Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09

twinkling stone-is it within the bounds
of belief that, stripped naked and SUBJ
jected TO the scrutiny of a Noircarmes,
thou couldst bring it safely OFF,
Even so. count: though of a truth /
thought little about the Red Dragon when
] stood so nigh to death"
My lady hath written, for false news
was brought to her that you had fed with
the diamond. She SeEt your sealed packet
with her own, by special messenger. 1t
reached me an hour ago, and l. judging
your oath broken, straightway read what
you had set down. And yet only a fur
Their mystery appeartd-where learned you
to writc?"
In Venice. count. Didst thou not
gather my secret from the letter.
'Assuredly no."
And yet. hadst thou complied with the
direction, sought my corpse. and gazed on
the face thereof. I. though dead and dumb.
might have told thee OF the gem with suf-
ficient directness."
He turned from the count as he spoke
walked behind a lofty loathern screen, and,
remaining invisible scarce half a minute
returned. On his hand, throwing a thou
sand twinkling shafts of brightness about
it, lay the Red Dragon"
Count de Miranda took the gem, and, hav-
ing gazed upon it with satisfaction, regarded
ManriQue curiously.
Men have been racked and burned for
less magic than this" he said.
Truly there was no magic, seigneur. I
am plain man."
And now the two hundred golden ducats
named in the later pages of my lady's letter.
'Tis large sum-"
"Ay, my lord, but not unearned / have
lost my armor, which loved only less well
than life; have lost my sword. that / would
not have changed for twenty Red Dragons
/ have lost"
Fear not for thy ducats. Manriuue: they
are here and only wal: the counting. But /
am curious as woman i'm this matter, and
will give thee hundred more pieces to
know thy secret. Thou art about returning
Spain. my b.
shall not pass my lips to a living soul !"
The soldier reflected.
wilt thou swear count, never to reveal
this WATERWAY, so much as to the wife OF
thy bosom?"
Most solemnly swear. Manrique."
Thou art the only man on Gods earth to
thee, for have fought behind thee, and seen
thee fight"
He turned away moment, then turned
again.
Look now upon me- good seigneur."
Count de Miranda stared, and an invol-
untary expression of sudden horror burst
| from his lips In place of the two piercing
| orbs that shone beneath the Spaniard's
| brows there now cleaned but one. A red,
| gaping socket had taken the place of the
| other, and in his hand Manrique held up an
| eye of glass.
| "A Mexican arrow robbed me-" he said.
| and this miracle Of glass was fashioned for
| me by cunning artificer in Venice. NY
| eyes are coal black, as thou seest. and his
| circle of glass, and fitted within the hollow
| of il. i bore the cardinals dispatch writ
| small; and herein likewise thy gem hath
| safely Travelled. Hadst thou found me dead
| and gazed upon my face, thou wilt now see
| that my secret had been one no more"
In a moment the eye was back in its
socket: while Count de Miranda with a
startled word, returned to his desk and
| from sundry fat bags poured forth Feria
Manrique's reward.
Before morning the count and his retinue
| arrived in Brussels. and his partners heart
was soon relieved of a mighty sorrow. For
| him, too. she had intelligence of sensa-
| tional nature.
You are to know" said she, that the
Count de Velasco hath persisted most
| miserably Of a locked jaw. He suffered
| spasms of unutterable torment: nor could
| Outrageous avail him anything. It's
| rumored that some murderous hound did
| fly upon him yesternight as he walked in
darkness"
Truly he who so walketh must rest con-
| tent to abide by the result" the count made
answer.
81 prithee exercise all caution with thy
own hounds, dearest one; for dogs are
| deemed a peril in this fiery weather"
Its passing hot, in truth. fair heart"
| he replied, but, touching this same black
| Velasco. 1t may justly be held an open ques-
| ton whether or no he hath of late Bothered
| his climate"
The End.