Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
MY LOST SELF.

and make me dread that even these stone
walls have ears and eyes to guess m!
secret thoughts. y discretion that Is
worthy of you"
1t is more than a little hard that al
act dictated by no thought save for hei
greater security shculd have been so IN
terpreted. But I could not blame her any
more than / could explain. She woulC
not have believed me.
Have you any further WISHES:
asked after a pause.
None. save to be freed from your spy
ing. and that, of course. is Impossible.
NO. not impossible. You are not spiee
upon and will not be-.
Il have seen that already" she cried
with. a curl of the lip. as she pointed tt
the window.
Think what you will. 1 speak the
truth
Then why were you there staring in
upon me?''
Think what you will" said again.
She looked steadily at me for space
and her hand fell upon the packet; she
gave a slight start. Il don't understand
she mYrmured. as if TO herself;
. Have you any further wish? l asked
once more.
Yes. When is my brother coming
How should | know" / replied. witt
a shrug of the shoulders
You saw him. He gave you this. ano
she held up his letter
What is that?'/I asked, affecting moi
to understand her
II thought it was your boast that yor
spoke the truth
What is that paper" I repeated.
1T was you who went to him. "h!
do you seek to deny it,
So that was the reason for Pepita's
confusion. She had told Masita that
had gone. and they had been discussing
it when ! had looked in upon them.
He said he would come today. Wher
he arrives you shall see him. /! answered
seeing that further denial would serve nc
purpose.
why did you go to him.
Some one had to go. That is all
'Is it true that you were in danger ano
had been prescribed?
You were not there to accuse me. Tha,
is still open to you.
Involuntarily her hands clenched. u
shall keep my v6w,' she said. as hel
thoughts flew back to the night OF Vi
cinos death.
Il shall not ask you to do otherwise,
l said.
Her brows drew together and she looked
at me almost as If resenting my reply
why did you take this risk?'
"Pepita had no right to speak to you Of
it,
Il questioned her closely and made hel
tell me-
"She must learn to hold her tongue OF
I shall have to find another attendant fol
you
NO. no. I like the girl she cried
quickly; so eagerly. indeed. that thought
there was something behind the words
resolved to question Pepita. She no.
ticed the change in my looks and fast
of new suspicion came into her eyes
Say rather that for some secret purpose
you meant her to tell me, she added
There is always that supposition. OF
course, but at least it is true that l nave
a secret purpose
Il would that l knew it,.
IF you did you would not believe it.
replied. and without replying to the ques-
ton which face and gesture alike asked
turned and left the room.
found Pepita waiting for me below
What have you told Masita?' l asked
That you risked capture to do her bid
ding, Beppo" She had shed her nervous
ness and replied frankly. I'VE were
speaking of you when you showed at the
window. 1t maddened me that she should
talk of accusing you when you had
why did you deny 1t when l ques-
toned you before?
She smiled. Il did not. 1 left you or
the pretense1 could hear Breva. l have
told him everything. and he says l shoulc
tell you
What is everything"
"Masita asked me to help her to escape
when her brother came. BreVa says yot
will do so. / believed that. too: but asked
him first. She wants me to persuade hin
to have boat in readiness for them
both to get away. You will do it. Beppo
She is good and true and loathes the
thought of marrying Beltano. l know
you wish to help her and she laid hel
hand on my arm and smiled wistfully anG
yet meaningly into my face.
Of ha "a
of discovery? OF Beltano's anger?'
"Molta would be glad" she replied. will
another smile. And IL Masita remains
her life may be in danger-from Agapa.
I recalled the Greeks threat of an hour
before. II will speak to Breva,' 1 said
after a pause of thought.
1 said nothing to him then. however
as l wished first to think out the bes,
plan. ] did not want any blame to fall
either upon Breva or Pepita. and the mat
ter would need some contriving to pre-
vent this.
That afternoon. on the pretense of fish
ing | took out my felucca. and on my
return stored the gear where it would be
more readily accessible than in the hu,
which was used for the purpose.
1 heard then that julius had arrived
and found that instead of going to Ma
sta, he had been philandering with
Agapa Her influence over Kim was alb
solute. and it was with evident reluct-
ance that, at my instance. he left her tc
go to his sister.
Julius has news for Masita. Beppo.
said Agapa her eyes glittering viciously
..Beltano will be here in three days and
brings priest with him for their mar
riage.'
LAS we'll then as later I replied.
Her eyes fastened on mine as l spoke
and her lips parted in the curiOusly dis.
figuring snarl which so marred her face
For once we think alike she said
meaningly, as she turned away.