Evening star., 1922-12-23
CHATTER vi.

Hal II.
AZ o'clock in the morning the
s"ad that joins the port and the city
"f Las Palmas shows very little sign
of the peaceful English invasion. 1t
is given over To the iSlanders-to
peasant women with baskets of
produce on their heads; to men driv-
ing donkeys laden with fruit and
Vegetables, and creaking bullock
carts
The early morning was Pansy's
favorite time-the world was a place
Of dew and brightness. with the sun
.sliutinG gold on sandy hills and air
that Sparkled like champagne
She trotted along on her big horse
toward the white city, its fiat roofs.
low houses and palms giving it an
oriental aspect. Riding through the
town. she crossed a wide bridge and
went upward through Il grove OF
palms. past banana gardens. into Il
deserted world. with a blue sky over
head and an endless stretch of sea
behind.
As she mounted higher the hill
grew Vineclad and great, ragged
"cucaiyptus trees stood in tatters by
The roadside. Here and there was IL
Stunted pine. the deep green of a
walnut tree, Il clunp of bamboo, u
palm and occasionally u great patch
Of prickly cacti. whose flaming flow
"rs stood out red against dazzling
day.
She. rode without spurs or whip,
v hen necessary, urging her horse
with hand and voice only.
village was reached. where
black hrowed men in Sluuch hats and
blanket cioakS lounged in groups.
smoking and gossping. and swarthy
women with bright handkerchiefs
:'round their heads stared at the girl
h>tride the big horse.
In the dust ii the road a little
group Of half-clad. barefooted chill
'ir.n dragged Il trio of unfortunate
lizards along by strings around their
'ecks. and screamed with delight at
III" writings of the tortured reptiles.
The sight brought a lock of dis
trrsS to Pansy's face.
Refining in her horse. she slipped
oil and went toward the group.
In Indifferent Spanish she gave q
''rI"f Lecture on cruelty. There was
- Sprinkliu@ Of small coins and the
lizards changed owners.
pausy stopped. LooSening the
strings from their soft throatS. she
picked them out of the dust. They
We're pretty. harmless little things.
each about eighteen inches long and
bright green in color. that hung limp
IN her gentle hands and looked at her
with tortured eyes. Holding them
carefully. she went back to her
horse and, with the rcins over her
.trn, made her way through the viii
lag".
once Well out of sigh, of the place
>A" seated herself on hank AT the
side Of the road and laid the three
lamp little forms on warm, fiat
sunny rock. Then she tried to coax
them back t" life and their normal
state of bright freshness.
As she sat rubbing. with a gentle
f"refinEer, their soft, painting throats.
grooming over them with pity ing
cords. TO" intent on her task to
notice what was going on around her.
=. deep voice said with an Unexpected
r"Ss that made her jump:
They'll do exactly the same with
the hext lizards they catch"
She look ed around quickly.
In the middle of the road mounted
on ID huge black horse, was the man
whose life she had saved.
Tansy's gaze rested on him for a
>a"nent before she replied. He made
such Il picture on the black horse;
with his strong, sunburnt face and
wsll-cut Khaki riding suit-the most
-'"rEoct ronIbina tion of horse and man
Sh. had ever seen.
II Iuow they WILL she said. But,
S:.u. re done my best for these
'llrcc,'
"np YOU always try to do Your best
for everything that comes your way,
I'ansy:" he asked tenderly
only a few privileged people are
allowed TO call me 'Pansy," she said
tJrtlA.
What else can call you, since
,nu refuse I" tell Inc your nam-?"
You mean I" say YOU haven't
round out yet" she exclaimed.
81 never gossip Ire replied in Il
Laushty tone.
~ don't know yours' she answer
-. $50 were what il called in Eng
irsh quits
What exactly does quits near:
] don't know much English:
As PanSy petted the lizards she e&-
.lairned the meaning of the word.
During the explanation one of her
protrgcs recovered and darted off in
most thankless manner into
.revtce IN the rocks.
MY name is lie Breton he sad
" hen he had gasped her meaning
"Raoul lie Breton.
pansv stared at him.
She had surprised him. on the oc-
.dsion of their first meeting. but he
had turned the tables on her.
During her stay in Teneriffe she
rad heard Of Raoul LIE Breton. He
vas a French millionaire. an African
merchant prince. so rumor said.
She had had Il feeling that he had
followed her that morning and she
was inclined to he angry about it
Vow she saw that ii he sought her
rut it was rot from mercenary mo-
tives. since he was quite as wealthy
IS she was. What was more. he had
20 idea who She was.
~ m always Interested in ,nlillion-
.tircs.' she said. Il mischievous CLINT
- her eyes.
.'An women are he responded
,rinily.
But you're not the only million
are in the islands. she remarked.
her h.r is n
" as. one here quite recently. An
E.nglishwoman Of the name Of Lang
ham I deteSr women with money.
They are invariably ugly and con-
ceiteG
Pausy laughed-a ripple Of sheer
"Perhaps their independence an
.oys you. she suggested. II be-
'jeve you're known as the master
-ul' type"
With that her attention went back
Dismountin- Lc Breton came TO
her side.
YOU speak French remarkably
veil" he commented. as the moments
passed and no notice was taken of
him.
II vas educated in Paris.
She glanced at him, her eyes brim-
ming with mischief. and. as she
.;,anced, another of her protuges
frisked thanklessly away.
''Wouldn't you like TO know ms
l,ame?" She asked.
AZ present its sufficient that You
re Pansy. Hearts Ease. don't you
"a, in Englsh?'
Il wish | could ease this one poor
/ tito beast she said. touching the
rernaininG lizard. But l fear it's
nurt beyond redemption.
STOPPING. he picked up the little
,eI =