The Elbert County tribune., 1908-05-07
: vigor seem to enter each nerve

1t Is now quite late in the afternoon.
Burton soon passes the chestnut lands
Of La Castagniccia. still finding a few
faded cyciamen blooms to guide him
on his way. But now q little shock
thrills him. He checks his horse abb
ruptly, springs on and picks up a
bunch Of the wild flowers. As he rides
along examining 1t he calculates:
This is very extraordinary. This
branch, which supposed Marina drop
ped out of the carriage yesterday, was
certainly cut this very morning"
Suspicion flashes through him as he
questions: Can these flowers have
been strcwn in the road by Ciprlano's
agents to lead someone on?" and what
had been no warning to the easy-going
sailor becomes danger signal to the
man of the world.
Yet, twist 1t how he will, Barnes can
see no reason why Danella should
want anyone near him save Marina.
If the Corsican's passion for that
young lady is what he thinks It is. he
will prefer a free hand to deal with
her alone. And yet 1t is evident some
body wanted somebody to follow this
cyclamen trail, and whether somebody
wants 1t or not. l am here anyway"
thinks the American grimly. And
thanks to the divine Orezza water, 1
am rather fit for fighting" Then care.
fully examining his revolver, the pistol
shot remarks: And that's ut also,
thank God"
With this. resolutely but more cir
cumspectly. Mr.. Barnes continues his
way over the path marked by the eye
lamen branches.
BY the time he has come out on the
hills looking down toward the Tuscan
sea, 1t is very dark. There is no moon
yet. but the light from the lone watch
tower attracts him. The cyclamen
flowers he occasionally picks up make
him know this is the road Anstruther
must have Travelled.
Suddenly, but quietly, he turns his
horse from the path, and in the seciu-
sion of a thicket of wild grapes, lis
tens. Some dozen men are coming
from the east: he hears one of them
growl: Why. there's no Lucchese'
nearer than Pietra to fight, though the
count ordered every man about the
farm to go out and protect the vines
from them"
We'll, there's some good reason for
Maestro Cipriano's orders. Perchance
the Italian laborers in the Green Orez-
"a quarry have risen up" adds an
other.
Perhaps with the lady he wishes
not to be disturbed" giggles a third.
THE count has musicians in a boat off
the shore"
The men have no sooner passed
than Barnes starts quickly down the
road. The lady" he guesses, means
either Marina or his own bride, though
of the last he has slight hope. A SUBJ
dued light from the town guides him
in the darkness.
But when he is within less than a
hundred yards of the building, his
horse, with sudden snort of terror,
draws up right In the path, crouohiny
on his launches, and Barnes peering
over his steed's head, gazes into the
deep chasm that descends sheer to the
very sea. Springing from his trem-
bling horse, the American finds that
the bridge. which Is light, swinging
one not over 35 feet in length, has
been swung to the other side.
The scent of fresh cyclamen bloom
enters his nostrils. He looks at the
removed bridge and remarks acutely:
It's evident Cipriano has got on the
other side the person he wished to fol-
low these flowers"
So Barnes gazes across the chasm
he cannot pass. The night being very
still, he hears over the soft murmur
of the waves beneath him the sweet
romantic music Of Corsica rising from
boat. 'Tis the playing of stringed In
struments accompanying sweet ma
tive love song, each stanza ending in
that curious prolonged note peculiar
| to these island ditties.
What the deuce is that bizarre.
crafty devils gamer" wonders the
American. Then he hears voices from
the low Corsican house. Beyond the
crevices he sees Marina in white robe
amid the lights and flowers of the
veranda. Her sweet tones are scarce
audible. Then Danella's voice reaches
him family in the soft night air.
He begins to understand and NUT
ters: Good God!"
After little cry of love yet despair
rends the heavens from the tower. It
is Anstruther's. 'Tis mingled with q
woman's shrek for mercy. my hus-
band!" in Marina's voice.
Next Barnes hears Cipriano's suavs.
triumphant laugh, and he mutters;
my God, for pistol it's fearfully
long shot. but it's the only wayi"
(TO BE CONTINUED