Evening star., 1901-07-20


| OF Seville, had it not been for the ecclesias-
| tlcai robe that surmOunted and as it were
| ext1nguished its silken gorgeousness. A
great cross of gold set with jewels swung
\ at the young mans breast and was upheld
| by links as large those which sustain a
| mayors badge of Office.
| Ah, l have renounced the world my
dear adversary" cried the newcomer en-
J Enthusiastically. "as you will also. am no
| longer Etienne de Saint Pierre but Brother
E1larlo. an unworthy novice of the Convent
| of the Virgin of Montblanchr'
But, SIR cried Rollo Blair "yo1 cannot
take up the religious life without some
small settlement with me. You are trysted
70 meet me with the small sword at the
Buttes of Montmartre-you to fight for the
honor of Senorta Concha of Sarria and
TO make hole in your skin for the sweet
sake OF little Peggy Ramsay, who broke my
heart a or ever l left the bonny woods O.
Alyth to wander on a foreign shorer
Your claim l allow my dear Sir Blair"
cried the Frenchman. but the eternal con-
Germs of the soul come first, and 1 have
been wicked-wicked- very wicked But
the holy prior-the abbot-mine uncle, hath
shown me the error of my ways."
John Mortimer turned directly round till
he faced the speaker.
"Odds-bobs," he cried, then there is a
pair Of them. He is this fellows uncle,
too.'
The Frenchman gazed at him amazed for
a moment. Then he clapped his hand
fercely on the place where his sword-hilt
you know, monsieur. that the word Of
Saint Pierre is sacred. l carry in my veins
the blood of kings.''
And he grabbed fiercely for the missing
sword hilt, but his fingers encountering
only the great jeweled cross of gold figree
work, he raised it to his lips with a sud-
den revulson of feeling.
"TOrrenteS iniquitatis conturbaverunt me.
Dolores inferni crcumdederunt me-
What: still harping on little Dolores?"
cried Blair II thought little Concha was
your last-before Holy Church, 1 mean"
The little Frenchman was beneath the
lamps. ard he looked up to the long, lean
Scot with peculiarly sweet smile.
"Ah, you scoff.' he said, but you will
learn, yes you will learn. My uncle, the
prior, will teach you. He will show you the
way, as he has done met!
1T may be So" said the Scot. darkly, II
only wish 1 could have a chance at him. l
think | could prove him all in the wrong
about Observation-Disclosures is, If 1 could
keep my temper sufficiently long
At this moment the coloquy at the abbey
gate was broken up by a somewhat stout
man. also in the garb of novice. a long
friar's robe being girt uncomfortably tight
about his waist. and in his hand lantern.
''Monsieur-Brother Hilario, 1 mean-the
holy prior wishes TO speak with You, and
desires to know whether you would prefer
capon of Zaragoza or two Bordeaux
pigeons in your ola tOnight?'
Come, that is more promising, cried
the Scot, I'VE will gladly accept of your in
vitation to dine with you and your uncle
and give him all the chance he wants to
convert me to the religious life"
'Invitation!' cried the astouished Broth
Hilario, did l invite you? If SO, fear
l took liberty. l do not remember the
circumstance
do you doubt my word?" cried the Scot
with instant frowning turbulence; Il say
the Invitation was implied if not expressed
and by the eyes of Peggy Ramsay it You
do not get us a couple of covers at your
uncle's table tonight l will go straight to
the holy prior and tell him all that l know
of little Coucha of Sarria, and your plot
against her mistress-a deal more. l op:ne.
than you included in your last confession,
most high-minded friari"
That was before my remuneration of the
fesh.'' cried st. Pierre manifestly agitated.
The Scot felt his elbow touched.
II was under her balcony with a letter
last Friday, no further gone" whispered
the novice in the cord-begirt robe. BLESS
ed angels help me to get this nonsense out
of his head. or it will be the death of US,
and we will never see the PalaiS Royale
again."
And on what pious principles do you ex-
plain the letter you sent last Friday?" said
Rollo. aloud. What if l were to put that
into the hands of your good uncle, the
prior? If that were to happen l warrant
you would never ride on of the white
abbey mules In the garb Of the brothers of
Montbla nch,'
Instead of being astonished and quailing
at ms acuteness the young Frenchman fired
up in the most carnal and unmonkish fash
ion.
You have been making love to my little
Concha yourself, you Scots rogue. | will
have your life, monsieur, Guard yourselfr
Your COncha.' do you say, Master
Friar?" cried Blair. And pray who gave
you right to have COnchas on your hands
with the possessive adjective before them?
Is that included in your monkish articles
of association? Is alteration Of little Con-
chas set down in black and red in your
breviaries? Answer me that. sir,''
No matter, monsieur, retorted the
Frenchman. II was man before | was
monk. Indeed, in the latter capacity I am
not full-fedged yet. And l hold YOU an
swerable If in anything you have offended
against the lady you have named or used
arts to VILE her heart from mel"
Il give you my word l never set ewes on
the wench-but from what l hear
stop there cried the second novice
BE good enough to settle that question
later For me l must go back promptly
with the answer about the capon of Zara-
goZa and the two Bordeaux pigeons
The Scot looked at the F'renchman The
F'renchman looked at the Scot
AS compliment to the fair lady the
Senorita Concha, say to my uncle the
capon. Francois" said the lover
And as compliment to yourself NV
dear brother Hilario, say to his lordship
also the two Bordeaux pigeonsr'
And the pigeons, Francoisr ouoth the
latest addition to the brotherhood of Mont
blanch, with perfect seriousness.