The Washington times., 1904-06-26

! courtney now referred 10 tnlS event
openly and indeed eagerly. IL was APP
parent that he desired TO get away from
the place as soon as he could dispose Of
his business affairs and a suitable Op-
portunity offered.
Anita felt that il would be useless 70
object 20 this procedure. and yet she
\ could not bear to leave the Rock in her
present uncertainty regarding her lover
Therefore she had decided to go 60
/ him. She would satisfy the doubts
which the witch woman had cleverly
/ implanted in her mind. She would
/ hear from Carlos own lips what had
/ befallen him. the cause of his delay I'm
/ returning from the capital. the reason
/ for HIS present misfortunes.
| Perhaps-if she saw that ne still
cared for her as he had before she
would tell him all that she had learned
/ during his absence-the secret of her
| birth. the part that Courtney had play
ed in the capture Of the Rock. his pro-
/ posal 70 go away to England.
Carlo shall see that in loving me
/ he stoOps to no unworthy rank she
| thought proudly to herself He shall
know that my birth is more noble than
his own
| This was as far as Anita permitted
to herself. She felt a secret hope, how
ever. that when he knew all Carlo would
! bid her come to him. II could not be
that ne would be compelled to remain
/ in prison for long
1t had never occurred 10 the girl to
! ask Courtney's consent to her marriage
with Mertrez. To herself she had never
recognized hts authority as that of a
parent. Such an act was further than
ever from her mind now that she knew
/ that he was not her father In reality.
Besides. she knew his feelings toward
the Spaniards. He had said enough 10
let her see that IT was his hope that
she would marry an Englishman. Even
had matters stood as they were before
the capture Of the Rock. he would not
have been likely TO consent to her mar
riage TO one Of the race that he hated
so fiercely.
Now that the Spanish power had been
overthrOwn. and her lover was impris-
oned by his own officers, it would be
madness 10 suggest such a thing
Busy with these thoughts. the girl
went on her way. scarcely noticing the
familiar surroundings. She had set out
at the first sign Of dawn, and when she
/ passed along the portion OF the hillside
on which the fortress was located the
sun was just lifting his rudy face from
the waters that Tapped the eastern hori-
zon-
Nobody was stirring about the FORTH
cations save the sentries who. stiff with
the cold and their hours OF vigil, mo-
| notonOusly paced to and fro.
They paid no attention 10 her. There
were no orders preventing any Of the
Inhabitants Of the town from ascending
the Rock II was only on the opposite
side. on the road leading TO the main
I land. that passage was barred
Anita did not anticipate any difficulty
IN accomplishing this part Of her Jour
ney. The beginning of the path which
led down the cliffside was far above the
fortress. and was thoroughly screened
by the bushes which grew thickiy all
about II. There were no sentries station
ed on this side OF the Rock.
The eastern brow Of the cliff descend
, ed so abruptly that not even a noun
] tain channels could have scaled IL The
existence Of the secret path being IN
known to the English. as 1t had been
to the Spaniards before them. this ap-
proach was left open.
All the guards were stationed on the
western and northern sides. II Anita
could gain the cover OF the bushes at
| the top OF the path unnoticed her de-
parture from the Rock would not be
/ known.
As she came nearer the portion Of the
height from which the path descended
the girl advanced more Cautiously
/ looking about to observe whether anv
one was in sight. Nobody was likely
To be on that portion OF the Rock
at such an hour. but It would be IN
Wise 10 have her departure noted.
The arbor OF locust trees to which
she had so often come before was di-
rectly In her path. Anita paused there
to rest for a moment. before undertake
ing the difficult task OF descending the
/ cliff, and to pray before the Virgins
shrine for protection in her enterprise.
\ Scarcely had she emerged from this
retreat and started toward the po,nt
which she had visited in company with
Zanosa on the preceding day, when she
was surprised 70 see q man IN uniform
descending from the summit Of the
Rock on which stood the signal station
Anita at once stepped down and began
| to pluck the red and white blossoms of
the geranium which grew IN profusion
on this portion OF the Rock The ap-
! rearance of the man at this juncture of
affairs was annoying. but not serious.
1 She would walt until he had passed
out OF sight down the hillside. and then
| proceed on her way. No doubt he was
a soldier from the little detachment at
the signal station. on an errand to the
| fortress below.
! AS the man approached nearer. Anita
watching him sidewise from her stoop-
ing position among the flowers, saw
that IT was CalthOrpe. She promptly
turned her back. fearing that he might
recognize her even from the distance
and turn aside to join her.
Calthorpe had observed the figure OF
the woman almost as soon as Anita had
noticed him. He had no idea that Il
was the inamorata of his dreams and
waking fancies. He decided. however.
that II was his duty TO investigate the
matter. at least TO the extent of deter
mining whether the woman was young
and fair or old and ugly.
| accordingly he left the path. which
passed at a considerable distance from
! ner. and crossed the field in her direc-
zion.
Anita heard his approach. but she did
no. look up or appear to notice 1t until
he paused beside her with a polite.
| Good morning. senorita-" Then she
sprang up as though in the greatest as