The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-04-04


shadows of the rear and the lamplight
OF the room being very dim. in their
excitement the concourse had not no
ticed her; but as Marina steps for
ward, some men turn away, woman
whispers, "'Tis pity the blood OF
Pasauale Paoli flows in her. and
Young cavalier remarks: We honored
your wedding, Madame Anstruther. but
then We did not know that you had for
gotten your oath of the vendetta and
We're mating with the slayer of your
brother
'Gaspardo," cries Marina. with
gasp OF horror, my childhood's friend.
how dare you say this lie?" and stag
sering onto the platform. and seeing
condemnation, horror and disgust In
the faces she had known from child
hood. the girl simply but with great
nobility of manner. tells them how
Musso Danella, inspired by deyilish
jealousy. had turned the articles in a
dead mans trunk into evidence that
the English, officer whom she had
nursed to life in the Egyptian hospi-
ta's and whom she loved with her
whole heart. was the principal in the
duel at Ajaccio. the man who had slain
her brother.
The beauty of the suppliant, with
the blood of the great Corsican patriot
flowing in her veins. touches their pas
sionate hearts. A lady from the little
balcony seiZing some of the cyclamen
decorations, throws the flowers all
over her. and her compatriots, whose
faces had been cold to her, fly around,
embrace her and beg her to forgive
them.
But there is one will not forgi ~"
cries the girl sternly: this Saliceti.
Bernardo. who had known me in my
youth. who spread these reports all
over the mountains that | have dis.
graced my very womanhood in giving
myself to my brothers murderer"
"A bas Saliceti'" yells sheep farm
er from the valley.
"Demonius. his lies have dishonored
our race" srowls a goatherd from
I the slopes OF La Pintica.
Leave him to us" says Bonelli
calmly; his hawks eyes are fixed un-
! pleasantly on the candidate. who with
]
/ the platform
With this. Corsicas favorite bandit
/ commands sternly: Men of Bocog
nano no one OF you will cast your
( ballot at the polls for this politician
who has disgraced our village. Other
wise you will hear from me, You will
vote for Signore Ambrose Luciano,
/ the cigarette smoking statesman from
Ajaccio who begs your suffrages. He
may be a greater fool, but he is not so
great rascal as our fellow towns
man Don't you even dare vote for
Yourself he cries, as the abaShed
Saliceti flies from the room pursued
! by jeers and execrations and even the
taunts of his own sweetheart, who is
/ still clasped in old Tomassos arms.
Now, reparation to you, Signore
Barnes, the only one we can make.
We will bear you in honor to Marina S
/ home. where your bride now awaits
you. Your wedding fete was postponed
in Nice. understand the grim man
smiles slightly. We will give you in
Bocognano a nuptial procession to a
bride whose lips are as unsullied as
when she made VOWS to you.
So attended by the whole of the
Bellacoscia and many girls, who have
pulled down the floral ornaments OF
the communal room waving the flow
ers about him. and young men shoot
( ing off their guns in his honor. Barnes,
with Marina on his arm, is escorted
/ beneath the lanternl lighted chestnut
trees to the old mansion of the Paolis.
! AS they pass along the main street a
/ girl comes running from the telegraph
office and places an envelope in Ma
rina' S hand. After glancing at it. a
wild clation is in the young wife's
face She whispers some hurried di-
rections to old Tomasso. and tripping
to Barnes side her step is as buoyant
as his.
tTO BE CONTINUED