The Washington times., 1904-06-26
Story of the Rock the Grim Guardian at the Portals Of the
Mediterranean and Embodying Romance in Which Cupid
and Mars Played Equal Parts. ~ ~ ~ ~ *

For what? But no." she added. you
are deceiving me. How can you have
seen him in the prison when tie orders
of the English commander prevent all
persons from leaving the Rock?"
Orders repeated Zanosa angrily
Think you that l take orders from the
English or from that Spanish upstart
breed? 1 have my own ways and
travel them. though the climb is over
steep for my stiff old limbs
You know a secret way down the
cliff" said Anita eagerly. Where?
Show me it and 1 will believe all that
you say
The old woman parted her lips in
mirthless smile.
Since he will not come to you, it is
IN your mind to forget your sex and go
to him?" she queried Will. shrewd
leer. We'll. why not? Perhaps twill
cure your lovesick heart and give you
countenence to look upon a man who is
the slave of no commander but himself
II YOU see your grand lover in prison.
watched over by a guard. Come then
and l will show you where the path
begins. You viii learn in time that
there is little about this Rock that IS
unknown TO Zanosa.'
Without more ado she hoDbled off
across a field covered with trailing
vines. which grew in profusIon on this
part of the height.
She took her way directly toward the
eastern verge Of the cliff where the
rock looks down some LOO feet to the
dashing sea and forms a battlement
which no commander has ever thought
il necessary to guard
Here. parting clump Of bushes that
grew thickly along the edge Of The cliff.
Zanosa passed and motioned to the girl
to look down.
In appearance this part of the height
was not different from others and even
IL IT had not had the protection Of the
bushes one would have been chary OF
approaching the edge TOO closely. on
coming quite 10 the break Of the cliff.
however. 81 was possible TO see a mar
row shelf some three feet lower. and
from this an irregular path, scarcely
wide enough for one person. leading a
zigzag course along the side OF the al
most perpendicular ascent.
1t was perilous path to follow, bot
Zanosa looked at it with satisfaction.
There is the path" she said, ''un-
known to all save myself and Brulo At
the lower end a narrow ledge leads
along the BASE Of the cliff. Follow IT If
you wish. You will find all as have
told you
Anita's heart beat rapidly as she
gazed from the dizzy height on which
she was kneeling. It made her head
swim TO look down at the dashing break
ers far beneath her. and she drew hack
with little shudder as she thought OF
the certain death that must follow a
single misstep on this perilous slope.
Zanosa was watching her
Are you convinced?" she asked.
Yes" said the girl. 1T must be as
you say; / believe you. Zanosa."
Nevertheless, you will try il for
yourself before you are satisfied said
the old woman shrewdly- Perhaps It
is better so. The sooner you come to
believe what zanosa tells you the soon
er will you find the only way to hsppi-
ness for one of the Romany blood
From time until the end OF time II is
written that we shall be one people
Cursed is our union with the strangers. -
The girl started II was only few
| days since that she had learned that
there was indeed In her veins Sc-ne CT
the blood OF the Romany race.
How came this bag OF the cliffs TO
know it? She must be. indeed, a witch.
The girl shivered as though she felt
the woman's uncanny power.
Il must be going home" she said
II believe what you have told me.
ZaDosa-"
Drawing the scarlet shawl about her
| head she tripped away down the hill
side at pace more blithe than she had
known for whole weary month.
The old woman looked after her.
"All in good time" she mutte-ed:
the girl and the wealth and mayhap
the power. though Of that we cannot
be certain And she turned away
/ toward her dreary cliffside cave.
But the girl fast disappearing down
the hillside had already forgotten the
fear which had held her when in the
presence OF Zanosa.
She did not for a moment doubt that
iler lover was IN prison. as the old wo-
man had said. and she was planning to
descend the dangerous cliff path early
on the following morning.