Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
MY LOST SELF.

the rooms We're brighter and the windows
commanded a glorious view over the sea
The place was very dirty and covered
with dust, but little work would soon
render them passably comfortable.
You will remain here" l announced.
bluntly. THE place shall be cleaned at
once and got ready"
She made no reply; gave no sign. in
deed. that she had even heard me. and
on. the very brink of the precipice, and
from whore she stood she was unable TO
see even the narrow ribbon of path,
which afforded a treacherous foothold
some few feet below the window.
Her face clouded Involuntary she
caught her breath in dismay.
Its a big jump. signorina,' l said.
with coarse chuckle.
Again she affected not to have heard
me.
My brutal jibe was intended for Bel
tano. however and 1t had the effect /
wished, for he turned angrily upon me to
protest. but l shrugged my shoulders and
swung away, leaving him to say what he
would to Masta.
l returned to the farmstead and told
Molta the arrangements L had made, ana
that some of the women must be sent TO
the old fortress at once TO have 1t ready
for Masita before Beltano left the island
She was delighted with the plan. ~ on
L
keeping her in her room here. but this is
better" and she gave the necessary
orders al once.
She was for leaving the. rooms all but
bare of furniture. 1T is prison, let II
be one she declared. vindictively. She
you
"She is TO be Beltano's wife. Molta." l
replied. That pretext served to obtain
for Masita such furniture as was avail
able. and / myself carried over many
things | judged she would need.
AT this Molta took umbrage. sneering
jealousy at my care and thought for
Masita. but l pleaded Beltano's wishes
and gained my end.
Pepita read my motive. however. and
once we were alone spoke to me. You
are surely mad, Beppo. All the women
on the island will know why you do
this"
''She is to be the wife of our leader.
Ask Beltano if 1 have done too much
She threw up her hands. There Will be
trouble from it, she cried
THE trouble will be Masita's. Should
aught come to me | will deal with it.
You are mad she repeated. She
has bewitched you
See to it that she does not bewitch
you. You will attend upon her. l re-
piled.
Il would rather some othe~ had the
task
''Shall 1 give it to Agapa?"
"The Holy Virgin forfend," she eX-
claimed. with shudder.
I'VE both understand. Now listen to
what I say. ] am taking no risks in this
matter. At night 1 shall be on guard out
side but you must be as Watchful as
cat within. You will not close your eyes
during the dark but watch necessarily,
and at the slightest sound to rouse sus-
picion you will call to me. You can sleep
from the dawn. and when chance offers
in the day also. Breva will watch in the
daytime when | sleep
At noon I sought out Breva and told
him. The lad loved me, l think. and
readily agreed TO do all l wished. But he
and Pepita had talked much together of
Masita and the change in me. and he
could not now restrain his curiosity.
''You have some secret purpose, Beppo.
You will trust me2 My life is yours"
when the time comes l will tell you.
Have patience
Soon after midday Beltano left. having
first seen Masita installed in her new
quarters AS he came out | was at the
spot | had selected for my sentinel work.
T told him the arrangements | had made
and that.I wished him to repeat them to
Molta.
'.She is mad against Masta for her
treatment of me and may think that l am
doing too much.' ! said Tell her it is
all done by your orders.
II have thought it over. You are right.
Ne answered. Il know now@tnat Agapa' s
heart is full of wrath. I was to have
welded her. and you know what a Greek
is. If trouble should arise, deal with it
as you will. You are IN my place. in this.
And remember, l trust TO YOU" he said
as he held out his hand.
l felt something of traitor as l gave
him mine. but Masita's welfare was above
all in my eyes, and / dared not show a
sign to him of. what was in my heart. He
6an.l ri d q
or two later l went to Masita.
The two rooms assigned to her use had
been thoroughly cleaned: they We're
bright and cheerful with the sunlight and
made by no means uncomfortable quar-
tiers.
She was sitting buried in thought, and
as I entered glanced at me and then
dropped her eyes, as If to resume the
broken thread of her thought. She af-
fected to ignore my presence.
But | had to rouse her interest. and to
do this began first to play upon her
curiosity. l knew that only one line was
possible with her. and that l could only
look to prevail by strong measures. She
would never yield except to stronger
will
/ stood a moment CHANGING about me. as
if assuring myself that all had been done
as / had directed, and then moving to u
spot directly behind her, | stood still
as a statue. staring straight at her. con-
centrating all my will to force her to
turn and look at me.
Whether size guessed my purpose | can
not say, but minute after minute passed
without a sign that she even knew | was
still in the room. The window was open.
and through it came the sound of the lap
ping of the waves en- the seashore far be-
low the only sound to break the dead
silence.
Presently I observed slight signs of UNI
easiness. First her shoulders moved UNI
easily. Then the hand on which her face
rested began to tremble as the muscles
frightened. Her breath deepened and
uuickened. growing tremulOuS and aSi-
tated. And all the time | stood like
stone figure, controlling even my breath
ing that she should not hear it,
AS the time passed the strain upon her
intensified. Many signs were manifest
now that the ordeal was testing her self
suddenly the end came. She Sprang up
and turned at bay. her face pale and her
lips quivering, and her eyes atiame with
anger.
You coward she cried
l made no reply. standing stock still. as
if l had not heard her speak, and con-
tinued to stare sternly straight into her
eyes.
Again she took up the challenge of my
gaze, facing me at first in hot anger,
then in curious doubt OF my purpose.
gradually with "a dawning fear. and at last
almost reluctantly and with quickly
mounting effort. forcing herself to main
tain contest in which she now felt she
must fail.
All length her eyes fell. and with cry
she hid her face in her hands and threw
herself back into the chair.
Still | made no sign nor movement. l
4 r.