Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-05-02

hom me to the painting and back again in
iistraught fashion. "Yes," he said at length,
Eetting out his words with difficulty, II
thought it possible, just possible, but how
very, very improbablel"
"Yes, very improbable, if, as I suppose,
you bought the picture for copy But
where did you get it2" asked briskly. I
thought that was beginning to understand
him.
II bought it from priest for an old song
1t Almonacid."
"At Almonacid?" ....
He moved uneasily, as If he would have
recalled his last word. But it was too late,
and he nodded assent. "Then after all it
was you whom + saw that day2" I COM
mented. "You had just bought it, sup
pose"
ayes, had doubt about it then"
"It is strange story, but strange things
happen" I said, watching him narrowly.
at is true" ..., IL =.
OF course pretended to believe him, and
seeing clearly that he wished me gone took
myself to my room. In part I did believe
him, only thought it strange that an artist
Of his kidney should be 50 greatly ashamed Of
having outwitted an old monk; SO greatly
ashamed as to tell the story of his cleverness
In that hang dog fashion. It crossed my
mind that I might be wrong in my Judgment
Of the picture It might be that the st.
Christopher was only a 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 it
off for an original or not. That was possi-
BILE; but to me he had been friend in need,
and it was no business Of mine.
The next day, the 18th of January, was to
be the last of my stay in Toledo. had all
but finished the sketches I required, and
if the truth must be told, longed to be
away. The stiffness of the place haunted
me. T hated the huge square alcazar which
lowered over all the Moorish gateways, the
hundred silent churches. BY noon I had
made an end Of my work, and hastily put
ting aside my materials called Jock and
started for long ramble over the hills,
where the alcazar did not bar the sunshine,
though it was impossible to get out of sight
of it. l 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 hustle, which rather grew than les
sened as 7 approached the middle of the
town. Knots of people carrying fagots
passed hurriedly or stood together at the
street corners. The Zocodover was thronged.
As-in part curious and in part annoyed
was pushing my way through the crowd, a
clock struck &, and, set in motion by that
signal, the bells in every tower burst into
sound. Twas brought to standstiA. had
lust time to wonder what it meant, when
as by magic the bright glare of hum
dred fires leaped up above the crowd, and
glowing hotly on pillar and gable, flung huge
shadows on the very steeples, and exposed at
once hundred silhouettes.
1t was weird yet a beautiful sight. 1t
pleased me to find it repeated in every street
and open space entered. spent fully an
hour, tired as was, in hurrying up and down
to mark the effect Of the freight on. this ia
cade or that archway. And when at length
I tore myself away and went home, made
quickly for the parlor to talk Of what l had
seen. o. ..... -. .
II say, Clent!" I began, shave you been
outa What is it? What does it all meanT'
Such a nervous fellow as he was! He
jumped up, dropping his spoon into his plate
with a clatter. "What does what mean!"
he suffered s'as '-.
ssThese bonfres in the streets, to be sure!
The sight is most singular one! You ought
to be out viewing it," s..,. ~
He sat down at once. "Oh, the bonfires"
he said, resuming his meal. "The people
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 fire by his side"
II though. that it was something Of that
kind" answered, following his example.
evil you come out with me presently and
have look at the towns The sightseers are
orderly enough, though to judge from the
stir at the gendarmerie the occasion Is
special one" ..
SIS there stir thereT' 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 I passed. Apparently they had just
come in"
"What! Did you notice what the officer
was like!" Client asked in curious tone, but
was busy with my dinner.
eyes," answered, carelessly, she had q
hare lip. remarked it because he had q
good look at me as I passed. No? You do
not mean to say that you have done already?"
He did not arswer, and looked up to learn
the reason. read something in his pale face
ind 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 rhine he tried to
speak, but no sound came. Yet knew what
be would have said. His lips formed, "Can
trust your
"Can you trust me?" repeated, trembling
q little myself, and my mouth growing dry;
''well, I hope so, think SO, Client; do, in
deed. What is it, my good fellowf' 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 fear"
whispered.
"FearT he muttered, with his hand uplift-
ed, "death, man! Hush! Come to my ROOM"
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
breathless haste. ~ did you good turn the
other day, Mr.. Lynton; help me now. am
Carlist-a spy! Aman sent here 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 be here"
"But what-what can do for your I e1-
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.
"Time! 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 a
few hours, nay, a few minutes. 1t will save
my life-my life, sir! And for you-you
know our minister! Yes! Then you will be
in no danger"
"But," said faintly-the mans distress
was terrible to witness, and it all came so
abruptly upon me-''the Spanish police are
sometimes hasty and"- He flinched as if
had struck him. A fresh bit of trembling
seized him. He turned from me with q
curse and flung himself face downward on
the bed.
had hesitated before. I am not bold
man, and I 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.
"Get up" 1 said harshly, after brief
fight with myself. II will save you if l can.
You are an Englishman when all is said and
done. But let us lose no time. You know
best what must be done"
u, L., f,,% onoa ba bo1 oil