The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-01-14
CHAPTER XII.

InaC the CCmDlnat1On against mo
had strong odds in it's favor seemed
obvious; and began to speculate upon
how far it was safe to trust Senorita
Dorotea. Strolling down to the beach
with her, before retiring-just to
throw Sebastiano off his guard
learned with intense satisfaction that
she both feared and detested the man.
She whispered also that her father had
reason to suspect the padres Julian
and sebastiano Of using their infu-
ence against him in Manila. For mo-
ment or two had suspicion that she
and the gobernador might be under
the PADRES influence and trying to
work themselves INTO my confidence
with the intention of betraying me
afterward. But the more thought Of
this the more improbable 1t seemed.
In the first place, relations between
the educated classes and the priest
hood in Spain are rapidly approaching
those which obtain in Italy-neutrality
on the surface, distrust beneath.
Then, it seemed as though the senorita
must know too much to look upon
Sebastiano in other than his priestly
character; and if the friendship be-
tween us was warming as rapidly as
1 thought, 1t was reasonably safe to
stake her woman's heart against her
head.
Finally, deciding to risk it, I asked
her if she cared to spend Monday upon
the water with me; and she accepted
the invitation with such evident pleas
ure that I showed all worry about the
padre clear of my mind for the time.
When Monday morning came, we
breakfasted in the patio and made an
early start before Sebastiano ap-
peared, sailing leisurely around Cocos
reef as if we had the day before us and
were disposed to take things easy.
When asked Dorotea if she had ever
sailed into the bays on the east side,
she said that, as it was usually rough
and windy there, few of the islanders
cared about it, only remaining in the
little villages during the wet monsoon
or while they were gathering rice and
sugar crops. She was willing to go
anywhere chose to take her, however,
and had no suspicion of my object
until we headed into Paicpouc cove for
the instruments and diving apparatus.
Then, before taking them from the
assure, told her of my intention to
search for something under the sea at
Santa Rosa reef, and asked if she would
help me. Looking straight into my
face for moment, she said:
"Does not Senior Enrique know of
reason why would do anything in the
world for him?"
Nothing more than the evidence Of
your friendliness, senorita mia"
$50! But you 90 have the bad MEM
DRY. 1t may seem nothing that you
try to give great pleasure to Ia senorita
whom You never have seen. suppose
men do think 1t matters little to wom-
IN whether she does appear like other
women or like una barbara? Yet you
must have known, Enriquito, or you
would not have tried to do me 10 gran
benevolencia on ell vapor, when mios
primas despreciables did me defraudar
ACCOMPLISHMENTS"
"Why, how the dickens did you find
out? Who told you?"
yourself, senor."
81? How7 Impossible!"
"You did just tell me, by your excla-
macion. but guessed before. True,
senorita Palacios did say that you were
un generoso-that you did like my pic
turc all of the time-also that if I did
find anything which could not under
stand, you all about it would know.
Then. mias primas in Manila did write
the letter about the trimming they did
have put upon las vestidas. Y contem.
lar! they were as described. But there
were others, not of the style antique.
And of them there is no explanation
in the letter."
"Oh, we'll, don't say any more about
1t. You caught me nicely, must say.
1t was the senorita's generosity, not
mine. She was very kind, and it was all
her doing. Now make yourself COM
Portable, and We'll try to find Santa
Rosa"
The dress business was dangerous
ground, and didn't want to discuss it:
there was the possibility of har resent
ing an implication that her appearance
in the picture wasn't perfect. Then,
again, 1 couldn't tell how the other
girls having made such present,
merely from the desire TO please Hal
stead and myself, would strike her.
A return to Poin. Crotc. to get INV
bearings, would have cost a good hour
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