Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23

double curtain was drawn to right and
left before me, while my guide stepped
aside.
In vast white apartment three black
figures stood about a central glitter Of
crystal and silver. AT once the aged, slight
ly mechanical voice of Don Balthasar rose
my disposition.
The formality Of movement, of voices,
governed and checked the unbounded emo
lions of my wonder. The two ladies sank
with rustic of starch and stiff silk in
answer to my profound bow. / had just
enough control over myself to accomplish
that. but mentally / was out of breath;
and when l felt the slight trembling touch
Of Don Balthasar's hand resting on my in
Don Balthasar's hand resting on my in
clfned head, it was as If / had suddenly
become aware for a moment of the earth's
motion. The hand was gone: his face was
averted, and corpulent priest, all straight
and black below his rosy round face, had
stepped forward to say a Latin grace In
solemn tones that wheezed little. AS
soon as he had done he withdrew with
circular bow to the ladies, to Don Balthas-
ar, who inclined his slvery head. His life
less voice propounded:
"Our excellent Father Antonio in his de-
voton dimes by the bedside of our beloved
Carlos" He signed The heavy carvings
of his chair rose upright at his back; he
sat with his head leaning forward over
his silver plate. A heavy silence fell
Death lowered over that table-and also as
OF lights, the polished floor of costly wood,
the bare wilderness Of walls wainscoted with
marble. the vastness of the room, the i'm
posing forms of furniture carved heavily
in ebony, impressed me with a sense of
secular and austere magnif1cence.
For centuries there had always been a
Riego living in this fortress-like palace,
ruling this portion Of the new world with
the whole majesty of his race. And I
thought Of the long, loop-holed buttressed
walls that this abode of noble adventures
presented four-sauare to the night outside,
standing there by the seashore like a tomb
of war-like glories They built their
houses thus. centuries ago. when the bands
of buccaneers. indomitable and atrocious
had haunted their conquest with remind
er of mortality and weakness.
1t was a tremendous thing for me, this
dinner. The portly duenna on my left had
round eye and an irritated. parrot-like
profile. crowned by high comb a head
shaded by black lace ] dared hardly lift
my eyes to the dark and radiant presence
facing me across table furniture that was
like a display of treasure.
But l did look, She was the girl of the
lizard, the girl of the dagger and in the
solemnity of the silence. she was like a
fabulous apparition from a half-forgotten
tale. / watched covertly the youthful grace
of her features. The curve of her cheek
filled me with delight. From time to time
she shook the heavy clusters of her curls,
and i was amazed. If 1 had never be-
fore seen a woman's hair. Each parting
OF ner lips was a ulStlnct anticipation of
a great felicity; when she said few words
to me. / felt an inward trembling. They
were indifferent words.
Had she forgotten she was the girl with
the dagger? And the old Don? What did
that old man know? What did he think?
What did he mean by that touch of a
blessing on my head? Did he know how
had come to his house? But every turn of
her head troubled my thoughts. The move
ments of her hands made me forget myself
The gravity of her eyes above the smile
of her lips suggested ideas of alteration.
At a given moment an enormous iron key
was brought In on a silver salver, and
bending over the chair. the gray-headed
negro laid 1t by Don Balthasar's plate.
Don Carlos orders" he muttered
The old Don seemed to wake up; a little
color mounted to his cheeks.
There was time, young caballero, when
the gates of Casa Riego stood open night
and day to the griefs and poverty of the
people. like the doors of a church-and as
respected. But now 1t seems 80
He mumbed little peevfshly, but SEEM
ed to recollect himself. 1.-THE safety of his
guest Is like the breath of life to CastiI-
ian, he ended. with a benignant but at
tentive look at me.
He rose and we passed out through the
double lines OF the servants ranged from
table to door BY the splash of the foun-
chairs. stood a many-branched candlestick.
The duenna sat down opposite Don Baltha-
sar A multitude of stars was suspended
over the breathless peace OF the court.
"SeEorita, l began. mastering all my
courage, and all my Spanish. II do not
know"
She was walking by my side with upright