Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
By Arthur w. Marchmont,
Author of
"A Dash for a Throne"

| to account. But if he struck me down.
| as Breva says. how could l have slain
| him. Molta?" If any one could find out
she could.
She drew back and stared searchingly
at me as a new light began to break in
upon her thoughts. But can you not
remember what passed?'
| IF even my love for you seems
strange thing. what else should remem-
ber?"
DO you mean that it does seem
strange. Beppo?"
Il have told you l do not understand
myself. All seems strange 1t is as
4 though there were a blank page in my
/ life / paused and sighed heavily 1t
| was. indeed. more and no less than
| the truth, and l had heavy cause for the
sigh,
| She sat for some moments with her
! fingers closely interlocked. her lips pursed
and her face frowning in thought. i
/ gave a start as if a further idea had oc-
CURED to me. There is another thing,
! Molta If Vicino did not strike me down,
whose hand could have done it?''
! who were there?' she asked. very
sharply.
Il know not Giuseppe. l believe. and
! Drake. and part of the time. Breva. But
! the lad loves me too well to do me an in
! jury"
| Giuseppe" She almost Kissed the
! name between her clenched teeth and her
eyes cleaned with fresh suspicion.
/ | saw that I had said enough. With a
| sigh of WEAKNESS | fell back on my pill
| low ."Ah I am overtaxed. Molta. Leave
| me to sleep
She sat on for while. staring fixedly
! at me- Then she rose. You have fired
me with dangerous thoughts. Beppo,' she
said, and went out of the room.
! If knew aught of a woman's nature,
! it would go hard with Giuseppe If she dis
covered that he had been the traitor IN
| this business.
! The next day I declared myself well
! enough to leave my bed, and passed the
time in my chair by the window. observ-
| ing what went on around. The window
commanded a view of large part of the
! island. l saw the people at work in the
olive groves and in the fields and was
| surprised to find they were but few in
number.
AT noon they trooped up to the house
for the midday meal and l counted them
then. There were scarcely more than a
dozen. Breva was among them. and
was witness of a little love scene between
him and Pepita. She ran out of the house
just before he arrived and pretended to
| be so busy feeding some chickens, which
| had no need of food at such an hour, that
she knew nothing of his coming. Her
surprise at his stealthy approach was
well acted. but it did not deceive him
more than me, and in a trice the pair
were away together out of sight of the
| house and of the rest of the folk. billing
and cooling like a pair of turtle doves.
AS Pepita returned toward the house
alone and with such an air of innocence.
Masita met her. My heart gave great
leap at the sight of her. l feasted my
eyes upon her radiant beauty and as
noted the sadness in her eyes and the pal
lor of her face. 1 renewed all the vows l
had made before to help her. and COM
forted myself with the thought that my
renewed strength and health would give
me the power to do it if only my wits
could find the means.
They spoke of me, / think, for Pepita
i.ponted once to my window. | moved
back quickly as Masita turned to glance
up, but not so quickly that l failed to see
the scorn in her face or miss the shudder
with which she turned again and went
on her way.
'.She is very beautiful. ell. Beppo?"
broke in the deep voice of Beltano at my
elbow But she hates the very mention
of your name" He had entered the room
while | had been absorbed in my thoughts
of her
What does her hatred concern me?' I
replied, indifferently.
Something, my. good Beppo. Some
thing. surely. for she holds to her vow to
make you suffer for Vicinos death. Re-
member that; aye. remember it always"
why should she care so much for
Vicino?"
Was he not in some sort her kinS-
man? Are Your wits still woolgather-
ing?'
Il had forgotten it. But let her hate.
In health and strength l am almost my
old self again. What care l for wom-
ans hate
yet l am sorry for it, man. ! shall
have beautiful bride, but / would rather
she had been friendly to my sisters hus-
band
"She will get over it, l said. with a
shrug. You will tame her, Beltano."
He shook his head doubtingly. She is
girl who feels strongly. l would with
all my heart it had been otherwise"
'.Then 1 will make her shed this silly
prejudice. l shall be out tomorrow. I'll
win her round or force her round. Ills
all one to me-
IT you could do it / should be glad"
use of any force. You know not women
and their ways. You don't draw a bolt
| by driving it under the surface with a
sledge hammer
Leave the means to me. but let me
have the opportunity
oh you shall have the opportunity"
he answered smiling and shaking his
head. But Vicinos death lies between
you two. and until she is welded to me
and all our interests are one that barrier
will stand fast
Maybe, l replied with shrug of
feigned indifference.
But if the removal of the barrier had
to wait until he forced Masita to marry
| him. it would never be removed. if |
could prevent it-even if she persisted in
making her threat against me good and
my life were the forfeit
| resolved to lose no more time | had
dallied too long already in my sick room,
and the morrow should see the COM
mencement of my task.