Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-11-10
CHAPTER III,

Clarence Howard FASTENED down TO the
waters edge. and arrived there Just us
the old woman was inqulring for the cap.
tain Of the schooner. She appeared to
bc somewhere between fifty and sixty
years Of age: quite small In frame. and
much bent. She seemed TO bc an Indian
woman. though she spoke both Spanish
and English well. Her hair was long
and matted, and very black, with here
and there u silvcry line; her eyes were
black. large and burned with a strange
fire. Her garb was very simple. consist
Ing OF the cOlorcd blanket and skirt us,.
ally worn by those Indians who had liy-
cd In the neighborhood Of civilization.
Take her all In all, she was curiosity
Of humanity.
Have you been searching for mo, my
good womanY" asked Clarence.
The woman started when she heard tho
voice. and having made sure who It was
that had spoken to her, she asked:
".\rc you tho captain"
"Of this schoOncr-ycs."
"And Is your name Clarence IIoward"
ut Is"
II would like TO speak with you a mo.
mcnt, good SIR she said.
"Eor whaty' asked Howard.
Come with me Il short distance away,
and III tell YOU"
"Rut why not speak hcre!'
~ would speak with you concerning
Donna Irene st. Mare" the woman wills.
pcrcd, In tone SO low that only Howard
could hear It.
lead on" returned Clarence quickly.
Lead on"
Slowly the woman hobblcd away TO-.
wards the. nearest hut. and as soon rs
she was beyond the hearing OF the boat.
men. she turned and motioned for her
companion to stop.
"Now, senior captain. you must listen.
ion say You know Donna Irene st. Mare;
and she lis told me that she knows you"
"Shc! lrrnc!-,hcn you have seen
herr" cried Clarence.
| "Ncs-l have seen her within these two
weeks: and she tells mo that you are her
best friend"
did she tell you thaty' uttered the
young captain, ardcntly. 20, she has no
triier fricnd-nOnc truer than J."
"And ! think the maiden loves thee,
Senior Americana"
Did she tell thee so?" asked Clarence,
in quick, breathlcss whisper.
"Not in SO many words, but thcn there
bc other languages than the one the
mouth speaks. She called thy name,
senior. and while she spoke that name
with her lips, she told me her love with
her eyes"
Il hoped had her gratitude. hut her
love was more than ] had dared TO hope
for"
"Ah. thine own eye gives the denial OF
that. senor."
mo, no, woman. l may have prayed
that she might love me, but hope would
imply more than was mine. 80 fair--sO
lovely--so wealthy-sO noble! All, had
not scared So high"
"Never mind. III give thee all the be-
lief In my power. And now to my bust
ness. In all Vera Cruz poor Irene has
not a friend. 4 terrible fate awaits her,
and there is none nigh to avert the blow"
How! A blow II fate-a terrible fate I
Speak. woman. What Is 1t you mcan!''
Listen, senior. You have heard Of one
Jilok Tudel:"
II know but one Of that name"
"And he?"
rs a pirate"
"Yes-the very one. And now st. Marc
swears his child shall marry that dread
full man"
For some moments Howard gazed into
the wOman's face without speaking. The
sun had sunk from sight, and the twilight
was creeping ON. Those dark, swarthy
features were now iudistinct beneath the
long, matted hair, but those two large
black eyes cleaned out with undimmed
power, for she seemed deeply moved.
did / understand you?" the younl
man asked, at length.
j eyes, senior captain. Antonio st. Mar,