Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-03
CHAPTER XIV.
I'M rUu Uvn,p nnn on q

With small compunction Ell Sarria turned
Don Tomas over with his foot and coolly
appropriated the cloak he had DISCARDED
as also his headgear, which was panoeo
with gay colors and of the shape anecteo
by the dandies of Seville.
Then swinging the cloak about him and
setting the hat upon his head jauntlly' ne
strobe to the garden door.
Above he could hear the angry voice OF
a woman, with intervals Of silence, as II
for a low-toned inaudible reply. Then a
wall of despair and grief-that nearly sent
him up the stairs at tigers rush. that
would have scattered his enemies before
him like chaff For 1t was the voice of his
Dolores he heard for the second time. But
of late Ell Sarria had learned some of the
wisdom of caution. He knew not the force
Luis might have within the house. and he
might only lose his own life without bene-
fitting either Dolores or his SON.
Then there was a slow foot on the stairs,
coming down. The light went out above
and he heard a heavy breathing behind the
closed door by which he stood.
"Tomas-Tomas.' said a voice, here Is
the brat. 1t is asleep. Do 1t quietly so that
the mother may not be alarmed. | cannot
stir without her hearing me and asking the
reason"
placed the breathing body of his first-born
son. The door was shut before he could
move, astonished he was by the softneSs
of that light burden. that Tia Elvira'
unamuleted groin escaped safe for that
time-which. indeed, afterward turned out
to be just as well.
So at the door of his enemy FL Sarria
stood dumb and stricken, the babe in his
arms. For the fact was that this child that
was his and Dolores annihilated for the
moment even revenge from his soul.
But hand was laid on his shoulder.
Haste thee haste Kissed the witch
wife. La Giralda, Elviras friend and rival,
hast thou smitten strongly? She lies be-
hind the door l cannot hear her breathe,
the blow. Well done. well done! But come
away, come away. Presently Don Luis will
miss the Tia and give the alarm Give me
the babel
But this Ramon would not do, holding
jeaIousy to his own.
What can you. man, do with babe?"
she persisted. Can you stop it's mouth
from crying. Is there milk in your breasts
to feed its little blind mouth? Give it to
me, l say."
Nay" said FL Sarria. shaking her off.
mot to you" Did not this murderous wo-
man come from your wagons? Is not her
place under your canvass
1T shall be so no more, If your stroke
prove true, said the gypsy. I shall be
the queen and bring up this youngling to
be the boldest horse thief betwiXt this
filthy Aragon and the gypsy barrio of Ora
NADIA, where La Giralda's cave dives deep
est into the rock
NO, L Will not! SalO the man, RraSplnS
the babe so tightly that it whimpered and
stretched its little body tense as a bow
string 81 will take him to the hills and
suckle him with goats milk. He shall be
no horse thief, but fighter of men,
"Ah, you are an outlaw-a lad Of the
hills, / thought So" chuckled the woman.
Come away quickly. Then, brave man
slayer. 1 know better way than either.
The sisters, the good women of the con-
vent, will take him at word from
me. 1 know the night watch-a country
woman of mine. little Concha. She will
receive him through the wicket and guard
him well-beng well paid-that Is. as
doubtless your honor can pay"
What. little Concha Cabezos?' said Ra-
mon, with instant suspicion. Was she
not traitress to her mistress? Was 1t
tress came hither?"
Little Concha a traitress," laue ID the
old woman. Nay, nay, you know hcr not,
evidently She may, indeed, be almost
everything else that a woman be, 30
her enemies say. No clustered st. Teresa
Is our little Concha, but, for all that, she
is of a stock true to her salt, and only
proves tickle to her lovers. Come quickly
and speak with her. She is clever. the
little Concha. and her advice is good"
They passed rapidly along the road deep
in white dust. but slaked now with the
dew and cool underfoot.. The babe lifted
up his voice and wept.
Here. give him me. l cannot run,
away with him II / would" said the gypsy.
~ on may keep your manu- OH my arm, IL
only you will but give him me-"
And the gypsy woman lifted the little
puckered features TO her cheek and crooned
and chucked until the child gradually
soothed itself to sleep, face down on her
shoulder.
How came Concha at the house Of the
nuns said Ramon.
That you must ask yourself" answered
the woman. Some quarrel 1t was. Luis
Fernandez never loved her. He wished
her out Of the house from the first But
here We are"
The gypsy woman went directly up to
the wicket and whispered through the
turnstile. There was dim light within,
which presently frightened II a lamp
had been turned up
The woman stepped back to Ell Sarria' s
side.
THE little Concha Is on duty" she whis-
pered. Go thou up and speak with her.
Nay take the child II thou so Jealous
of him. / would not have stolen the boy.
Had the nationals not killed Ed Sarria /
had said that thou vert the man."
Ramon took the babe awkwardly.
AT any event. thou art brave fighter.
she murmured, land cracked that evil
doing Tomas skull for him to a marvel.
Thou shalt have all the help La Giralda
can give thee"
Ramon, with the babe In his arms put
his head within and spoke to Concha. A
little cry, swiftly checked, came forth from
the whitewashed FORTRESS lodge Of the
House of the Innocents. Then. after five
minutes. Ramon kissed the little puckered
face of his son and each of the dimpled fat
red hands he held so tightly clenched and
laid him on the revolving iron plate of the
conventional turnstile- Without a creak
the axle turned and In a moment more the
child was in the arms of holy church,
pleasantly represented for the nonce by the
very secular charms of little Concha Ca
bezos.
Then a word or two was spoken. Concha
told the outlaw how, by letter purporting
TO come from himself forged by Don Luis
or his brother, Dolores had been advised
TO put herself under the protection of his
beloved friend, Don Luis Fernandez until
happier days" Concha also told how the
miller had found excuse to send her
from the house in disgrace, and how for
her needlework and skill in fine broidery
she had been received at the Convent OF