Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14

patio {, the palace IN the Albalcln.
l dined in the hotel garden, and before
nine was at the appointed spot in the
road outside the high wall Of my Carmen.
The moments passed as | walked up and
down, my cigarette a spot of fire in the
growing moonlight; still the Gypsy faced
girl did not come. Twenty minutes late,
said my watch, and as | stared at it a man
stopped in front of me.
is the noble senior expecting some
one?" he asked.
l put my watch away and looked at
him. The moon, obscured though it was
by clouds, showed a tall figure, with
strong shoulders, and a face which seemed
in the night as dark as a Moor's. The
man had lifted his hat from his thick
black hair, and l said to myself that he
was a model for an artist who wished to
paint a Gypsy.
Finding that / did not answer on the
instant, he went on, The senior must for
give me if l have made mistake; but my
sister, who had an errand to do for gen.
tleman, has sent me in her place.
In that case you have made no mis-
take said You have a message for
me from your sister,
And from a lady. The message is,
If the senior will come to my house in
an hour, he will find what he seeks
Ny blood quickened. What do seek!'
"A lady who loves you, and has sent
you this through my sister"
The man produced tiny white paper
packet, which l took, but would not open
in his presence.
do you mean that the lady will meet
me at your house tonight" l asked.
"She hopes it; for there is no other
place or way. My sister will bring the
lady; but it is not a house, in your way
of speaking, senior. 1t is a cave in the
hillside, which / have made my home, for
l am Gypsy
You live above the Albaicin, in the
Gypsy quarter, them l said.
mo, senior, nearer here than that. You
must have seen, If you have walked about
the neighborhood, that there are many
other caves which honeyComb the hill
sides. To find mine you must go toward
the cemetery, take the first turn to the
right follow the winding road which de-
sends, then up rough path, and stop at
the first of the three Gypsy caves. l must
not wait for YOU, as have to see that my
sister and the lady arrive safely. But you
cannot miss the place; and II l am not
waiting at the door, open it without
knocking and walk in. Is that under
stood, senor!'
YES said.
hen Will go TO Watch Tor my sister
near the palace. At half-past ten, senior.
AT half-past tent l echoed his words,
and watched him out of sight as he
tramped away in the direction which
would take him to the Albaicin. Then l
hurried back to the villa and opened the
packet. 1t contained the shield shaped
brooch with which had Infatuated Carmo
ma by giving Monica at Toledo; that and
nothing besides. But, unless it had been
stolen from her, it was an assurance that
she had sent the messenger, that she
wished me to trust him. Nevertheless,
there was danger that l might fall into a
trap in keeping night tryst at the cave
of a Gypsy, especially Gypsy who bad
either deserted or been banished from the
colony. But not to run this risk was to
run a far greater one, that of losing the
chance offered by Monica; and of such
an alternative could not even think.
If told the man who looked after my
wants at the villa where l intended to 60,
/ might succeed in compromising Monica,
in case she was SO late that the Gypsy was
alarmed. AS her name must be kept out
of the affair at any cost, l decided that
due caution would be protection enough.
Unless the news of my presence in Gran
ada had reached Carmona in his bed,