Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
Copyright, 1908,
By Arthur W. Marchmont.
All rights reserved.

had been trying to open her eyes to the
reason of the change in me.
You seem very anxious for her COM
fort. Beppo." she said. why do you
take all this trouble
Did not Beltano tell you the arrange
ments he had ordered?
Not that you were to loiter all the day
close to her and leave me to myself she
replied. acidly.
'Breva is to watch during the day,
not L.
That is not answering me. Beppo. nor
explaining why You have kept me waiting
now while you were with her. You know
that and know what / mean?
Il am not so sure that l do know what
you mean l replied. meeting her angry
glance steadily. What is In your
thoughts?"
Her eyes dropped and she forced a
laugh why do you stare at me like
that? You are SO altered. You never
used to treat me like this. / used TO be
first in your thoughts
| burst into a loud laugh. and snatching
her hand kissed it. BY the KEYS of
heaven. If l don't believe you're Jealous
l cried
She snatched her hand away You
had better not give me reason to be- she
cried. meaningly.
| resolved TO have the truth out of her.
SO | affected to be angry. BE careful
what YOU say. Since my hurt my temper
is shorter than ii used to be. and threats.
whether from man or woman. rouse 1t.
This saolership is of Beltano's ordering.
Am l to tie myself to your skirts rather
than do his bidding?'
He did not bid you take a pleasure in
leaving me alone to be at the beck and
call of Masita.''
You tire me with your foolishness," 1
exclaimed, impatiently.
A hot reply sprang to her lips. but she
checked it and, sitting down to the table.
busted herself nervously with the meal
for a space. Then she looked at me
steadily. I'VE must understand one an
other better. Beppo. You have never
you. or rather, if you have tired of me,
say So
'Still threatening?" 1 replied, reading
the angry light in her eyes.
What others see 1 may begin to see.
And then 1 may only threaten. but
She left me to finish the sentence as 1
would.
Pepita was right She had been listen
ing to the rest. I made no reply. save
that the cloud on my face deepened For
some moments we were silent.
There is news from the mainland. The
men who went with Carlo brought it..
| took no notice, continuing to eat in
silence.
1.-The fact that you killed Signor vi
elmo is known and price has been set on
Your head"
| dashed my knife down on the table
and rose. "In heavens name have done
with it, 1 cried, furiously. Il am no
fool to miSread your meaning. nor a child
to be frightened by your threats. If your
will is to hand me to the carabinieri, send
for them and do 1t. But spare me your
silly taunts prompted by an empty jeal-
ousy. If you would turn the feeling /
have for you to hate. you can take no
quicker or surer road I am no dog to
ha hnf6 i'm laoS and ca1 wit ha
LASH
I was hurrying out when she ran and
put herself in my way. II didn't mean
to anger you like this. Beppo.'
Mean it or not. you have done it," 1
answered. CURLY.
''You know / would never do aught
against you. You know that
5.'Then why threaten me?''
You re so strange to me; SO different;
so cold and she made as if to put her
arms about my neck.
l stepped back mo. You have angered
me. | know your thoughts. You would
be my master and have me cringe land
whine before your lifted finger. 1 am
not fashioned that way. You listen to
tales against me when my back is turned,
and in your senseless anger at what is
told you raise the whip You say there
is price on my head. Well, earn 1t by
betraying me. and find some other man
to fawn upon your whimS and answer
past her / went out and returned to the
old fort for my nights vigil.
| found Breva awaiting me. He also
had heard the news that l had been pro-
scribed.
1T is Giuseppe's doing. Beppo. I am
sure. He is one of the few of us who
know that Vicno is dead. and he has
been secretly to the mainland"
1T will neither help him nor hurt me.
| replied. The carabinieri will not come
here and / shall not go there, and in a
few days there will be changes and vi
cino's friends will no longer be i'm power"
Beltano had assured me of this and the
Counts urgent summons had had to do
with the matter. But the knowledge that
/ was prescribed murderer. even though
the deed had been committed while |
could not be held accountable for my
acts. was infinitely distressing. | thought
of it constantly in the long hours of my
watch that night: and the fact that l had
been unable TO ascertain whether or not
it had been my hand which had slain the
man-galled and harassed me. L must
lose no time in getting at the truth.
And the next day the matter had other
consequences. Breva relieved me of my
watch soon after dawn and when at mid
day l returned to the fort. Pepta sur
prised me by saying Masita wished to
speak TO me.
Here was a change indeed. | went I'D
to her with a smile of eXultation, but her
first words killed ii. Il have sent for
you. not because | have ceased to loathe
your presence. but because you are my
gaoler," she said. with as much con-
tempt as she could cram into both words
and manner.
Call it gaoler or guardian. as you
please. Names are as nothing"
How long am l to be prisoner
'Beltano said he should be absent at
least some days.
| thought l could detect signs that she
understood this Intentionally equivocal
answer. for she paused second before
replying. And am l to remain shut up
here all that time?"
| shrugged my shoulders. Those are
his orders" | said, bluntly.
In that case l must have some few
things from my house.. she said, again
showing some hesitation.
Give me a list of them and they shall
be fetched"
II have written it, and she handed me
a paper.
| glanced down the list There was
nothing in it of any consequence: nothing
that she could not very well have done
without. The thought at once occurred
to me that. after my conduct of the day
before, she had been recalling my words
that l would help her-and intended this
more as a test than anything else.
Say to whom this paper is to be given
and add an authority to the bearer to re-
ceive them
May l say where l ann she asked as
she took back the paper.
mo. That would bring trouble upon
others than myself.
She started ever so slightly at this
reply and then wrote as l said. You can
read all have written" she said, as she