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

| ernor. with almost regal powers and sol
diers at his beck, to hold turbulent prov
| ince quiet under his hand. How he wished
there were no such thing honor any
where. keeping him by mere iteration and
| irritance to the resolution his conscience
had extorted from him.
Mendizabal thought the young man only
doubtful of his capacity, and patted him
on the shoulder with a fatherly tolerance
and announcement.
You will do very WELL" he said kindly:
we VIII give you a free hand. full powers
and as many soldiers as you want. Be
sides, the Carlists have been some while in
these regions, and we have not been able
to get our own men. Now you can look
them up."
Then Rollo, suddenly finding words, spoke
his mind fully and freely.
Il cannot Co., he said, lat least, not till
1 nave fulfilled a sacred duty which lies
| have not fulfilled it. 1 cannot serve the
queen regent till 1 have laid down that
which undertook, and to the person who
charged me with the mission
The queen stared at the bold young man,
but the prime minister understood better.
IT Is his point of honor" he explained
to Maria Cristina, those of his nation can
not help 1t. 1t is in the blood and in the
| gloomy creed which they profess-a sour
| and lnconvenient religion, in which there
| is no confession"
| up her hands in horror; mo absolution!
How, then. can they go on living from day
| TO day
Much like other people," said the pre-
nnier, smiling: they repent. and then-re-
pent of their repentances."
ana Is this young man not Christian
cried the queen. us he also Of this dark
and gloomy superstition-what was it that
you called the heresy?'
Il am indeed Presbyterian" said Rollo
smiling; at least, my father was and l am
rest. am, fear, but an Indifferent Chris
tan"
Ah.' murmured the queen, with a re-
Elective sigh. yet even heretios may have
their uses. In that case 1t will be easier
Tor You to oppress-I mean to argue with
and convince the holy friars of the right
eous intention of the government with re-
well" said Mendizabal, quickly, desir-
Gus of diverting the conversation from
dangerous subject; loft with you, airrah!
Go satisfy that Calvinistic conscience of
yours! But first kiss her majesty's royal
hands. Let no one spoil your beauty, and
return betimes to the post which we will
keep open for you"
Rollo did he was hidden. He kissed
| the hands of the queen. who was gra-
ciously pleased to give his fingers a slight
pressure as hers rested a moment upon
his. For the handsome face and high
bearing of Rollo Blair had been working
their usual way with Maria Cristina.
The prime minister, noting slight move
ment of the portiere curtains, hustled Roll
10 off lest he should lose favor with the
power behind the throne. But, pausing
moment at the door, he whispered in his
ear, Have you any objection to telling
me the name of the person from whom
you had this commission? [ promise YOU
upon my sacred honor that you shall have
no cause to repent of your trankncss.
Neither you nor he shall suffer account
of my knowledge-no, not if it were Don
Carlos himself"
"His name is Don Baltasar Varela prior
of the abbey of Montblanch," said RolIo,
after moments hesitation.
Il understand" said Mendizabal with
an inscrutable expression. Nevertheless,
l shall keep my word
CHAPTER XLvIH.
Point of Honor.
There remained Concha to be dealt with.
All, yes, and also her companions, lei Sar-
| ria, Mortimer and Etienne Only they
did not count. What man does count
when the woman is in the question?
| Friends of a lifetime skipped like the
historical introduction of an exciting ro-
nance, through whose pages battle. muir
| der and sudden death play gayly at leap
| frog and devil-take-the- hindmost.
He found them seated in the lodgings
which Rollo had secured for Concha and
La Giralda in house that looked upon
the Puetra del Sol. Opposite, upon the
/ same staircase and landing, lodged Ell
Sarria, who, If it would have given any
| pleasure to Rollo, would have slept all
| night outside his sweetheart's door.
/ Etienne, Mortimer and Rollo himself
| had rooms on the other side of the great
| square. But with Rollo's return all were
| now assembled in Concha's sitting room,
| as had grown to be their easy custom.
| Concha needed no chaperon, and IL the
| straighter conyenances required one, was
! there not La Giralda with her myriad
wrinkles busted about the pots in the little
| adjacent kitchen or seated with her knit
| ting in the window seat like favored
| guest. For 1t was in this simple fashion
that these six people had come to dwell
! together. And as he entered the heart Of
the young man smote him sore.
Alas! that he. Rollo Blair whom these
| men follow their chief through mirk mid
| night and the brazen glare of noon, should
come among these faithful hearts like q
mute with the bowstring, to put an end to
| all this comradeship and true comfy.
ALI knew In moment that there was
| something in the air, for though Concha
| offered to prepare a cigarette with her
own fingers Rollo declined it and sat down
| heavy and sad. 1t was some time before
| he could bring himself to speak.
You are all my friends" he said my
best and only friends-listen to me. I will
| hide nothing from you. l have come di
rectly from the queen. She and Mendoza
| bal have offered me high position, and the
| in which we might all have kept together
| in grea; content, If such had been your de-
| sire. Yet for the present L cannot take it.
1 am not free man. For 1t lies on my
soul that the Abbot of Montblanch trusted
| us three when we had neither aim nor end
| ted us out for our mission. For me he did
| much more. He made me officer in the
army of Don Carlos, though heaven knows,
Don Carlos was no more to me than any
other stupid fool-I crave your pardon.
Etienne! 1 forgot your relationship"
Say on" Gied Etienne, gayly, Tipping
his cigarette ash with his little finger; do
| not consider my feelings All my cousins
are stupid fools! 1 have always said sou
"Well, then, said Rollo. ito this man
who. among other things. gave us each
Iother's friendship, and (here he reached
out his hand to take Concha's) who gave
me this"
He was silent for some moments, still
holding the girls hand, while her eyes
were doubtless lovely as moon lit waters
could any man have seen them. But no
man did, for her fringed lashes remained
resolutely, If TREMENDOUSLY downcast.
well, then, I cannot leave this man to
think me a mere common traitor No. not
IL 1t loses me life and-all. have failed in
his mission. Not only SO. but by the irony
of fate have fought against his friends
and then been saved by his enemies
I'VE were saved by Concha Cabezos.