The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-07-06
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tuSc WIN CaiIicu SiSal, empty
wicker basket upon her shoulders;
the other was clad in 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 butterfly. She modcr-
ated her pace to the slower gait of
the elder and presently they both
stopped before little gray chapel !,
perched beside the hill path. :
Mr.. Albert Redmaync's silkworms,
in the great airy shed behind his
villa, had nearly all spun their CO.
coon3 now. for it was June again
and the annual crop of mulberry
leaves in the valleys beneath were
wellnigh exhausted.
Therefore Assunta Marzelli, the
old bibliophilc's housekcepcr, made
| holiday with his niece. now upon a
visit to him, and together the wo-
men climbed, where food might be-
procured for the last tardy cater
pillars to change their state.
And then, where two tall cypress
es stood upon either side, Jenny and
Assunta stayed d while.
The lake below was now reduced
to cup of liquid jade over which
shot steamers 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
boats-mere streaks Of red and
black upon the water, with Italy's
flag 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
"mugglers and reminded the widow
of her own lawlcss husbands death
ten years before.
The women climbed presently to
little field of meadow grass that
sparklcd 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 brcad,y
walnuts and dried figs that they
had brought and shared little flask
of red wine. They finished with a
handful of cherries and then As
sunta began to pluck leaves for her
great basket while Jenny loitercd a
while and smoked cigaret. 1t was
new habit acquired since her mar
riage.
Soon the women started upon
their homcward way. They had de-
scended about 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 of a tall man. His red head
was bare and from the face beneath
shone pair of wild and haggard
eyes. They saw the strangers great
tawny mustache, his tweed gar
ments and knitkerbockers, his red
walstcoat, and the cap he carried in
his hand.
1t was Robert Redmayne. JENNY
uttered one loud cry of terror and
then relaxed and fell unconscious
upon the ground. The widow leaned
to her aid, but it was some time be-
lore Jenny came TO her senses.
Dld you sec him." she gasped,
chnglng to Assunta and gazing fear
1ully where her uncle had stood.
YES, yes-a big red man; but he
meant US no harm. When you criEd
out, nc was more frightened than
we. He leaped down, like a red fox,
into the woods and disappeared"
"kemember 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 lis
Uncle Albert's brother-Robert Red
mayne!"
Jenny helped Assunta with her
great basket, lifted it on her shout
ders and then set off beside her.,
II 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-
pcctedly returned into her life. Her
thoughts were wholly with Albert
Redmayne. He was at Bellagio when
she reached home, and his manser-
want, Assunta's brother, Ernesto,
explained that Mr.. Redmayne had
crossed after luncheon to visit his
dearest friend, the book lover, Vir-
gilio Poggi.
Jenny waited impatiently and she
was at the landing stage when AL
bert returned. He smiled to see her
and took off his great SLOUGH hat.
He looked at Jenny's frightened
eyes and felt her hand upon his
sleeve. "Why, what is wrong? You
are alarmed. No ill news of Gu
seppe?"
"Come home quickly" she an
swered, "and will explain" I
Jenny told. him that she had seen
Robert Redmayne, whereupon her
uncle considered for five minutes,
then declared himself both puzzled
and alarmed.
Continued in Our Next Issue)
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