Evening star., 1901-08-10
CHAPTER XVII.
A Grave Irresularity.

A Grave Irreguiarity.
With Rollo now for time the tale runs
more briskly. He set off for the venta,
where he found Etienne and John Mortimer
sitting at meat.
Good morning, friends Of mine,' he
cried, you are in excellent case, 1 see.
John, l have made arrangements for you
to go and visit some vineyards today. Old
Casper will guide you with his gun over
his valiant shoulder. You can pick up
points about wine buying without doubt.
AS to you, Etienne, mon Vieux, L nave
found your Concha and 1 am going to see
her myself in half an hour. Shall 1 give
her your love?"
What" cried Saint Pierre, you jest-it
cannot be my cruel, cruel little Conchita
who fed from me and would not take the
smallest notice of all my letters and mes
sages. Where is she?'
"She is at the nunnery of the Sisters of
Mercy outside the village. Poor Et1enne,
/ am indeed sorry for you. With your re-
ligious views, it will be impossible for you
to make love to a mum
would 1 not" cried Etfenne eagerly,
"mon Dieu, only procure me chance and
will let you see! But a nunnery is hard
nut to crack How do you propose to man
age it?''
Il intend to make friends with the lady
SUPERIOR said Rollo, confidently.
You have a letter of introduction to her.
dOubtless?" said Etienne.
II do not at present even know her name
but all in good time!' said the youth cody.
For stark assurance commend me to
Scot" cried Etienne with enthusiasm.
''Etienne," said Rollo, suddenly checking
his glass in midair as an idea occurred to
him. Tend me that ring OF your Salnsed
uncle's, the one with the picture OF Don
Carlos
The Young Frenchman indolently drew 1t
from his finger, laid 1t on the polished
marble top of the table and with his fore
finger tipped 1t across to Rollo
what shall 1 say to your Concha-that
is, If 1 chance to see herr" said Rollo as
he brushed his clothes and saw to the
neatness of his neck ribbon.
Etienne held down his head,
Indeed" he said. a little reluctantly, Il
am not so anxious that you should say any
thing at all about me. The little mink did
not treat me so very we'll when came this
way on my last visit to my uncle. And to
tell the truth, there Is an exceedingly pref
ty girl living only three doors from the
yenta. l have already spoken to her. and
she has smiled at me thrice over the
fence"
THAT leaves me a freer hand with Con-
cha, then" murmured ROllo to himself, as
he stuck his hat on the back OF his head
and strobe out into the stable yard, smiling
to himself
He had his horse brought out and sad
died. Then he mounted and rode down the
village street toward the convent of the
pious Sisters of Mercy. He smiled to him
self as he rode, for he wondered how he
would succeed with this good mother SUI
perior, and what manner Of girl he would
ind that wicked, tricksome Concha to be,
whose name was in all mems mouths with
a certain approving flavor as of pleasant
naughtiness to be alternately scolded and
cajoIed. One thing tnis Master Rollo was
as sure of that he was Scot. and that
was he never could, would or should fall
in love with such a girl.
So Rollo rode up with clatter of spurs
and accouterment to the gate Of the con-
vent Dismounting he advanced briskly to
the gate and knocked loudly upon 1t with
his riding whip.
In few moments a sour-faced FORTRESS
opened the little square wicket and looked
through at him.
II must see the mother superior immedi-
ately on important business" Quoth the
settling the hilt Of his sword In business
like manner, as II he had all his life been
In the habit of making early morning calls
upon mother superiors.
The FORTRESS laughed.
"A likely story she said, that am to
trail across the yard and leave my business
here TO fetch the lady superior from her de-
Votons to see young man at the gate"
IF you do not admit me-" RoiIo went on
unabashed. mot only the lady superior will
suffer. but the cause which all good Chris
tians have at heart
He suddenly thrust his bare hand close to
the wicket and showed the ring which
Etienne had given him.
DO you know this?" he said.
At his first threatening motion the wo-
man had mechanically withdrawn, but now
curiosity brought her again closer to the
grating, on perceiving that RolIo made no
attempt to intrude his hand within.
These are the royal arms Of Spain are
they not?' she said. and dropped an invol-
untary courtesy.
Then Rollo played his trump card. The
ring was made with certain secret spring
beneath the stone. which when touched
sprang up like lid of box and a beauti-
ful little miniature was revealed, encircled
with hair OF a dark brown color.
DO you know who this is?'' he said
His absolute majesty, Carlos Quintor'
said the FORTRESS with deep reverence.
ell, then. Rollo went on, take this
ring and with IL the hair Of the anoint ed
and Christian king. 1t is great trust, but
l give IT into your hands. Garry it rev.
erently as a token to the lady superior that
messenger from the king waits to speak
a word with her!"
The head of the FORTRESS disappeared
from the young mans sight with the pro-
fundity and compass of the reverence with
which she received the image of the SOW
ereign Of all Catholic hearts.
AS the young man stood drumming his
fingers upon the window sill suddenly the
most piquant face in the world appeared at
the wicket.
Better that you should look to your
horse" pair OF red lips said In the soft
southland speech OF Andalusia. ''The en-
tero Is ehafing himself to pieces on too
tight curb!'
Thank you. senorita!' said Rollo, his
heart instantly disturbed within him, for
he was mercifui man by nature and con-
sistently merciful to his beast. Then he
turned about, loosened the curb and look
Ing over his horse, noticed that the tail
strap also lathered the animal, whereupon
he eased that. Then with smiling coun-
tenance he turned for approval to the face
at the wicket. but he was too late. His
mentor had vanished.
The door OF the porter's lodge was open
ed and he caught the heavy rustic of cloth
clogging itself about unwontedly hasty
ankles.
.'The mother superior waits" gasped the