Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-09
Thought it possible, just possible, but how

ehouSHN VAetO "ea9 peSihluhS W UNDERSTAND
him.
II bought it from priest for an old song
at Almonacid."
"At Almonacids'
He moved uneasily, as if he would have
recalled his last word But it was too late
and he nodded assent. ''Then after all ii
was you whom l saw that dayn l com,
mented. "You had just bought it, / sup
pose"
ayes, 1 had doubt about it then"
sit is a strange story, but strange things
happen" said, watching him narrowly.
ut is truen
or course pretended to believe him, and
seeing clearly that he wished me gone took
myself TO my room. In part did believe
him, only thoughtit strange that an artisi
Of his kidney should be so greatly ashamed OF
having outwitted an old monk; so greatly
ashamed as to tell the story of his cleyerness
in that hang dog fashion. 1t crossed my
mind that might be wrong in my Judgment
of tho picture. 1t might be that the st.
Christopher was only copy after all, and
Client himself had made it, and was even
then when / broke in upon him having it out
with his conscience whether he should pass il
off for an original or not. That was posi-.
and it was no business of mine.
The next day, the nth Of January, was ia
be the last of my stay in Toledo | had all
but finished the sketches | required, and
if the truth must be told, longed to be
away. The stiffness Of the place haunted
me. hated the huge square alcazar which
lowered over all the Moorish gateways, the
hundred silent churches. By noon l had
made an end Of my work, and hastily put
ting aside my materials called Jock and
started for long ralnble over the hills
where the alcazar did not bar the sunshine
though it was impossible to get out Of sight
of it. did not return until darkness drove
me back into the town.
Then | saw at once that there was some
thing strange on foot. In the streets was an
unwonted bustle which rather grew than les
sened es | approached the middle of the
town Knots of people carrying fagots
passed hurriodly or stood together at the
street corners. The Zocodover was thronged.
As-in part curious and in part amoyed--I
was pushing my way through the crowd, a
clock struck 6, and, set in motion by that
signal, the bells in every tower burst into
sound. / was brought to a standstill. / had
just time to wonder what it meant, whom
as by magic the bright glare Of a hum
bred fires 1eaped up above the crowd, and
glowing hotly on pillar and gable, flung huge
shadows on the very steeples, and exposed at
once a hundred silhouetteS
1t was a weird yet beautiful sight. 1t
pleased me to find it repeated in every street
and open space l entered. spent fully an
hour, tired as | was, in hurrying up and down
to mark tho effect of the freight on this fa-
cade or that archway And when at length
tore myself away and went home, made
quickly for the parlor to talk Of what had
sccn.
II say, Clentm l began, shave you been
out! What is it? What does it all meang
Such nervous fellow as he was He
jumped up, dropping his spoon into his plato
with a clattei' "What does what meanm
he suffered.
''Thcse bonfires in the streets, to be surel
The sight is a most singular one! You ought
TO be out viewing It'll"
He sat down at once. ooh, the bonfresi y
lie said, resuming his meal sThe peopls
are keeping St Anthony's eve that is all.
It is customary here to do it in this way. You
know St Anthony is always represented
with a fire by his side"
Il thought that it was something of that
kind,n l answered, following his example
"Will you come out with me presently and
have a look at the town9 The sightseers are
orderly enough, though to judge from the
stir at the gendarmerie the occasion is a
special one.n
"Is there stir thereg' he asked, pausing
with his spoon half way TO his mouth
"Some civil guards, six or eight dare say,
and an officer were dismounting at the door
as passed. Apparently they had just
come inn
"What! Did you notice what the officer
was lilleln Client asked in a curious tone, but
was busy with my dinner.
Eyes l answered, carelessly, che had a
hare lip l remarked it because he had
good look at me as l passed. No? You do
not mean to say that you have done already?n
He did not answer, and looked up to learn
the reason read something in his pale face
and trembling lips which chilled me. The
man was suddenly afraid. And not afraid
merely. He was in such terror that the very
instinct of concealment had passed from him.
As his distended eyes met mine he tried to
speak, but no sound came. Yet knew what
he would have said. His lips formed, "Can
/ trust you!'
"Can you trust me!n l repeated, trembling
q little myself, and my mouth growing dry /;
''well, ] hope so, / think so, Client; | do, in
deed What is it, my good fellown for his
very ears seemed to rise from his head, so in
tently was he listening for some sound.
"What have you done! What do you fearF'
l whispered.
''Fearg' he muttered, with his hand uplift-
ed, death, mani Hush! Come to my room y
! obeyed his gesture as much as his words,
and leaving the parlor we crept silently
thither When we were closeted together he
stood facing me, and began to speak in
breathess haste II did you & good turn the
other day, Mr.. Lynton; help me now / am
a Carlist--a spyl A man sent hero to try the
fidelity of the troops. OF late / have been
suspected Now | am sure am betrayed.
The punishment is DEATH In few minutes
they will he here
''But what-what can 90 for your OK
claimed in horror. No one seeing the man
could doubt his danger, or at least his belief
in it. "Why do you not escape while there
is timer" / cried impatiently
"Timel There is no time," he answered
with an oath of despair "The house is
watched | dare not leave it. But you can
do something for me You can give me
your passport and change rooms with me-
We are much alike Take my name for q
few hours, nay, few minutes. 1t will save
my life-my life, sirl And for you-you
know our minister Yes' Then you will be
in no danger
"But,n l said faintly--the mans distress
was terrible to witness, and it all came so
abruptly upon me-"the Spanish police are
sometimes hasty andn-- He 1inched as if
had struck him. A fresh bit Of trembling
seized him He turned from me with a
curse and flung himself face downward on
the bed.
had hcsitated before l am not a bold
man, and had heard strange tales of sum
mary justice done by the police. But here
the risk seemed so little; the mans condition
was so pitiable.
sect upl" / said harshly, after a brief
fight with myself II viii save you if can
You are an Englishman when all is said and
done But let US lose no time. You know
best what must be DONE
He sprang to his feet. At once he had all
his wits about him. In couple of minutes
l had taken possession of his room, he Of
mine With feverish expressions of graft
tude he pocketed the passport / gave him.
He dressed me in his long ulster and deer
stalker hat in which have no doubt that
was like enough to him TO pass for him in
Spanish eyes. And all this he did with won
derful method, as if he had thought out the
details before. 1t crossed my mind once that
he had His last step was to draw from his
mattress two long rolls neatly covered with
canvas. "They are papers, he said, pausing
to listen, and looking doubtfully at them tho
while. ''Iists Of men. And mems lives they
viii aoef IL fbax- ara forlnd - he added with