The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-06
CHAPTER V
On Griante


morning, in honeysuckle colors,
burned upon the mountain mists.
Two women climbed together up
the great activity OF Griante. One
was brown and elderly. clad in black
with an orange rag wrapped about
her brow-a sturdy, muscular crea-
ture who carried a great, empty
wicker basket upon her shoulders;
the other was clad in a rosy jumper
of silk; she flashed in the morning
fires and brought an added beauty
to that beautiful scene.
Jenny assembled the mountain as
lightly as a butterfly. She moder-
ated her pace to the slower gait Of
the elder and presently they both
stopped before a little gray chapel
perched beside the hill path.
Mr. Albert Redmayne's silkworms.
in the great airy shed behind his villa,
had nearly all spun their cocoons now.
fer 1t was June again and the annual
crop of mulberry leaves in the val
leys beneath were weIl-nigh exhausted.
Therefore Assunta Marzelli, the old
bibiophile's housekeeper. made hoh-
day with his niece. now upon a visit
to him, and together the women
climbed, where food might be procured
for the last tardy caterpillars to
change their state.
And then. where two tall expresses
stood upon either side, Jenny and
Assunta stayed a while.
The lake below was now reduced
10 cup of liquid jade over which
yhot streamers of light into the
mountain shadows at its brink; but
there were vessels floating on the
waters that held the watchers eyes.
They looked like twin. toy torpedo
beats-mere streaks of red and
black upon the water, with Italy's
fag at the taffrail. But the little
ships were no toys and Assunta
hated them. for the strange craft
told Of the ceaseless Battle waged
by authority against the mountain
smugglers and reminded the widow
Of her own lawless husbands death
ten years before.
The women climbed presently to
d
spanked with tiny flowers and
spread it's alpine sward among
thickets Of mulberry. Here their
work awaited them: but first they
ate the eggs and wheaton bread.
walnuts and dried figs that they had
brought and shared a little flask Of
red wine They finished with a
handful of cherries and then Assunta
began to pluck leaves for her great
basket while Jenny loitered a while
and smoked a cigaret. 1t was a new
habit acquired since her marriage.
Soon the women started upon their
homeward way. They had descended
about a mile and at a shoulder of
Griante sat down to rest in welcome
shadow.
And then, suddenly. as if IT had
been some apparition limned upon the
air, there stood in the path the figure
ct tall man. His red head was bare
and from the face beneath shone a
pair of wild and haggard eyes. They
saw the strangers great tawny
mustache. his tweed garments and
knickerbockers, his red waistcoat, and
the cap he carried in his hand.
It was Robert Redmayne. Jenny
uttered one loud cry of terror and
then relaxed and fell unconscious
upon the ground. The widow leaped
to her aid, but it was some time be-
fore Jenny came to her senses.
Did you see him?" she gasped,
clinging to Assunta and gazing fear
ft11I be Ha1
Yes. yes-a big red man; but he
meant US no harm. When you cried
out, he was more frightened than we.
He leaped down, like red fox, into
the woods and disappeared"
Remember what you saw said
Jenny TREMENDOUSLY: Remember ex-
actly what he looked like, that YOU
may be able to tell Uncle Albert Just
how it was, Assunta. He is Uncle AL
bert's brother-Robert Redmayne!
Jenny helped Asunta with her
great basket, lifted 1t on her shoulders
and then set off beside her.
Il have a horrible dread" she
said. Something tells me that we
ought to be going faster. Would you
be frightened if were to leave you,
Assunta, and make greater haste?"
The other managed to understand
and declared that she felt no fear
They parted and Jenny fastened.
risked her neck sometimes, and sped
forward with the energy of youth
and on the wings of fear.
Jenny saw and heard no more of
the being who had thus so unex-
pectedly returned into her life. Her
thoughts were wholly with Albert
Redmayne. He was at Bellagio when
she reached home, and his man-serv-
ant. Assunta's brother. Erpesto, ex-
planned that Mr.. Redmayne had
crossed after luncheon to visit his
dearest friend, the book lover, Vir-
gilio Poggf.
Jenny waited lmpatiertly and she
was at the landing stage when Al
bert returned. He smiled to see her
and took off his great SLOUGH hat
Hf looked at Jenny's frightened
eye$5 and felt her hand upon his
sleeve. Why. what is wrong? You