Evening star., 1901-10-26
CHAPTER XIX.
Like Fire Through Summer Grn

On the whole Rollo could not complain OF
his reception at the abbey of Montblanch
His heart had indeed been woe within him
as he took his way up the long zigzags OF
the hill road. There was the very thorn
branch which had brushed off his hat as he
set forth so gladsomely with his new COM
mission in his pocket, his comrades riding
stanchly by his side, and the abbots good
horse between his knees.
Well, he had done his best. Things, after
their manner, had turned out cross-gratned
that was all. He had, thank heaven,
enough of MendizabaIs generous draft left
In his pocket to repay the abbot for what
he had spent upon their outfit After re-
turning the commission it only renamed
as delicately as possible to impart the dis
astrous news of the coming dissolution OF
monasteries and the assumption of all con-
ventual property by the state.
Then he would depart. Sarria and Con-
cha were not so far off. He began to take
heart even before he reached the great
gate of the abbey
No one could have been more cordially
moved to see a long-lost brother than Don
Baitasar Varela, the abbot of Montblanch,
to welcome his dear, his well-beloved Don
ROllo.
And his noble nephew Saint Pierre-how
did he do? Then that stolid, solemn Eng
Ishman-dId ne know that his Priorato
had long been shipped from Barcelona, an
arrangement having Deen NlduS Will Tic
Cristino custom house
But the price? He has not paid 1t. !
warrant that Mortimer knows nothing OF
the natter said Rollo. excited for his
friends credit and good name.
The abbot smiled he answered:
''Our agent In France he said blandly,
has received and Cashed draft from
some one of the same name in England
ah there are none like the English for
business the world over. But here Is let
ter which has long been waiting for that
young gentleman here"
II will deliver it to him Immediately,
and with great pleasure quoth Rollo.
The abbot did not pursue the subject,
but rising, said courteously: You will ex-
cuse me for the present You know the
library You will find my father confessor
there. whom / think you have met. There
are, also. works on travel and lives OF the
saints In various languages, exceedingly
improving to the mind. And. above all,
you must dine with me tonight!"
Then the abbot with kindness which
Rollo felt deeply, Put off hearing the full
story OF his adventures till the evening.
Dinner was served IN the prior's own cham
Der, as before, but on this occasion much
more simply-indeed. rather as two gentle
men might have dined at a good inn where
their arrival had been expected and pre-
pared for.
Rollo's simple heart was opened at the
hospitality that was shown him. The BEAM
ing and paternal graciOusness of Don Bal
tasar the difference between what he had
tApttleu anu Nl4dl he "TullS HIS SOUL
with remorse for the message he had to de-
liver
At last ne was permitted to tell i.ls tale,
which he did from the beginning. slurring
only such matters as concerned his relations
with Concha- And at the end of each por-
ton of his story the abbot raised a finger
and said smIlingly to his father confessor,
VINO stood g.oomily silent IN the arch Of the
doorway, "A marvel-a wonder! You hear,
Father Anselmo?"
And without moving a muscle of his i'm
piacable countenance the ex-inquisitor an
swered, Il have heard. my lord abbott
Then Rollo told of the plague and the
strange things that had happened at La
Granja, their setting out thence with the
queen regent and the little princess their
safe arrival upon the spurs of Moncayo al
most. indeed. at the camp of Gen Elio.
Then. with his head for the first time hang
ing down, he narrated their meeting with
Cabrera, and that generals determination
to murder the queen regent and her little
daughter.
denominations such as that no man could
endure said Rollo more than once as he
proceeded to tell the ta'e OF their delivery
OF how he ha~ dispatched mother and daugh-
ter TO the camp of Gen. Elio, of their subse-
quent capture by EspaTtero, and how he,
Roiio Blair. had hastened all the way from
Madrid to lay the whole matter before the
prior.
Tis a marvellous tale. indeed. that our
young friend tells-nave you missed MOTH
fe5sor.
Nothing" said the confessor. glarins
Gown upon Rollo as a vulture might upon a
weakly lamb on the meadows of Fstra
madura, mot single word hath escaped
me!''
Then RoIlo delivered to the abbot fvbo
handed them forthwith to his reverend con-
science keeper all his commissions and LET
tiers OF recommendation. With dropping
head and the tear In his eye he gave them
up. For though he had enlisted In the
Carlist cause purely as mercenary he had
meant TO his rtal 1T 70
letter.
=, When at last Rollo looked up he found
the gray eyes OF the abbot regarding him
with quiet persistence OF scrutiny which
perturbed him slightly
Have you anything more to tell meT'
INQUIRED the ecclesiastic, laying his hand
aHectionately on Rollo's shoulder. You
nave done all that was possible for you.
NO man could have done more. May a
son. '
My father" said Rolio, laying a strong
constraint upon himself. II have indeed