Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-04-17

leading them through pines. beeches
and the inevitable chestnut trees.
They have passed no one In the
darkness. In fact. they have not yet
gone far enough to have any hope Of
oysrtsking Marina unless accident has
bsfallen her vehicle. Besides. her
horses were fresh: theirs. according
to the hostler. had been ridden during
the preceding day. hs' T 81. 90
Soon after. they dash through the
village OF vivario. announced by the
barking OF some ours and the HruntinE
of some pigs. Every house In the vii
laKe Is closed and no one would open
for us In the dead Of night In this land
OF the vendetta" remarks Barnes.
They go TO climbing again. and soon
after descend through the gorge Of the
rapid vecchio. the river foaminE far
beneath the road. while rocky hills
and sharp mountains rise on either
side.
They have knocked at no doors:
they have made no Inquiries: they
have only hurried on. Hut some hour
after the red.tiied houses OF Corte
loom mp before them and u few min.
utes later they jog their tired steeds
up one Of the principal streets OF the
central inland town OF Corsica. the
great Monte Ro,ondo now looking
down upon them.
| Above them are tall elm trees thai
catch the rays OF the rising sun.
flanked on each side by white stone,
red.roofed houses. they pass between
the hotels Pierracci and Paoli. almost
deserted now. this being the beginning
OF the hot summer season. Aiong the
street are many placards indicating
the approaching election. Every time
/ he sees the name OF Saiiceti. Harness.
compressins his lips. thinks OF his lost
darling.
Al the Pierracci they learn from one
OF the walters that u lady had paused
to obtain n relay Of horses. and had
brought out To her ut her request u
cup Of coffee.
| Was sh. driven by an old man.
questions Edwin. hurricdiy.
Yes, with beard like n bandit"
answers the man with grin. "Th.
carriage MAS full of cyciamcn flowers
You could smell them aii over the
street"
Its your wife," whispers Barnes.
giving the man u .o-franc picc. that
makes him look almost as happy ~
this news does Ans,ruthcr.
Only an hour ago. We will over
take Marina long bcfor. she reaches
iiastia. cries Edwin.
They ride hurr!cdly. the road skirt.
Ink the torrent of the foaming vccchio
until considerably over an hour after
leaving Cort- they reach Poni.,aila.
Iccehio. where the big bridge crosses
the river Colo. Dur!n. this the horse
men note more signs OF tn. comm.
casting OF votes.
Som. of the ''I.ucch.sc' work men
I from Italy aT" thro~in. stones at mn
\ election piacard that dispicas.s them.
Z The pests from I.ucca.' mutt-rs u
cor.ican shopkccpcr as they buy n
glass of wine from him. ''ar. always
riotous. and Mt election times batter
every ones heads with stoncs--thcir
own Included They've been here since
sunris. lighting aud brawlins. heard
their shouts when was In bed. Bu,
everyone psr,lons the 'Lucchcsc:' they
do all our hard work. adds the man
with a grin. pockcting the coin Edwin
hands him.
Hut the wine shop keeper can tell
them nothing of woman travelling
and to their astonishmcnt. though they
make many Inquiries. they hear of no
lady In carriage passing through
the village this morning.
ITS quite possibic.'' says Edwin tu
Harness. ''sh. iidn't stop here. Her
horses were fresh. She's gone on. NJ
one has noticed her"
That's very true" answers Burton.
though his face grows more concerned
aud gloomy
Therefore they ride rapidly along
over the now wcii.kcpt road. which
generally skirts the Colo. Turning
north. they spur on over the cause
way that crosses the great iagoons
and soon after passing through some
small villages. they come gu, upon the
sea and ride almost straight along it,
shores. to enter that miniature Genoa
called Bastia. some two hours bcfor.
midday.
Barnes pilots his companion to the
Hotel de France. You should like this
Inn" he observes: its ON the Boul,.
ward Paoli.''
Catching sight of gentleman in a
tall hat and a s~allowtaii coat. barnes
says: 'Thcs. are the only ones in
Corsica. ] think. and that's Monsieur
Staffc. the head Of the hotel. I know
him. Now we'll get news of your
wife: she's probably put up here
ITO RE coSTINUEpD