Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-17

slowed dozen on those under their au-
thorfty. So the visits of the Lady Juanita
were no longer welcome. though in her way
she was not unkindly woman and given
as her diSlikes.
1t CHANGED that one day we were awak-
ened early and our lighter irons put upon
US. This made US afraid that we were TO
go out to labor in the swamp. which in
such country of insects is no easy task
even for Indians and negroes 1t was al
most death to white men, and there was
scarcely day that some one did not fall
out of the ranks, in spite of all the scourg-
ings OF the blacks. These, when they could
no longer keep in place, were abandoned by
the side of the road. together with their
chained companion. who must. perforee re-
main with them till the smith should come
and release him. So it happened not I'M
frequently that the quick and the dead were
chained together for a long time-some even
died OF exhaustion and hunger beside their
dead companions.
This morning. however Eborra led his
| gang by the back of the nunnery in order
to bring up from the beach where we had
hrst landed stones and gravel for the more
firm bottoming of the sonora command
ante's road.
VIII and I were now chained together, a
favor which. like much else. We owed to
Eborra, who now began Out secretly to
snow us some part of his former favor.
Ana this made me think that his severity
had only been a blind. / was glad indeed
| to have VIII beside me once more For we
could talk together in the hot night
watches. and hearten each other up with
hopes of rescue and escape Not hut what
was sorry enough to lose Jean Carrel the
Frenchman from the Cevennes. who was
now chained to Wills sometime compan-
ion: But in trouble such as We were ex-
periencing there is none like one from the
same countryside.
Eborra marched US all around the wo-
| mems monastery, and you may be we'll
sured that we kept out eyes about us to see
II we could spy out of late
panions. my mother. little Anna Mark or
even the black witch wife, Eborra's dam.
AS we went through narrow lane, where
we were marching some distance apart, in
order that the couples might jump the
pools together. each making a little race
| before leaping, Eborra came up as If to
give order.
"At the corner of the Enclosure demand of
me leave to halt little. Do not answer
now, but watt
And this thing we did upon pretext. We
were Immediately allowed to leave the
ranks. and at the angle of the wall, where
there was a broken place, rudely blockaded.
as is the Spanish custom, with boards and
paling slabs for these people can never
mend anything till it falls wholly to pieces).
we saw a face that sent my heart forward
with a great throb.
toward her, but that WILL being more calm
restrained me with his hand.
1t was indeed Anna Mark, her hair cut
short and dressed in dark blue blouse and
frieZe.
Anna put her finger to her lip and glanced
once or twice over her shoulder, like one
afraid of interruption. Then she looked at
though she knew of 1t, yet to see the glis-
tening links about our waists and hear the
woeful clanking noise at our ankles made
her sick at heart for us.
How is 1t with you, Anna?-wtth Mis-
tress Stansfeld-wtth my mother?'
These were the questions which poured
from us.
I'VE are well. Philip" answered Anna:
but. oh, to see you thus! What have they
done to you-and why?'
What, Anna. have they not fretted you
on account Of your rehgon?" / almost
gasped in my eagerness-"the inqulsition?
What of my motfer?'
Your mother is very WELL" said Anna,
calmly; she is. I think practicing the
chants for vespers with Sister Agatha"
How SOP cried, too much astonished
to think of safety. Have they put you to
the question as to your religion"
Anna nodded. and think she would have
smiled also, but at that moment our chains
happening to give a dolorous clank, her
face became suddenly pitiful again.
yes. she said; Sister Agatha and the
praoress were instant with us. but gently
and with kindness"
And what answered my mother?"
oh, she said that as a child she used
was Catholic-Master Will being with her
Then to the vicar Of the parish with her
rather, which was not so different that she
could see. But when she came to New
Milns she was obligated to go to the Scots
kirk with Sir James. But for all that she
liked Squire Lucy's best. So they were glad
and kissed her, and dressed her in a black
robe. with white band about her fore
head. They declare that they will make
her a nun in trice. Already she eats and
sleeps by rule, and works at broidered al
And is she not distressed for us?"
''Of these she knows nothing" said Anna
pointing at our chains, nor will / tell her
She thinks you have all accepted religion
and are as happy as she. She grieves for
the separation. That is ALL
And you, Anna?"
why, as for me- answered the girl 81
told them that 1 knew no better religion
than to try to do good to others and pay to
every man what you owed him. 60 they
set me to learn catechism and to bring in
the firewood."
Then 1 stood and looked at her the
tears brimmed in my eyes, for the great
ness of the relief. 1t seemed not to matter
any more about us who We're men, now
Anna and my mother. Will had stood gaz-
ing at us without joining in the converse
For indeed Of that I gave him little chance
being SO eager to know all that had be-
fallen that no sooner had Anna answered
one question than 1 had another ready for
her
So both of US being busted with Anna.
we did not hear Eborra call to ms bnt
stood there SO intent upon the girl, look
ing and listening, that we never stirred
an inch till shadow fell across the wall
to our right. We looked up quickly and
10! round the corner of the nunnery wall
there had come a lady In magnificent at
tire. She sat with an air of languid ease
upon the finest white Maltese mule 1 have
ever seen.
What do you here?" she cried in Span
ish with curious twang to it. ITO your
places in the gang! And that youth within
the nunnery wall. 1 will have him beaten
soundly for idling his time. Sirrah (here
she called Eborra to herr, is this the way