Evening star., 1912-09-03
CHAPTER I.
The Train From Palermo.

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The train from Palermo was late. Al
| ready long, shadowy fingers were reach
ing down the valleys across which the
| railroad track meandered. Far to the
left, out Of an opalescent sea, rose the
fairylike Lipari Islands, and in the far
thest distance Stromboli lifted its smok-
| ing cone above the horizon. On the land
ward side of the train. as it reeled and
| squealed along its tortuous course. were
gray and gold Sicilian villages, perched
high against the hills. or browsing among
fields of artichoke and sumach and prick
ly pear.
Twenty-Five years ago a Sicilian rail-
way journey was a trial even to sea-
| sOned traveller. and Norvin Blake as the
hours dragged along, remarked less and
less upon the beauties Of the island, and
more and more upon the medieval con-
dition Of the rickety railroad coach in
which he was shaken and buffeted about.
Although this was his first glimpse of
Sicily, he had watched the same villages
| come and go all through a long, hot
afternoon, had seen the same groves of
orange and lemon and dust-green olive
trees, the same fields Of Barbary figs. the
SdIHe TOSe-STOWn Rdr0en Spots uHlll he
was heartily tired of them all.
1t was considerably after dark when he
alighted at San Sebastano. to be greeted
effusively by a young man of about his
own age. who came charging through the
gloom and embraced him with a great
hug.
80. AT last You come.' the latter
cried. Il have been here these three
hours eating my heart out But, are you
well?"
Never better. And you? All. there is
no need to ask. You look disgustingly
contented. One would think You were
already married"
Martel Savigno, Count of Martinello,
showed row Of even, white teeth be-
meath his military mustache, and clapped
his friend affectionately upon the back.
1T is good to be among my own peo-
pie. l find, after all, that | am 81
Gillian"
The count was a well set-up youth of
an alert and active type, tall, dark and
vivacious, with a skin as smooth as that
Of a girl. He had an impulsive, energetic
nature, that seldom left him in repose.
and hence the contrast between the two
men was marked. for Blake was of a
more serious cast Of feature and possess
was much the heavier in build also,
which detracted from his height and
robbed him of that elegance which dis
tinguished the young Sicilian
What the deuce made me agree to
this trip. ! don't know the American
declared. 1T was vile. I've been car
sick. seasick, homesick-'
And all for poor. lovesick Martel.'
The count laughed. "Ah. but If you knew
how glad l am to see you.'
Really? Then that squares it, Blake
spoke with that indefinable undernote
which creeps into mems voices when
friend meets friend. I've been lost with
out you, too. | was quite ashamed of
myself"
The count turned to a middle-aged man
with a rife, who had remained in the
shadows. saying:
This is Ricardo Farara. my good right
hand. of whom you have heard me
speak" The Overseer raised his hat and
Blake took his hand, catching glimpse
of a grizzled face and a stiff mop of
iron-gray hair "You will see to Signore
Blakes baggage. Ricardo: he has come
all the way from Paris to attend my
wedding. Michele. Ippolito.' the count
called. 1.-The carreta, quickly, And now.
caro- Norvin, for the last leg Of your
journey. Will you ride in the cart or on
horseback? 1t is not far. but the roads
are steep
Horseback. by all means. My mus
cles need exercise
The young men mounted a pair of COM
still another man in the street behind
the depot and set off up the winding
road which climbed to the town above.
AS the riders clattered through the poor
ly lighted village Blake saw the Gus,
| tomary low-roofed houses. the usual
| squalid side streets. more like steep lanes
| than thoroughfares. and heard the towns
| people pronouncing the name OF the
| Count of Martinello while the ever-pres-
ent horde of urchins fed from their
| path.
After brief gallop they drew up at a
big. dark house. hidden among the deep
| er shadows Of many trees, and in answer
| to Martels shout wide door was flung
| back: then by the light which streamed
| forth from 1t they dismounted and made
| their way up a flight of stone steps.
| Once inside Savigno exclaimed:
Welcome to my birthplace! thou
sand Welcomes Selling Norvin by the
shoulders he whirled HIN about. Let
| made this sacrifice for me. for l need
you above all men," His eyes. though
| bright with affection. were grave-some-
thing unusual in him-and the other in
| quired. quickly:
There's nothing wrong. ! hope?'
| Savigno tossed his head and smiled.
Wrong. What could be wrong now
| that you are here? No! All is quite
right, but / have been accursed with
| lonesomeness. Something was lacking. 1t
W dS YOU, CdTO iIlIO NOW, iiOWSNci, Oil
| the most contented of mortals. But you
must be famished, SO l will show you to
your room at once. Francesca has pro-
| vided feast for us. ! assure YOU"
He led his friend up the wide stairs and
| left him to prepare for supper.
And so this ends it all" said Blake.
as they lounged in the big. empty draw
| ing room later that evening. They had
dined and gossiped. as only friends OF
| their age can gossip. had relieved their
adventures Of the past three years, and
| still were loath to part, even for sleep.
How so?" queried Savigno. You speak
| of marriage as il 1T were dissolution"
vt might as well be- so far as | am
concerned
Martel laughed at this.
II have told the countess that she
must love YOU"
"Then you have hung the Grape on our
future intimacy for good and all. She
will instruct your cook to put a spider
in my dumping. or do away with me by
some characteristic Sicilian method" :"
Martel seemed puzzled by the American
ism of this speech, but Norvin merely
smiled and changed to Italian.