Retribution, a Corsican Vendetta Story

Preface

. •ftf|§£.T is difficult for the Anglo-Saxon charijÆ& acter to grasp the intensity of the Jp5ifw passions, both love and hate, in a °^f>v Southern Latin race. The Corsican temperament appears to be full of noble impulse ; but, unchecked and unrestrained, it becomes almost that of. a savage. Gentle and lovable in times of peace, it is terrible when roused to anger or malice. I have given many forcible expressions in the original rendering, and Avithout translation they are understood well enough. The sudden transitions from evil to penitence, and from wrath to gentleness, are not in the least exaggerated. To the colder Teutonic nature, these scenes will appear melodramatic. They, however, are accurate. Further, no one but those well acquainted with any other European tongue, can appre-

PREFACE.

. VI ciate the infinite loss to our domestic language of the use of the "tu " and ." toi" of the French, or the "du" and " dein" ofthe German. In the substitution of "you" for "thou," the story has lost more than words can express of the poetry which these pronouns alone convey. There is but one other remark I desire to make. In Ens-land a cousin is little more than a stranger.* In Latin countries a cousin, and indeed all near relatives, are of one family, bound to support one another by common ties of a close relationship unknown with us. Paris, October, i8go. * For the benefit of English readers, it may, perhaps, not be amiss to mention that cousinship in the Latin countries is a very different thing from cousinship in England, where cousins are often little more than strangers to one another.

In the Latin countries, on the other hand, they belong to the same family, using the term family in a sense analogous to the Scotch word " clan ". As members of a family (in the old Roman sense) they are bound to support each other, and are morally, if not legally, more or less responsible for each other's conduct. THE MAIDEN OF THE MAKIS.

Chapter I. Ors' Anton

,^^^ ORSICA was in the throes of an Ar^lt) electoral struggle. .^jjgl^j. The Gavinists and Casabiancists -fees issued their declarations and prepared for battle in the districts of Bastia and Corte, Avhere the election was to take place. Fired by family feuds and ambitions, there reawoke in both parties the old Corsican nature, where all is Avrath and eager hatred — regardless of the poor and weak, helpless as they are. God knows how terrible were these intestine struggles, and how prejudicial to the prosperity of this island, forsaken even by those who clamoured with so much show of CORSICAN ELECTIONS. zeal and honour, to represent it in Parlia ment. But the islander, though often cautious, would sometimes close his eyes and credulously allow himself to be talked over by specious promises softly whispered into his ears, while a picture was painted before him showing a horizon full of brightness.

Then when the end of the struggle came, he was disabused ; but, like the paralytic who ever seeks a cure, when the next election came round he was credulous and hopeful as ever. Such was the state of things when our story begins — the eve of an election. In the smoky living-room of Macchione's house politics were the theme. " Very well, we shall see, per la madonna ! — if you do not act squarely, loyally, and without corruption at the polling," said Pepi, the mule teer, stamping his foot with an air of menace. "Ah! ah!" "You laugh, Stefano, but we shall smash you as I break this cigar." And Pepi taking the cigar he was gnawing from the corner of his mouth, threw it impetu ously to the floor. MACCHIONE'S HOUSE. 9 " But it is not broken, Pepi — that looks omi nous ! " And all laughed. The muleteer, not so easily vanquished, drew from his pocket an old newspaper, and read it loudly.

" Be quiet, idiot ! " interrupted his father, old Macchione ; " don't play the fool : you give us the headache with your row." " Let him shout if he likes, he'll soon be quiet enough." I — be quiet ? " Yes, because republicans of your pattern are not dangerous." " Stefano, if you were not engaged to my sister, I would show you that republicans like myself are not to be trifled with." " Now, then, stop this quarrelling, per Dio santo" again interrupted old Macchione angrily, rising from his seat. Pepi said nothing, but looked at the floor, biting his moustache to hide his vexation. " Now, don't bother us," continued the father, "with your Casabianca and his clique." " No, I will leave your Gavini and his troop," replied the son angrily. CASABIANCA AND GAVINI. 10 "Pepi!" said his mother, as she rose and placed herself between the two.

" Listen, Pepi, I have never seen in Pruno, nor, for the matter of that, in all Corsica, a son who contradicts the opinions of his father." " But, my mother, don't you understand?" " Leave him alone, Marianna, he is the fool of the family — nothing will convince him ! This fractious youth is the laughing-stock of the place. Ever since he got hold of a rubbishy bit of a newspaper, there is no possibility of living in peace." Old Marianna looked bewilderingly at her son, while Macchione continued in an angry tone : — " All right, vote for your Casabianca, while I and all the others will vote for Gavini ! Gavini ! ! Gavini ! ! ! per la madonnacia ! " And, by way of emphasising the name of the political idol, the old Corsican brought his rough labourer's fist down on the table with three terrific blows — enough to smash it.

There was a moment of silence, and then, Pepi, taking his velvet jacket which lay on a chair, threw it over his shoulder and went out. ORS' ANTON. 11 The night drew on. Some peasants re mained playing cards under the branches of the old elm tree which lent a welcome shade to the little square. The stakes were for them serious — a packet of cigars. And they swore and im patiently bit the cards with their teeth. Pepi, hearing the voices ofthe players, joined the four or five onlookers who, circling round, followed the fortunes of the game. In the midst of his lightly placed on his whispered to him : — absorption, a hand was shoulder, and a voice "Pepi!" " What do you want Ors' Anton?" was the reply. " Listen." Pepi drew away with the new comer. " Come down by the side of the Fontanone ; I want to talk to you."

"What about?" " A serious matter— come ! " After walking several steps Pepi stopped and, facing Ors' Anton, said : — "You look strange to-night — what does it mean ? " THE HONOUR OF THE FAMILY. 12 " Come along ; down below we can talk more at our ease." " Then let us go towards Poggio — there are fewer people there ; at this hour at the Fonta none there are many out for a walk." " That does not matter: they won't bother us." " Very well." The two youths walked thoughtfully onwards towards the fountain. When they had crossed the stone bridge that separated the Fontanone from the chestnut grove, Pepi broke the silence, saying as he again stopped : — "But what on earth do you want? Speak out, we are alone." Ors' Anton remained silent a moment, then answered slowly: — " Listen, Pepi, the mission that I have at this moment to fulfil is sacred, for it affects the honour of our family."

" Of our family ?" interrupted Pepi sharply. " Yes, you are my cousin — my honour is yours." Pepi took his arm as he asked impatiently : — "But what is it then ? great God ! " ORS' ANTON'S DISCOVERY. 13 " Perhaps nothing for the moment, but we must do our utmost in order to prevent a great misfortune." " Indeed ! " " I now understand why Leria did not wish to marry me, making as a pretext that between cousin and cousin a marriage was not possible, and contrary to our habits, notwithstanding many examples in our station of life all around us in Corsica." Pepi looked at his cousin and said nothing, while Ors' Anton continued : " But never mind ; she was right, certainly, to refuse me, for in her heart she could never love me ". " She loves Stefano." Ors' Anton shrugged his shoulders. ' What do you mean ?

" ' Because you speak so greenly." " Then if she does not love him, she loves no one." Pepi's cousin again shrugged his shoulders and smiled sarcastically. " But, per Dio, explain yourself more fully." Ors' Anton paused for a moment without replying, until Pepi interrupted his mysterious SPEAK PLAINL Y. 14 silences by exclaiming : " Besides which, you know perfectly well that Leria is betrothed to Stefano, who adores her, and she openly returns his affection with all the purity of her nature ; and after the election they will marry". " I doubt it." Pepi folded his arms saying harshly: "You know very well, Ors' Anton, that your mysterious gestures, your reticence, and all this beating about the bush upsets me. Speak, man, openly; say out what you are hinting at." Ors' Anton looked rather hard at his cousin as he bluntly asked : " Do you know if Leria returns home late in the evening after the Angelas ?

" " Yes," replied Pepi, "she does, often; but she takes the vineyard on her way, or the fountain where she washes her linen." " Are you sure ? " Pepi looked severely at his cousin. " Ors' Anton, Leria is a noble girl ; she goes her way without looking to right or left, or stopping to speak to anyone." " She is not quite so simple as you imagine," replied his cousin with a chuckle. PEPI GRO JVS ANGR Y. 15 Pepi frowned as he continued : " Don't dare to laugh. Ten minutes ago I respected Stefano, although his politics are not mine. But that is his business. He vexed me over a discussion on the elections. I respected him, I say, because he was under my roof, and because he intends to marry my sister. Had I followed my own impulses I might have given way to violence, which I should have regretted afterwards, for Stefano is an upright fellow who, has a good heart, you know ; but you, Ors' Anton, I swear that I will throw you over the parapet of the bridge, unless you give me clear and satisfactory explanations why you utter these perfidious insinuations against my sister!"

Saying which, Pepi slipped the jacket from his shoulder in his excitement and threw it over his arm. Ors' Anton, half scared by the action of his cousin, hesitated a moment, and then, as if with an effort, replied : — "It is very painful to me to have to tell tales, but, as I said before, you are my cousin and your honour is mine." " Enough of this beating about the bush. Speak! Don't you see my blood is rising?" A SCOUNDREL AND AN I M POSTER. 16 Calm yourself, Pepi, or I shall not speak at all " You are a scoundrel, an imposter ! And that is why Leria refused to marry you. You have calumniated Master Pantona's poor daugh ter Rosa, who ever since has been unable to find a husband. You have deceived Orsola with your lying promises — she, the daughter of your father's best friend — and then you abandoned her, and she had neither brothers nor cousins to avenge her lost honour, while her father, as you knew, was too old and infirm to do so.

As for Lilina, I say nothing. You know what your conduct has been towards her. But you know something, too, of her brother Andria, do you not? He is on the watch for you. And I have taken your part simply because you are my cousin and threatened with death, not because I think you do not well deserve such an end at the hands of the brother of your last victim. Then you have that vile habit of talking to everyone about your love affairs, which a man of delicacy would never do, and which in your case always compromises the poor foolish girls who believe your word. But, by the Holy THE TRUTH. 17 Madonna, I'll make you dance under these chestnut trees until I have time to cut your throat as I would a pig, if you utter another insinuation against my sister — she, who is the purest girl in the canton."

Ors' Anton, silenced for the moment by his cousin's anger, went forward and looked into the thick chestnut grove, as though seeking for some one. In a few moments he returned as if disappointed. Then, having collected himself, apparently, he said abruptly : — " Come along, I will tell you the truth. You will be sorry soon that you have said all these unkind things to me, your best friend, as well as your cousin. Come along." Pepi made no reply, but followed Ors' Anton's steps with dumb anger. His heart sank, for the cool manner of Ors' Anton surprised him. During their walk an inward revolution, a terrible struggle, worked in his mind. He saw, as in a vision, his sister, miserable, dishonoured, deceiving her affianced husband, whom she pretended to love, who adored her, but who, I'EPI'S VISIONS. 18 nevertheless, had all his countrymen's fierce spirit of vengeance towards the woman who violates .her plighted honour.

He saw his old father and his beloved mother die with shame and grief — they whose white hair reflected the purity of their souls. He saw the ruin of his family, and shuddered. Then he beheld Leria, the angel of virtue — she whose conduct was cited as a model for the country round — herself betrayed as she had betrayed Stefano, sinking lower and lower, until but the horror that made the vision fascinating made it also vague. He could not dare to scan the dreadful pictures which seemed to roll unbidden before his gaze, but shrinking from them, turned for relief to the one fierce over-mastering passion that possessed his whole soul. The destroyer ! He would kill him ! His sister ! He would drag her by the hair through the brambles and crush the life out of her if she were soiled by infamy ! Then he himself would become a bandit in the makis, cursing his fate.

These horrible thoughts and dreams passed with lightning swiftness through his mind, HIS BELIEF IN LERIA. 19 Then suddenly his face brightened, as he repeated to himself: "This cannot be; my sister is never guilty of such deception. Leria is still a virgin pure. Ors' Anton, he is a miserable wretch, full of spite for having been re jected by her. But I will make him pay dearly for this new calumny, the most odious of all ! " His heart, however, beat loudly, as he con tinued to follow his cousin in this strange quest.

Chapter II. The Confession

— "LERIA!" <*3J|=*$$ HE tAvo men walked on, each possessed •\V\_W* kv his own thoughts. At the second pe_ii-v bridge, beneath Avhich, iioav swollen by recent storms, the waters descend __-*^*_\ from the mountain of Pero, Ors' Anton stopped his cousin by a sign and said softly, as if he Avere afraid of being overheard, " Wait ! " He then walked to the side of the road and listened. " Frankly, this is either comedy or imbecility, Ors' Anton." " Quiet, stupid, don't you hear a footstep ? " " It's only the rustling ofthe leaves." " Just so, fallen leaves." " It is a peasant going home, that's all." " Or someone running away ! " added Ors' Anton. Then suddenly, looking well into the bushes, he said sharply to Pepi : " See that ! Is A STRANGE MAN. 21 that a peasant going home, or the Devil gone out?"

" Leria ! " exclaimed Pepi. " Now look ahead closely, for it is pretty dark." " I see nothing." " Don't you see a shadow across the road, fleeing ? " " Yes, yes, to the left ! " replied Pepi aghast. "Well, that is he." " Who is the wretch ? " asked Pepi, grasping Ors' Anton's arm. " I do not know." "If you know him " " I tell you I do not. This is the third time that I have surprised him at this hour of night, but hitherto I have not been able to recognise him." "Really?" " On my word." " I will follow " " Hush ! Leria is coming." " But I must find out who the man is." " You can't to-night. To-morrow " " Oh " PEPI WAITS FOR LERLA. 22 " Hush ! here comes Leria." Pepi bit his lips till the blood came as he said hastily to his cousin : — Go, go. Leave her with me, Be calm, Pepi." Go away, I tell you.

Very well, but don't lose your head Pepi made a gesture of impatience. Ors' Anton took the hint, regained the road, and left his cousin alone on the bridge. " Wretched girl ! It is then true ! And we are all mistaken. Broken her troth, deceived her lover whom she feigned to love with ten derness and sincerity. Oh, woman ! woman ! have not men the right to throw stones ? Bravo, Ors' Anton ! You have triumphed ! And Leria — Leria ! Demon ! Demon under the guise of an angel ! But know you that your death warrant is signed from this moment ? " He checked himself, overcome for a moment, and then continued his soliloquy:— " However, Stefano was easily made happy. But why has she never told him that she loved another ? Why give him her hand and heart while she gave the devil her soul ? " Then, BROTHER AND SLSTER. 23 excitedly, "Ah, viper! how you have deceived us.

Ors' Anton was right ; what a worthy soul!" Whilst he was hissing these words from between his set teeth, with fists clenched and face distorted, his sister slowly remounted the little path, under the low spreading chestnuts, and a few minutes later reached the road. She carried on her head a large green fagot, beneath whose leaves her fair hair descended to her waist. Until now Leria had not observed her brother, who arrested her progress by rais ing his hand. Leria ! ' Ah — Pepi ! you frightened me." Wait, put down that bough." But I am not tired, and it is late, let us go on. " Stay here, I tell you." And roughly taking the fagot from his sister's head, he threw it to the ground. " Mon Dieu, what are you here for, so late this evening ? Why have you come to meet me r " That question should be put the other way about."

A PRETEXT. 24 " Why ? you make me anxious ; is anything wrong ? " Where have you come from ?" " Don't ask such a stupid question. I came for wood," replied Leria simply. For wood ? Yes, for the baking to-morrow." You lie." What, then, is that fagot at your feet ?' A pretext." A pretext ? Yes." " But what are you doing here ?" said Leria, colouring slightly. " Why do you come home so late ?" said Pepi ignoring her question ; " the Angelus has rung, and Stefano awaits you impatiently." "Well, then, let us go on quickly." Leria stooped to pick up the fagot. "You do not touch that bough before you tell me from whence you have come." Leria remained silent. "Won't you speak, infamous creature?" hissed Pepi, seizing her forcibly by the arm. The poor girl broke into tears. CALUMNY. 25 " So, you cry !

That is the first confession. Well, I understand it. You come to meet your lover. That wretch I will kill." Leria raised her head. "Why do you daily deceive your betrothed husband, Stefano ? The poor boy foolishly be lieves in the innocence of his sweetheart You tarnish the name of our revered father, you betray us all. You are a snake, and I will crush you before your dishonour is complete." Her senses outraged, her breath taken away, Leria fixed her eyes on her brother and cried : — "Lies! calumnies! I swear it to you, Pepi : before the Holy Virgin, I am innocent," and the young girl fell on her knees and raised her hands as if confirming the oath. ' ' What rascality ! sanquo de la madonna ! and the man has but this moment left you, down the road there, to the left, by the Giovan Luccas chestnut grove !

What, I repeat, mean these delays — this coming home every evening after the Angelus ? And what do you lingering here in this lonely place ? At one time you never went far from the Fontana to find your wood ; you went to the mountain side and not to the THE SAME LERIA. 26 makis. And what about your hesitating, tear ful manner now ? These tears, your confusion, why, does not everything prove your guilt and lay bare the terrible truth ? Leria, Leria, never could I have believed it of you! That it could be possible in one whose heart seemed so true, whose soul so pure. Of you who were looked on as the Madonna ofthe village, of our country! And I, who was so proud to be your brother! Fool that I was, and all but threw Ors' Anton over the bridge wall for his insinuations, which I naturally thought were gross slanders on your virtue.

But he was right. He knows women, and in telling me of your intrigue, he has but proved his affection for our family." " But all this is false, Pepi — all these state ments are lies." The mule driver glared at his sister. " Yes, lies," she continued, " for I am still the same Leria of former days. My soul and my heart are virgin still. I have never loved any but Stefano, and never shall love any other. He will be my husband, respected, adored. My conscience is as white as the Holy Sacra ment on the altar. I swear it, my brother. A STRANGE TALE. 27 If I weep, it is because I hear how I am calumniated by you — by my brother, whom I both love and respect. Oh, Pepi, Pepi, you are cruel ; what have I done to you ? " The brother, moved by her impassioned words, approached, taking her hand. " Leria, my sister, then tell me what means this mystery ?

For more than a month, you have been late every night. No one at home ventures to reproach you, for an evil suggestion has never entered our minds. But I have just been witness of the flight of a man who evidently met you in the thicket. Now is your time, speak — be open. If you can, there is still time to repair a fault." " A fault ? " " Yes, Leria, a fault. Your marriag-e with Stefano must, of course, be broken, and you can then marry the one you love. I will take all upon me, but, for God's sake, tell me your secret, the state of your heart, and I swear to you, Leria, that I will obtain pardon for you." Pepi's voice was almost beseeching. " Yes," was the reply, " I saw a man, it is true, about nightfall, among the trees, and LERIA' S FOSTER MOTHER. 28 that with the greatest of secrecy, far from the eyes of anyone, there, in that clump yonder, or by the side of the canal, up there, by the chapel.

I have met him almost every evening for a whole month, and been the means of comforting him, for he suffers bitterly through being so far away from his home ; but I swear to you that I love Stefano with all the strength of my soul. I love him, and he will be my husband." Pepi could make nothing of this strange tale. He stood upright, with folded arms, while Leria, looking full in his face, leaned against the parapet ofthe bridge, while she continued:— " At this moment I fulfil a sacred duty. I protect an outlaw ; and, although that may be in your eyes an unjustifiable act — the more so as you are an avowed enemy of this man — you will, I feel sure, approve of my conduct when you know that I am acting simply out of grati tude. I think I can read already in your eyes that it is so, for I know your true Corsican character, and your respect for those who act the part of protectors."

" I listen, but I am bewildered. Go on, my sister." LILINA AND ANDRIA. 29 " Pepi, you know that Zia Mouma nursed me when our mother was ill, that she took me an infant to her breast, and fed me, along with her own child, my foster sister, the now un happy Lilina. You know how good she was to me, how she loved me, and treated me as her own daughter. You know this well, Pepi. But misfortune has struck this family, formerly so linked with ours. Poor Lilina was seduced by Ors' Anton, who, after forsaking her in her grief, wanted to marry me, his cousin, and, in a sense, the sister of his victim. What barefaced cruelty ! " Pepi nodded his head, in acquiescence, while his sister continued : — " Lilina's brother, Andria, a good and honest fellow — -whose life you and Ors' Anton are seeking — wanted to wash out the insult in blood.

You, Pepi, in similar circumstances woulcl have acted likewise." Pepi listened with knitted brows. " Listening only to blind revenge, which he nursed in his heart, Andria shot twice at Ors' Anton, but only wounded him slightly. The injury could not have been severe, for he still LERIA CONTINUES HER TALE. 30 lives to ruin the reputation of other poor girls. You, as a member of the family, took up his cause. You have pursued Andria, and, on one occasion, were nearly the recipient of a third bullet, but, thank God, it missed." " Well, but what has this to do with the present ? " " Let me finish. Then you can do with me as you please. Lilina is now I really do not know exactly where, nor do I know what she is doing. May God protect her, wherever she is. The unhappy child has disappeared, and her poor old mother, bereft and lonely, is dying of o-riet." s Leria stopped for a moment to take breath.

Then she continued her narrative with reassur ance, for her brother's attitude seemed to en courage her, the sadness in his face showing that he sympathised with what she said. " One day, Zia Mouma fell down on her knees before me, and besought me not to aban don her family in spite of the animosity that existed between her son and yourself. With tears and sighs Andria's mother told me how remorseless and mad are men when stirred up AN ACT OF HUMANITY. 31 to vengeance, little thinking of the sorrow they bring upon their families, and appealed to me piteously to find her son, and to tell him to give himself up to justice, where his cause would doubtless be found right, and he would be ac quitted. He could then return with unsullied honour to the hearth on which his mother had shed so many tears.

And by such submission he would be acting wisely, since he would be able to leave his vagabond life, so full of momen tary horror, misery and suffering ; bid farewell to a feverish existence, fruitful of new crimes, and leave the makis for ever ; for, as it is said, that plague spot turns the blood. Then, amid more tears and prayers, which would have quenched your revenge had you seen and heard them, Zia Mouma gave me some food to take to her son. I accepted the mission, and took the bread to the place she indicated without the knowledge of my lover, of my family, and of you in particular. I found Andria, and I continued to meet him. It was he whom I left just now. I know that I shall accomplish the end I have in view. You would not be angry with me for this, would you, my brother ? It is RECONCILED TION. 32 an act of humanity, this that I have undertaken.

If I am wrong, tell me." Pepi was silent. Then after a moment's hesitation, he took the hand of his sister, and pressed it in his own, saying : — " Let us go now." Then he stooped, picked up the bough he had thrown some little distance away, and re placed it on Lena's head, after she had arranged her hair so that it fell in golden curls over her shoulders. The night had extended its grey veil over the valley, and on the fresh evening air there was borne to the brother and sister, by a gentle zephyr, the sweet scent of thyme, of rosemary, and of all the wild flowers that grew on the neighbouring hills. The birds were silent, and no other sound was heard in this semi-sleep of nature but the rippling of the mountain stream as it trickled down the bed of the valley. The two walked silently towards the village.