Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19
CHAPTER XLVII.
MendiZabal.


Rollo and his companions rode into Ma
drid amid the clamor and rejoicing Of thou
sands, as indeed he might have done be-
hind Don Carlos had be been successful In
his first intention. Madrid was healthy and
hungry. The plague had been stayed by
the belt of barren country which cinctures
the capital village of Spain. And as for
fear do not the inhabitants say that what
happens not in Madrid, happens not at all?
Rollo so long accustomed to the high,
clear silences of the Sierra or the scarcely
less restful valleys where the birds sing all
day In the spring, felt himself closed in and
deafened by the clamor, blinded by the bril-
liant colors, and in humor with all things
chiefly, 1t must be confessed, because Con-
cha, attired by the queens own waiting
maid from Aranjuez, sat in a carriage with
the aplomb of a duchess.
They were all in high favor. For Munoz
(now more than ever the power behind the
throne, and perhaps secretly proud Of hay
ing played the man at defense of the bar
rance of Moncayo) had quickly turned the
tide of the queen regents diSpleasure. And
al this time there was scarcely any honor
that she would not have bestowed upon her
preSeryerS.
On the third day after their arrival the
privilege of a royal interview was granted
to the young Scot. Rollo smiled as he
thought of the first he had been favored
with, and Of that other when he had started
off a cavalcade consisting Of two queens
and an outlaw under sentence of death
with the loud "Arre!" of muleteer.
But Rolo had learned to be calm-eyed
before royalties. At last he stood in the
great hall of audience, his plain, well-worn
coat and knee-breeches the secret scorn of
every courtier. But a glance at Killie-
crankie, once more aswing by his side,
was sufficient to sober too impertinent male
interest while the reputation of his ex-
plots and the keen, soldier-like face which
he turned so pensively toward the window
awakened the lfvelieSt interest in many a
pair of dark eyes,
Somewhat after this fashion ran the pratt
tie:
livered the regent and the young queen!
They say that both Jose Maria, whom
every one thought dead, and Ell Sarria,
the outlaw, were Of his band. More than
that it is certain that one very near to the
queen regents person was content to take
service with him as common soldier.
How great and famous, then, must he be!
And how certain of preferment! 1t were
indeed well to cultivate his acquaintance.
For what shall be done to the man whom
two queens and consort unite in delight
ing to honor? His threadbare coat? A
mere eccentrlcity Of genius. my love! His
huge battered sword a-dangle at his side?
1t Is said that he has slain over twenty
men with that same blade! Decidedly not
man to be despised-speaks all languages.
even the grabbed Gitano-Castilian like
native Of Valladolid! He will marry a
Spanish wife and become one Of nosotros,
as did O'Donnell Duke of Tetuan, Sars-
field Blake and scare of others-all once
poor and neglected, now thrice hated and
set among the finest clay of the court pot
ter
He had been sent for by the queen regent
Till then-but at that moment, after
preliminary peep from behind a curtain,
the princess herself ran skipping across
the hall, and, catching Rollo by the hand,
bewildered him with a chatter Of joyous
questionings.
Where was Concha? Would her brother
never come back? Why had he not been
at Aranjuez? She sent him kiss (The
which RolIo promised without fail to de-
liver-and, what is more, meant to keep
his world.
Yes Che answered with amusement) per-
haps one day the princess would see
Concha's brother again. 1t was certainly
very dull in Madrid. Royal palaces were as
little to his liking as to that Of the princess
Then the little lady had her turn. Did
he remember when he had hidden her
underneath the great brass pot among the
hay? Did he know that once straw. had
uckled her beneath the chin so funuily
that she came near to bursting out laugh
ing? Rollo did not know, but the thought
turned him cold even among that throng
of courtiers, casting sidelong gfances and
trying to get near enough to listen politely
to their conversation without appearing to
do SO.
"Ah there he comes-just like Ifm!'
cried the little girl, stamping her foot after
the pattern of her mother. Now you and
! will have no more good talk But / shall
wait Tor. YOU ct the gate when you come