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

oaths and the rattle OF stones are heard
further to the east. Best take by
path"
Edwin takes the road pointed out to
him. he wishes no delay with these
Italian workmen, whom. imported in
great numbers into the island, the Cor
sicans would probably butcher to
man did not their natural laziness
make them prefer to let the LUG
cheese" live and work for them.
But the by.path doesn't rid him en-
tireiy OF the Lucchese" Just after
he has left the village he finds HIM
self confronted by some hundred Ital-
ian workmen, who threateningly de-
mand drink money, and unfortunately
noting the cyclamen flower in tho
sailors hand, the red being the color
of the candidate they do not favor.
they rush at him with appraised pitch
forks and scythes.
But the lieutenant, remembering Ma.
poleon's recipe for mobs, pulls out his
pistol. Dodging one voiley of stones.
some of which come dangerously near
to him, he dashes on, and there are
two wouIded Lucchese" as he rides
away-and three empty cylinders in
his revolver.
Here a broken cyclamen branch
makes him forget all else, and riding
hurriedIy, after some hours of noun
tain vistas, he reaches a little hill and
gazes at q view which causes him for
one moment to pause. The dark emer-
aid of the woods descending quite
rapidly, reaches the paler emerald OF
the sunlit Tuscan sea.
Few sails are on the quiet waters
of the tropic sea, though sailing
fisher craft OF some burden is an
chored off the shore.
But what holds most strongly the
hungry eye of Edwin Anstruther is
the foreground Of this wondrous pie
ture.
Running into the gentle waves about
half a mile from him Is a cliff. topped
by fairy green of foliage; upon 1t
stands ruined turret. Its time-stained
stones indicate 1t had been a watch
tower OF the Genoese In olden days
and that from its top centuries ago
had famed beacons warning the fee
ing people that the galleys of Barbary
pirates were ravaging these shores.
The mass Of ruined masonry rising
above the foliage has been now appar.
emily repaired The Englishman sees
the sheen of glass in some of the little
loop-holed windows. Beside 1t on the
same cliff some so yards away is a
comfortable Corsican farmhouse. In
creased BY a long modern addition
whose windows are large and whose
portico is spacious. OF sudden he
thinks he sees white hand waving
some piece of woman's lingerie from
the tower. and gallops down the road.
1 careless of all except that It may be
his wife. Though 1t is nearly dusk,
! the cyclamen flowers still greet him
with their perfume. He rides across
little bridge that spans chasm awful
! in it's depth through which the sea
rushes. II Is light enough to see very
indstinctly, and he finds himself on a
lawn planted with lex, citron and
orange trees On one side Is the farm
house; ON the other the lone Genoese
tower.
Some broken branches of cyclamen
flowers lead him toward the turret. A
light is now streaming from its upper
story, Riding his horse TO the low
arched masonry that is the entrance
to the lower story. he springs off to
alight upon eyclamen blooms. The
odor OF the flowers issues from the
building itself
The heavy oaken doors OF the en-
trance are open inyitingly. but he
scares notices them. There is only
one thought in his heart: Is my wife
upstairs?''
With his revolver ready in his hand,
he dashes rapidly up the circular stone
stairway, upon which open little loop
holes. After nightfall, these give him
no light. But the illumination Of
lamp or candle comes down the stair
way as he passes higher up. He calls: