The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-05-06
CHAPTER xvIi.-continued.

mo: life-life and love! and death
to those who stand between me and
her! The torch to the lone orange
tree in the center of the lawn-you
placed the fuse-when l give the sig
nal to you. light it,
He will be blown to atOms?"
screams the girl.
Certainly. then you are free to
marry ME and can say your prayers
with a good coascience." laughs the
count:
My uncle, / am bound to your
orders 10y the oath of the vendetta and
thy promise to pay my gambling debts
and make me rich again." said the
young man. Enrico passes from the
verandah and Marina sees the flame
of the torch moving 10 the orange tree
She raises her voice and shrieks with
all her force: Edwin, my husband,
you have only a minute to save your
life. In some way, descend from the
tower. They are going to blow it up"
And a cry comes TO her: My wife,
impossible"
And over it are frantic curses from
the American detective, and the voice
OF old Tomasso. cronihg: 1T is the
will of the Devil"
Marina shouts: Il can only give you
life by being this DEVILS"
The answer of the young sailor
comes, calm as the voice of an English
officer should be facing death: Not
at that price. darling! Don't think of
mel"
Then the tortured girl begins to
wiring her hands and sob as she sees
the men in the tower struggling to
break out, struggling as men in the
turret of sinking battleship. The
face she adOres is before her in it's
death agony-the weird music from
the sea comes family to her. telling of
womans devotion. for the barbaric
ballads have been selected with I'M
canny subtlety. For one dread mo-
ment. Marina wildly thinks: I'll save
my Edwin's life-then Ill keep myself
from this crafty fiend by death in the
waves from off the vessel on which he
SN~aS AiS away but NAC lAouSiIL
shoots through her: My dear hus-
band will believe l am a faithless and
: disfcnored wife,"
To Cipriano. who is triumphantly
rnurmuring:- Il see, by your bushes.
you're mine" she shouts: Never"
and desperately would run to the base
Of the tower and die with her hus-
band.
e. But the arms of Danella encircle
her, holding her firm as bands of
steel. Infiamed by the propinquity of
her loneliness, the contact of the per-
feet figure he clasps. the subtle per-
fume Of her waving hair that .tosses
III tresses about. Cipriano is whisper
ing: You have still time. Anstruther
may yet live. l have not given the sig
MAJ. Be mine! But one long, sweet kiss
to prove It,"
And never dare to look on the face
OF any true man or woman? No, no."
Frantically she has broken from his
arms: she is running towards the
torch. desperately hoping to snatch it
fren the hands of the satyr holding it
ready to apply it to the fue.
After one unsuccessful step to over
take her swift feet. Danella cries saw
asely: Fire the mine"
EnricO, the fuse in one hand. the
blazing torch in the other. is applying
the flame to it.
There is sharp Whit of the still |
night air like the faint snap of a dis |
tent whip and the man with the scar |
fails. as if struck from Heaven
DiayOlO. what mystery is this? Ny
self to light the fuse!" cries Cipriano, |
and runs to the flambeau fiaring on |
the ground.
But Marina. her eyes baneful with |
agony. mutters: Il am a Corsican,"
and as he picks up the torch, the des-
perate girl seizes him with her deli |
cate hands and struggles. with him |
frantically.
But her slight strength is naught to |
that of his wiry frame. Danella picks
up the torch. Take your choice" he