Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-10-03
5e Vendetta
0<1
BY ROSE B. ETHERIDGE

tSopyright. 1913. by the Western News
paper Union.l
1t was in imperial Rome that / had
first met Rafael Brose. / was then of
the artist community and his pleasant
ways and love of pictures sad COM
mended him to every member of our
bohemian group He was won't to
make the round of the studios. an en-
couraging visitor and oftimes a pa
iron. Once or twice he brought with
him his sister, Teresa. She was then
barely sixteen and the most beautiful
being had ever met. She and were
fast drifting from mutual friendship
into something more fervent when sud-
denly both brother and sister disap-
peared.
1t was an old native sculptor who
solved the mystery of their vanish
ment. 1t seemed that the Broses were
the inheritors of a deadly vendetta
which had pursued the family until
four of its members fell victims to the
stiletto.
''The last living relative of Rafael
fled to America to save his life five
years ago." explained my informant.
Il heard that he had died there Per-
haps he has left his fortune to Rafael
and his niece"
The memory of the beauty and gem
tleness of Teresa did not leave me-
even after / had returned to my home
in a Western city, but / learned moth
ing of their whereabouts until about a
year later had entered city res
taurant one day and just as l seated
myself at table from the next there
arose young man and a yelled lady.
The former wore beard. the latter
colored glasses, but knew them at
once.
Rafael, my dear friendp' / exuber-
ated, rushing up to him and Selling his
arm in a transport. In a flash he
turned, cast sweeping glance over
the crowded room and said hurriedly:
mot that name in public. Follow
as if casually until we get clear of
this place.
| handed Rafael my card. Tonight"
he said in low. cautious tone. "And
it may be late"
"At any hour; shall be waiting up
for you" replied, and they hurried
away, Teresa with a slight responsive
movement of her hand.
1t was after midnight when Brose
tapped at the door of my studio. He
fingered at the threshold for a mo-
ment or two, peering sharply down the
street stairway as though fearful of
being followed.
1t was a strange story that Rafael
told me. For the sake of his sister he
had fled from his native land to evade
the desperate menace of the vendetta
that had been sworn against them. His
uncle had died, bequeathing all he
owned to them, but it was in shape
where slow liquidation would be nee
essary.
His dealings had been mainly with
large number of foreigners. Rafael
had taken up his abode and that of his
sister in the poor quarter of the city
where his uncle had lived, assumed
new name and pretended to be the at
tOrney for heirs abroad. Piece by
piece, hut unOstentatiously, he had
been selling off the property.
about a month ago." he told me. Il
received black-hand letter demand
ing a large sum or death would follow.
Some one of my enemies abroad, or a
local blackmailer has guessed my true
identity. With fervent haste / am
closing up my business, then to seek
new home under less hazardous con-
dirions. / hope within week to close
out all my business and then we can
welcome you as the esteemed friend
that you are"
1t was one evening, month later,
when my landlady came rushing to
nv room in a state of frantic excite
men. "Oh, sirr' she quavered, "a gem
tleman all blackened and burned is in
a taxi below and lady with him,
tainted or dead!" ran down to the
street. Rafael indeed looked as though
he had gone through some terrific ex-
perience. He bore his sister in his
arms.
"Give us shelter" he spoke. she
has only tainted from fright. The
black hand dynamited our house, but
7 escaped with few bruises"
NV landlady took charge of Teresa.
When she had been carried to her
room Rafael sat in my apartment tell
in, of the vindlctive efforts of his per-
secutors.
Il am through with it all, however,
he said. almost gaily, "as all the old
business has been settled" and so we
sat discussing our plans for pleasant
home on the coast for a renewal OF
our old close friendship.
There was tap at the door. A gen
tie voice spoke. 1t belonged to Teresa.
MAY 1 come inY
| stood spellbound. There was my
/ old-time love, now veilless. There was