Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29

|
she said at length. Where are you TAX
| ing me-
| "Ahmet has crossed in search Of a
| priest to take Beraccis place. and 1 am
| keeping away to avoid meeting him.
shall land you at the usual place. j shall
| not play you false
Should I not believe you after this?
You have forced me-
! She spoke almost as II had also forced
the admission from her. but it was good
hearing none the less. l made no reply,
and again there was long silence.
| Curiosity made her break the silence.
/ Il did distrust you when 1 saw you and
| Beltano together. What were you say
| ing? You were talking together very
| earnestly"
| He came upon me Unexpectedly. We
! had duarreIed overnight and again this
morning. and to prevent his going to the
/ fort and so discovering what had oc'
! CURED there. I told him ] would let him
/ have his way and wished to be recon
| cied''
| Have his way In what?"
! In what had caused the quarrel"
/ Why had you quarreled. Was it about
Does 1t matter?"'
Yes. / wish to know 1 have pur-
pose"
Il helped to send the priest away from
the island last night and he threatened
| me in consequence.
! Helped? Who else was with you?'
\ "Agapa: 1t will do you no good to learn
all that has passed"
That dreadful woman. Why did she
help"
she loves Beltano and was once to
have been welded to him
1T Is CALLING to be under an obligation
70 such woman
She did not do it to help you. but to
battle him
She thought this over and said. pres
emily: Then you blinded Beltano with a
promise of reconciliation? he will kill
YOU II YOU are ever In his power again.
1t is horrible and she clasped her hands
and sighed.
boat then and made no answer.
II wish I had not come" she ex-
claimed. suddenly. What are you going
to do when we land?"
See this thing through and then de-
eide"
You must not come with me- she
cried. quickly.
II am not likely to force myself upon
you. signorina.''
Il don't mean that Why should you
account"
Il promised you the opportunity of
keeping your vow. and I mean to keep
my word
that?' she cried. vehemently clasping
her hands to her face.
1T is no wish OF mine to distress you"
She sat with her hands to her face for
many moments and then spoke abruptly
and with much vehemence. You know
l could never keep that vow after this
Does 1t please you to humiliate me?'
God forbid!' I replied. earnestly.
You do it. What is all this but hu-
initiation? Am I not behoden to you for
my escape? Is 1t not you. the man I
swore to accuse. who has been my only
friend In all this trouble? Have you not
forced me to trust you against every in
stinct and feeling in my heart? Is 1t not
humiliation that / should have to eat my
words and renounce my vow? Are not
the very clothes / wear shame and
degradation and are they not worn at
your bidding? Could ever look upon
yoL again without a flush at the recol-
lection? And now as very crown of
! thorns In my trouble you remind me that
you are an ASA sSin.'
II am sorry signorina. Let US talk no
more. We are close now to the landing
stage and few minutes will see us
there"
How does that help me? You deceived
me yesterday. You told me that you were
no longer in danger from the carabinieri
and that Beltano had been able to ar
range the matter. but Pepita told me the
truth. after you had been with me this
and the rest on the island: you cannot
return there You are prescribed. and
from the instant you set foot on the
mainland you will be in peril. Have not
brought you to this pass?"
Il beg you not to think Of this. It is
nothing to
Nothing" she broke in. vehemently
1T is everything. Do you believe l am
so vile that do not think Of your safety?
Such thought Is an insult. Can't you
see that common gratitude compels me
to shield you. and that your attempt to
make light OF what you have done but
adds to the obligation? Would you have
me beg Of you on my knees for rermis-
sion to do what is my plain duty?''
Il mean no more than that can take
care Of my own safety.
That is not true. and you know it is
not. You say 1t only to try and ease my
mind. you are caught by the cara
binieri and brought to your trial. should
I not be forced to testify against you?'
II shall not be caught
You mean you would kill yourself
first. Would that be easier for me-to
know that l had brought you to death?
Could think of that without shame?"
1T is but a few hours since you were
set upon accusing me yourself?''
"Oh. how cowardly Is that! AS If I
meant more by the threat than to test
the honesty OF your offer. l did not be-
lieve you would run this risk. How
could l. after all you had done against
me? / did not trust you-then.
The last word came as a sort Of after
thought. and how welcome it was! IF
you have learnt to do that nothing else
matters l replied. And now, please
we are too close to the landing place for
it to be safe to speak"
let the sail down and took to the
oars creeping silently round the cliff into
the little cove where we were to land
Just before l ran alongside the stage I
stopped to listen. l judged there might
me some men about. either the carabinieri
or Ahmet's companions. But all was as
still as the grave.
THE moment we land you will come
with me up the beach and will get a
horse from SoIferinos"
You must not land" she replied. You
shall not"
1T is 1. not you. who decide what is to
be done. You could not get a horse"
do you think I am afraid Of the dark?
am not a child. You shall not land"
You forget the disguise you are wear
ing
At that she hastily drew the sailcloth
higher over her lap. and after a pause
burst into a soft, low. musical laugh. 1T
is absurd" she murmured.
1t was the first time I had heard her
laugh and the music of it ravished me-
But on the instant she changed again
"Oh. what a heartless wretch you must
think me to laugh at such moment"
she said. earnestly.
Il do not deem you heartless. i under
stand. But you must do what I wish
Come" And having made the boat fast
I stepped ashore and held out my hand
She sprang out and ran past me. Il
forbid you to follow me-" she said q she
dashed on ahead up the beach
disobeyed. of course, and overlook her
When reached her she atOnnod