Evening star., 1901-08-10

| frowning upon Rollo's good looks with a
certain affectatfon of gloom quite foreign
senger of a king!'
Il can, indeed, hardly claim that honor"
said Rollo smiling and bowling. but have
the honor to belong to the army of Carlos
Quinto, and to be intrusted with a most
serious mission on his behalf
no" can assist your she said; COM
mand me. There is nothing consistent with
the order and discipline of this house that
grandly.
i thank you In the name of my master"
ne sald;; the king will not forget fifty to
reward his faithful servants. 1 ask what
nevertheless necessary. There is a man of
this place who for the kings cause has be-
come an outlaw, one Ramon Garcia
The prioress rose from her seat indig-
nantly.
He is murderer-in intent If not in
act she said. He is no true man, but a
villain
Many men have been called So" said
Rollo sadly, who for the kings sake have
borne reproach gladly-of whom this Ra-
| mon, called Ell Sarria, is one What he has
done has been done by order of our Don
Carlos
jected very pretty and unconventional
young person, rising suddenly from behind
certain frames of embroidery, where she
mad been at work unseen; "the gentleman
letters recommendatory 1 had the honor of
submitting to you this morning. To kill
IN the kings name is surely no sin, else
were soldering a sin, and your reverend
worthiness knows that, shriven or IN
shriven, the soldiers of Carlos Quinto go
straight to heaven. And none can deny
that, while on earth, handsome uniform
covers multitude Of SINS
Hush, child. hush," cried the abbess,
holding up her hands in horror; your talk
saNors of the world, and, indeed, that re-
Ininds mellow in the world came you
here?"
Il was seated at the embroidery" said
the girl demurely; you set me the task
yourself to be ready for our Lady of the
Pillars festival on Tuesday next
We'll, child, well, you can go now" said
the abbeSs, with a nod Of dismssion. II
would speak with this young man alone"
The girl cast look at Rollo which re-
manned with him long.
He held up his hand almost involuntariIy.
IF this damosel is by any chance the
Senorita Concha Cabezos, as I have some
reason to suppose, though / have never
before seen the young lady, it might be
advantageous If she remained. She was
of Don Ramon Garcia, and can assist my
mission very materially"
Then Rollo opened out his plans in so far
as they concerned Dolores, showing the
prioress how important it was for the sue
cess of the arduOus mission on which they
had been dispatched that Ell Sarria should
leave no anxieties behind him, and beseech-
ing her for the sake of the kings cause to
had already received her child.
The prioress considered a while, and,
after many dubious shakings Of the head,
finally agreed.
1T is indeed gravely irregular" she said
but In these untoward times the kings
service overrides ALL 1 will receive Dolores
Garcia"
And If 1t be your will will arrange the
details with Senorita Concha," said Rollo
promptly. Il need not, in that case fur
ther detain the noble and reverend prior
ess!'
The lady superior bent a quick. sharp
look upon the pair, but Rollo was grave
and high of demeanor as became the envoy
of king, while Concha sat at her en-
broidery as demure as a mouse
You will do your best. Concha," she
said, gravely admonishing that maiden
with her foreffnger, Ito further the objects
of this young man. And, above all, be sure
to show him the Difference due to his rank
Yes my lady superior!" said little Con-
cha Cabezos, Il will treat him as II he
were the kings own high majesty in per-
son."
"A very proper spirit" said the prioress
nodding and going out. Cultivate it, my
young friend"
Il WILL" said little Concha, and dropped
a curtsy behind her back. which, alas, was
not without certain wicked suggestion Of
contempt for kings and dignities and their
emissaries.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Flutter of Red and White.
"At your ambassadorial service" said
the Senorita Concha. bowling still lower,
and holding out her skirts at either side
with a prettyish exaggeration Of difference.
What commands has your Scottish excel
lency for poor little Concha?".
"Ahem! said RoIlo more than little
puzzled. They were not 80 much COM
mands as-as-I thought you might be able
to help me-
Now we are getting at It," said Concha
Cabezos, nodding with a wise air.
II must be on my guard with this girl,"
thought Rollo. II can almost bring myself
to believe that-yet it seems impossible
that-the girl is chatting me-me!'
II wished to see you," he went on.
The girl curtsied again. bringing her
hands together in a little appeal almost
childish 1t looked natural. yet Rollo was
not sure But at any rate the sensation
was a new one. He began to think Of what
he had heard In the Venta. But no-the
girl looked so sweet and demure-such
the mouth-all scented Of fresh youth like
a June bayfield,. No, she-she must have
been traduced. Not that it mattered in the
least TO him. He was cased in triple steel.
much of 1t as he had not left in the pos
session of Peggy Ramsay-and, when he
came to think of it-several others,
But the girls expression altered so soon
as she heard the service that was re-
qaired of her, and she followed with rapt
attention the tale Of the garrisoning of the
Mill House Of Sarria, and the dire need Of
her former mistress and friend, Dolores
Garcia.
Lttle Concha's coquetry. her experiment.
ing upon all and sundry who came near
her, her moods and whims, transient as
the flaws that ruffie the ripple, breathe
upon and again set sparkling the surface
OF mountain tarn-all these dropped from
the Andalusian maiden the thought of
anothers need. A moment before this
young foreign soldier, with the handsome
face and the excellent opinion Of himself,
had been but fair game to Concha: a prey
marked down, not from any fell intent but
for the due humbling of pride. For Concha
was interested in bringing young men to a
sense Of their position, and mostly, 1t may
be confessed. 1t did them vast deal OF
good.
But In that moment she became instead
the eager listener, the ready, self-sacri-
ficing comrade. the friend as faithful and
reliable as any brother.
Let me see-let me see." she murmured
thoughtfully. 'Wait-I will come with
you. (She took glance at the young cav
alier, armed cap-a-pie, and thought doubt
less Of the horse chafing and shaking its
accouterments in the shade Of the porter's