Evening star., 1901-09-21
were directed once more toward the her

were directed once more toward the her
mitage. r
Not one word either of love or reproach
had Rollo spoken since those into which
! he had been startled by the fear lest the
girl should set her hand upon the dead of
the plague. Nor did they speak even now.
Roiio only put out his gloved hand to
steady the cart here and there in the
deeper ruts, motioning Concha to remain
at the head of the oxen, where no breath
of the dead might blow upon her
AS they came round to the front of the
building the Basque at the door was be-
fore them. He met them on the stems
lantern in hand.
who is this?' he asked, with a signifi-
cant gesture toward Concha.
Garro.a "a Il LAD d of Of our company, an Anda-
iuslan! SAID Rollo in answer. Il met him
by chance in the town and he has belned
me with the oxenr
The friar nodded and letting down the
rear nap OF the cart he surveyed the melan-
"Twelve!' he said. mot many. but
enough! The dead will guard us well from
the evil men! Aye, better than an army of
1900 livingr'
And attiring himself in an apron of
tarred stuff, he fastened another of the
same material upon Rollo.
we will now proceed to set our sentriesr'
he said, grimly
AS Rollo put on the gauntlets and an
preached to help Brother Teodoro to draw
out the corpses Concha hovered near half
timid and yet with a certain decision of
manner. Ihe timldity was lest she should
De refused in that which it was upon her
tongue to ask.
Let me help the brother" she said at
last Il haven't nursed many-no plague
will touch mel"
The monk stared at the lad in wonder os
he preferred his request
But Rollo roughly and angrily ordered
Concha back to the heads of the oxen
is this boy by any chance your brother?''
c1i6 fho ,lr ho%v,x
tied the first sheeted dead in his niche hv
the side of the great door,
Nay" said Rolio, mot my brotherp'
Then OF surety he hath a great affec-
ton for you,' continued the monk ''It is a
thing unusual in one of his agev'
To this Rollo did not reply, and in silence
the cart was led about the house till every
door % and practicable entrance was guarded
by one of these solemn warders Then the
three went within and the doors were
locked, the bolts drawn and everything
about the hermitage made as secure as
possible.
;, II, It was yet good two hours from day.
light and If the gypsies were coming that
night their appearance would not be long
delayed. 1t was RoIlo's opinion that theV
would attack with the first glimmer of day
night from the east
Rollo followed the Basque upward to the
roof, and Concha, with her cape still about
her shoulders. followed Roilo into the light
OF the han. nervously dragging the folds
The little queen had two candles before
her and under her fingers was a great book
of maps uponH which dragons and tritons.
whales and sea monsters writhed across
uncharted seas, While an equal wealth of
unicorns and fire-breathing gryphons free
ly perambulated runxeplored continental
spaces. -
But as soon as rthe girls eyes fell on
Concha she srrangrup.
"Oh, l knoweyou' she cried (here Rollo
trembled). You are the new page boy
from Aranjuez. He was to arrive TODAY.
What is your name?'
Carlo" said the new page boy from
Aranjuez, from whose cheek also the rose
had momentarily fled.
cap?" cried the little queen. II Know Dona
Susanna would be very angry IL she saw
you. Pages must show their hair and
wear it in cnrls. stoo Have you pretty
hair?" -, -
TT is the cap OF liberty the bov wears
princess" said the Basque man, breaking
in quickly and with some irony. "Do Won
not know that since Senior .Mendizabal
came to Madrid from England we are all
to have as mucn liberty as we want?''
WELL" repliel the princess tartly. "al
know is that wish 1 had more of II.
Dona Susanna will not let me do a single
thing l want to do. But when grow Ip /
mean to do just what like"
But the girl had not yet finished with her
inspection of Concha.
do you know" she went on. .I think
you are the very prettiest boy have ever
SEEN You may come and kiss me. When
am grown up will make you an officer
of my bodyguard!''
Leaving little Isabel segunda to make
friends according to her heart with the
page boy from Aranjuez (to whom she inn
mediately proceeded to swear unutterable
idelity). Rollo and Brother Teodoro re-
tired to await with what patience they