The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-10-31
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
A DAUGHTER OF yESUvuUs.
BY Pierce Vincent.


1t was a small two-edged stiletto
that zabetta Gemella bought at An
tonic Mordo's shop in Naples, a very
tiny plaything of a siletto; but, as
every Italian knows, the heart lies
barely two inches below the surface
and blade that will reach that dis
lance is long enough for all practical
purposes.
On the crucifiX handle of this par
ticular stiletto Zebetta had sworn that
1T should drink the blood of either
Caesar Pine or of his betrothed,
Maria Vincente.
They were very ancient family,
the Gemelias. One ancestor had
escaped from the eruption that over
whelmed Pompeii, and another had
been mummifed at Herculaneum. The
race had a certain fierce sturdiness,
inherited from some lava-born fore
father before Romulus.
They also had an unpleasant med
ieval habit of keeping their oaths, re-
gardless of consequences, as family
traditions and court records bore wit
ness. They took life seriously, as many
had Gound to their cost.
SO, when people heard that Caesar
Pine had thrown over Zabetta Gem
ella for Maria Vincente they shook
their heads.
Zabetta dwelt in the outskirts of
Boscotracase on the slopes nearest We
suvius. She knew the mountain in
all its moods, and from it's nature
shaped her own. Its heart of fire was
no wilder than that within her breast
Caesar Pine belonged to the aristoc-
racy OF BoScotracase. His olive trees
were the best in the place; and did not
the choicest Lachryma Christi come
from his grapes grown on the scoriae
of Vesuvius?
Caesar was dark and handsome a
hne singer and dancer, hard worker,
a good fellow all around. All the girls
in The village were in love with him.
Handsome Caesar fell in love with
handsOmer Zabetta. True, her family
was poor. But what difference did
that make? Caesar had enough for
both. Their betrothal soon followed
TO be sure, some families whose
daughters would not have objected to
occupying Zabetta's place limited
privately at the record of the Gemel-
las. But none spoke openly, remem-
bering that same record.
All went well until Maria Vincente
came. Then Caesars affection for
Zabetta cooled. 1t soon became known
through the town that Caesar and his
sweetheart had quarreled; next, that
he was betrothed to Maria.
Then, indeed, people shook their
heads; and some said: Poor Zabet-
ta,"
But others, who knew her familv's
record better, said, Poor Caesar!"
And everybody waited TO see what
would happen.
1t was the next day after the break
that Zabetta bought the dagger. The
Gemellas always acted promptly But
she found it difficult to decide whose
blood the sharp point should drink.
sometimes she felt it would be
caesars. sometimes Maria's. and on
one black day, when the two passed
her arm in arm, she determined that
IL should be both; and She had hard
work TO restrain herself from putting
the sentence into immediate execu-
ton.
Then came the great eruption.
tor generations Vesuvius, mutter-
ing and grumbling, had looked down
on the presumptuous vineyards and
olive groves, boldly pressing nearer the
region where it had decreed no living
thing should grow.
Unheeded, it had given warning
after warning, like a cross old man
who is continually making threats.
but whom no one takes at his word
AT last the giant that dwelt in the
mountains fiery heart decided that il
was time TO teach the forgetful race
OF men one lesson more. So poufi he
blew off the cone, and descended in
streams of lava and sheets Of ashes.
BoScotracase was one OF the worst
sufferers. For time its citizens hoped
they might escape with a shower of
stones and cinders. But one night the
scarlet ribbons that had been trick
ling like rivers of blood down the
rough slopes turned toward the vii
lage. The image OF the saint failed