls off his horse into the arms of a
good Monk of the Convent of Piedi-
eroee. who mutters. Thank the
Saints, you got here alive in time to
drink the water of Orezza" For An
struther's appearance between fear
full fatigue and racking anxiety is now
that of man nigh onto death.
The hospitable friars put the invalid
the invalid. after another glass or two
of the famous youth-giving Orezza wa
ter, which here springs bubbling from
the earth, eats the MONDAY meal the
good friars set before him, rises, gives
them the blessing of strong man and
hurries on.
As he gallops from the little hamlet,
some cyclamen branches greet him. he
urges on his steed.
And what a ride 1t is. under the
great trees of La Castagniccia, where
chestnuts big as eggs drop upon him.
the giant chestnuts that fed Paoi's
patriot army, the bread of Corsica.
each dozen trees being peasant maid
ems marriage dover.
But though the woods are all chest
nuts, Edwin still sees in his road cycla-
men branches, slightly withered now.
their fragrance fading, and hope
grows higher in his heart.
So he rides along the parklike wales
of La Castagniccia and before him is
the green of the great Bavella forest
fading away down the hillsides toward
the distant and still unseen Tuscan
sea-
Here Edwin checks his horse,
springs off and picks up cylamen
branch, and as he rides along, looking
at the flowers, suddenly calculates:
"Jove, how fresh their perfume and
plucked two days since"
But the lately cut flowers give no
warning to the sailor; he is too eager
now. Pausing at the little village of
Pietra, Edwin steps into the inn to ask
some questions and hears news that
makes him frenzied.
The landlord, delighted at his lib
eral hand, tells him to avoid the com
munal where the voting is going on.
The Lucchese' have got full of wine
and are having a riot in that direction
They are perfect devils, these fellows
from Lucca over across the sea that
Danella imported to work upon his
estates here"
Count Cipriano Danella has estates
here?' asks Edwin excitedly.
Yes, now it is Cipriano. Down to-
ward Cervione, where the cliffs run
into the sea. the only place where it is
not sickly and they have no lagoons,
You can know it by the Genoese watch
tower that was in ruins, but the count
some years ago had repaired and made
habitable.'
ITS curious | never heard anyone
mention Cipriano's properties here"
mutters the sailor.
"Oh possibly not Till a fortnight
since. they belonged to Musso Danella,
the dead one. but Count ciprlano has
now taken possession Of them"
HE is there?"
WY Auitih 30. "A DOy WHO came
up the pass yesterday said the new
CONT had come there In vessel"
''He is there at PRESENT."
Quite suret" laughs the man. CT
priano himself rode through here yes
Sterday escorting lady with some OF
his followers
Aha, in carriage driven by an old
Corsican ?"
she was In a carriage, but was not
driven by an old Corsican; a boy
whipped the horses"
she was young and beautiful
My eyes are old. could not see
we'll Signore. The carriage came rap.
Idly past me, three or four riding about
II. The lady looked as II she would
say. some words; she rose almost as IL
to spring out, but something IN the car
riage seemed to check her, aud they