Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-12
CHAPTER XIV.


r~~+S' " ~ N0FAfINn EiGGIlQHs
Escorted BY the mountaineers. two
stalwart young men carrying Made
moiselle Paoli down the dizzy path.
they skirt the dread precipices OF Del
GRO and passing tho vinelands and tho
eiearings. come into the main road
ieadlng from Corte, then descending
the hill are In the chestnut groves OF
Bocognano
Then their leader turns to Marina
and says: Have no fear. Signora:
your Engiish sister shall be returned
10 this gentleman. but" he lays HIS
hand on Harness shoulder---"nse not
the weapons ! see ut your belt. THY
quarrel shall be my quarrel No for.
eigner shall ever be compelled to pro-
tect woman while I, Antonio Bonelli.
dominate Bocognano."
Were II not meeting night. every
thing would be silent save the dogs
and pigs, chuekles Tomasso. Now
they'll have light enough to see / am
alive"
'Cospetto, they are making feto
for you, Monaldi.s laughs one Of the
Young men, for lanterns are dangling
from the overhanging boughs of tho
main street Of the little village; some
81 the houses are Illuminated. and
round the communal building and the
wine shops are gathered many men.
The little party tramp through the
iantern-lighted streets, and coming to
the door Of the municipal building. the
lcungers who are smoking their pipes
make way for them. dofflng their hats
and saying with great reverence. sThe
Besllacoscia,"
Near the entrance are two Hunt
mated placarGa, one reading. ssyofe for
saliceti who nfholds old Corsicas.
The other: Cast your ballots for Ber.
nardo, the man who killstr
Surrounded BY the Young men. 10.
n1asso Ia the dim light Is not noticed
and Marina has drawn her mnntIila
close about her face.
The party enter the low hall Of the
municipal, which Is lighted by lamps
and decorated by myrtles and cYela-
men flowers, 1t Is we'll filled by Il
crowd OF farmers, peasants. wool
growers and shepherds. These ar,
now being fervidly addressed by v0itng
Bernardo himself.
Catching sight Of the comman ling
hgure Of the great bandit. the ssfrost
politician bursts out rapturously All.
thanks. grand Antonio Bonellf. for thy
presence and countenance. You have
come to say 70 me. Bernardo. YOU ara
true Corsican; in you Is upheld the
honored custom OF the vendetta il, tho
twentieth generation So will all here
say when tomorrow I shall have the
body OF the one who came to Marina's
nuptials and left death behind him
this American who brought with him
soldiers 10 shoot down poor ola To
masso Monaldi."
But the savage shouts that greet
this are stilled by old Tomasso. who
pushes through the crowd and stands
facing the platform, his eyes flashing.
and Wys 4, Tomasso Monaldi. tell
you there is no cause OF vendetta for
me. because | am alive!"
At his words shuddering cries Of
Ghost" Spirit" SPECTRE rise
amid the tobacco smoke OF the meet
ing, and some would slip from the door
did not Antonio Bonelli command
Let all remainl" as three Of his stall
wart descendants bar the entrance.
There is a sudden cry: Father
from a girl in black mandile and deer
mourning who has been sitting with
some other women in the retirement
Of corner Of the hall. listening to her
lovers ferocious eloQuence. and Ethe-
ria. with streaming eyes. ia in Mon
To he Continued