Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-01-22

friend seemed to have a marvellous
knowledge Of the tastes and predilec-
lions Of the island trout, and, profit
ing by 1t, l found them, upon the whole.
an unsOphfsticated race. Blue dun, red
spinner. blue upright, and the eyer-con-
quering March brown 1 found do the
most deadly execution, and day after
day we returned to our hostelry with n
well-filled basket.
Jean, the cocher, was an interesting
fellow. much more l~ight-hearted than
the generality Of his somewhat satur-
nine co%untrymen, whose idlosyncracies,
indeed, seemed to afford him consider
able amusement He prided himself
upon his broadness OF mind-a regular
cosmopolitan, he! But even with him
there were reservations. Inadvertent-
". spoke Of the outlaws, the feers
from Justice, whose homes were
amongst the macchie. as '~'brigands."
~"Brigands! No, monsieur !" cried
Jean, In accents OF dignified reproof.
Bandits, outlaws. they may be, but
%'brigands.' robbers, never, They have
their own private quarrels to settle
like gentlemen. but never will they rob
the stranger who has lone them no
HARM
His special hero amongst these gem
try. 1t seemed. was one Serafino. Il
mighty III Of the past, around whose
head shone a halo OF legendary glory.
He narrated the tale OF the captain of
genda rmerie who, returning from Sar.
tene to Ajaccio. overlook a countryman
d~ismounted from his horse md exam.
ing its hoofs for the stone which was
causing Its lameness. As the officer
rode up alongside. the man laid an
apologize hand upon his bride rein.
His glance swept admiringly over the
captains highly polished boots, then.
pointing to his own sdilapidated broguea,
Are these" he asked %plaintively, ~thc
boots for Serafino?" The CLINT OF a
revolver. unostcntatiously peeping from
the folds Of his waistband, expedited
the exchange, and the policeman rode,
barefoot. into Ajnccio.
And what was the end Of this hero
Of comic opera" l asked.
"Piait-it, monsieur? r. nurmured Jean,
uncomprehending.
"What became Of Serafino? Is he
dead?" I amended my question.
Jeans face grew serious.
Monsieur" he said, there was un
petit accident-pardon, did monsieur
speak ~ He turned an inquiring glance
upon the old man by my side. The
American shook his head inpatieat!yy,
and Jean resumed his tale.
~.sSeraiino was the last OF Ills race,
but he had married a beautiful young
4gir! or a and there was erer%
prospect of his line being continued.
when, going one day to draw water at
the well, she was shot dead by Luigi
Pcretti, he who had hoped to wed her,
ere her eye was taken by Serafino--
Plait-il, monsieur This time 1, too.
turned to the old man, for an unmis-
taxable groan had burst from his lips.
His face was gray and drawn.
Nothing, nothing" he muttered, "a
little spasm--it has already passed"
Jean contemplated him doubtfully,
ahrugged his shoulders, and continued:
.Peretti fed to the macchie. and the
gems d'armes sought him In vain. but
d month later Seraflno caught him
asleep, stabbed him to the heart, cut
his body into little pieces. and left
them to blister upon the rocks of the
Prunelli."
GOOD God!. l exclaimed, startled,
what savagery!"
Jean looked at me gravely.
"Monsieur must remember that she
was q young wife," he said.
glanced at the American, his eyes
cleaned, his face was set like a flint.
Then, l suppose, the drama was
ended by the father or brother Of
Luigi putting an end to Serafinog !
asked.
NO. monsieur, 1t Is strange, but II
was not %. For months francesca
Peretti lay In wait for him Mt all his
accustomed resorts. but Serafno was
seen no more. Some think that after
paying his debt to Peretti he ended all
~ throwing himself Into the gulf
but me. I do not know" said Jean,
MaGxin9 his hend saGely the Peretti
family are many, and many. also, are
tho caves Ii the maccliie where 4 corpse
might Ne Tor ! hundred years. with
ne hut the lizards 20 -. What wal
Aths fate 81 Seradno none knew-and
nene viii evsr knon, now. nearly
tA--Aft-a-&-