Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-03-06
CHAPTER 4.


Il wonder II can head of those
cursed Corsican murder enthusiasts?
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 1883. after the escape OF
the bridal party from Corsica.
There are very few passengers
Bsrnes' gold having sent the steamer
back on her return voyage to Mar.
soillcs within two hours after her ar
rival a. Ajaccio.
Ills E.aace is turned contemplative-
~ beyond the whirling. eddying wake
OF the prorellers foam toward that GU
riods 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. idealixe and call tho
Vendetta"
The representative OF New York
fashion, American sportsmanship and
modern materialism. who has tlitted
to the island and plucked not only the
young English lieutenant. Edwin &c.
rard Anstruther, but his bride. Marina,
the daughter Of the Paolis. from the
| meshes and acknowledgements OF feud
that only ends with death, notwith-
standing his reward Ia to be the hand
Of the beautiful girl be loves, emits a
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 shnddered
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
vas 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 Dsnella, her guar
dian, the man lying dead upon the
| floor of the bridal chamber. Tomassos
dagger in his heart: and then had fallen
fainting into her bridegrooms arms.
With this, the mind OF Mr.. Barnes
| reyerts to his desperate efforts to get
| the whole party to Ajaceio 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 Oh Tomasso Mon
| adj, who having become an assassin.
had fed as bandit, as the party made
| their weird ride to the Corsican sea
port.
III no deaths had followed the APP
pearance Of Marina's husband and me
in the island, perhaps the accursed at
| fair might have slumbered and died
| out" reflects Barnes, gloomily; as 1t
is, there's no telling where the devIish
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: "Oh, hope mott
Your face is so moody, dear" Bushes
spring upon the sensitive face, aud his
young English fancee whispers with
piquant pout: Gloomy, and going
to marry me in three days? That's
not very complimentary, Burton 4
NO. in two, II 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; "A was thinking Of
What we left behind u.s.. shudders
his viyacious 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 Sc near
whispers Burton, tenderly Il would
be very happy. too. If our corsiean
friends would only forget it,. He
checks himself. biting his lip and adds:
However, the modern world is before
US. can see the Pharos lighthouse
and the Hes des Perdus."
why, we are nearly at Marseilies,"
calculates Enid.
<,..f.r t....na "a - :. 4