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80
'THE SUND'AY OREGONlAy; POETNIr fARrC 1900.
a3acaLrf,j -JySSSSW
ZteXfLE ofe WWDS
By SCllpCKElT V
PtYtures by G.A.SfflPLEY
Synopsis of Previous Chapters.
Sir James Etansfleld. of New Mllna, In com
pany with hU grandson, young Philip, meets In
an lxmhouso his son Philip and his son's para
mour. Janet Mark. They quarrel. Elr James
goes home, taking his grandson. That night h
Is murdered by his dissolute son and Janet
Mark. They lay his body outside on an loe
floe. In the effort to lay the crime to others.
But the boy Philip has witnessed the crime. lie
tells his grandfather's chief tenant. Cmphray
Epurway. who succeeds In nalng the real mur
derers brought to Justice. Philip Is sentenced
to be hanged, and his woman accomplice. to be
transported, Mysteriously he escapes the gal
lows, fieeks out his wife, finds her In the com
pany of Spurway. and tries to murder her, but
does not quite succeed. She Is taken away to
Abercairn for cure, leaving her son In charge
of Spurway and with little Anna Mark, who
teaches him that In some ways girls arc worth
quite as much as boys. Still, they are excel
lent friends, even though she beats him at her
studies In the school to which they go. John
Stansneld, Philip's lawyer-uncle, brings In a
new teacher. Dominie Rlngroee, a small man,
with wonderful eyes. Shortly after his coming
the countryside Is shocked and thrilled by a
number of bloody and mysterious murders, evi
dently for the sake of robbery. Business calls
Umphray Spurway from home. In bis absence
a big packing case, purporting to be full of line
Spanish wool. Is delivered to Will Bowman.
Umphray's clerk, who puts it In the weaving
shed. That night Philip, playing about it. ores
shining through the gauze a pair of eyes. He
calls Will Bowman, who counts three, then
stabs the case with a small sword. Blood
flows. They open the case, and find Dominie
Rlngrose Inside, apparently dead. Shortly after
the house Is attacked by robbers, whom Ring
rose had meant to let In. They are beaten off;
but afterwards Philip's mother refuses to let
him spend the holidays at New Milns. Return
ing from a day's visit to New Mlins, Philip
falls In with Saul Mark. Anna's gypsy father,
who. tinder pretense of showing him Sir Harry
Morgan's treasure, makes him a prisoner.
.Anna finds out his plight, and leads Spurway
on his track. By the help of his silent partner.
Provost Gregory Partan. Saul Mark, super
cargo of the ship Corramantee. Imprisons both
Anna and Spurway, robbing Spurway of much
money and a portrait of Philip's mother. Philip
the elder goes out In Epurways cloak to his
wife's house, and by threats Induces her
aboard the Corramantee. Anna and Philip
make friends with Eborra. He shows them the
secrets of the Island, and where Sir Harry
Morgan's treasure Is. guarded by Fer-de-lance
and his hosts. Eborra has scented a boat, in
which he plans to escape with Anna. Philip,
Mrs. Stansneld and his mother: slso Will
Bowman, who is In the clutches of the pirate.
The pirates sail away with two or three ships.
The boat starts, encounters other pirates, but
Is towed safely away by a monster devil
fish. The boat reaches Puerto Rico In safety,
and Its Inmates approach a convent seeking
help. The convent takes In the women. The
men go into a chain gang. It Is making a road
for the pleasure of the governor's wife. She
chances to pass along, and Will Bowman and
Philip discover her to be Janet Mark, little
Anna's mother. Janet Mark, now the Lady
Juanlta Sllveda. stands friend to her country
men, but they soon find It Is a perilous favor.
(Copyright. ISM. under the name of "Little
Anna Mark." by S. R. Crockett.)
(Copyright, 1K. by S. H. Crockett.)
CHAPTER XL.I. (Continued.)
Then Donna Juanlta talked to us Jn
English, or more often In the Moreham
Scotch of the more vulgar sort, while
her husband, not being able to under
stand a word, eat and fidgeted, or stood
by the window kicking his heels and
tangling his spurs in the hangings, not
daring to say a word. Save that I thought
on the chain gang and the Inquisition. I
could have found it In my heart to be
fiorry for him.
Donna Juanlta listened to the relation ol
our escape with the greatest interest, till,
asking where the others of our party were,
she suddenly bade her husband go back
Incontinent to the monastery and fetch
all who had come with us In the boat.
"I taw a well-looking young lad at the
nunnery wall. It Is not fair that he
should stay there to play bob-cherry over
so many watering mouths!"
The commandante hesitated, as It were
hanging tn the wind for an excuse to
stay.
"I 6hall send a messenger Immediately."
he said, "It Is more lining, and the heat
of the day Is great."
I bade you go and bring them. Nlcho-
V 5nM Tt.i-.ltn ,..... I . .t i ...
las
with Will.
n"ni """"" -""i""e ner taiK
The Governor shuffled toward the door.
;,..., eyP?' fu" ot fur5'- wero turned on
AMU and myself. I wished that Juanlta
had not showed herself quite so friendly.
In a few moments, however, we heard tho
rattle of horses' feet. and. looking through
the curtains. I beheld this most luxurious
Military Governor, with a single atten
dant, speeding away in the direction of
the monastery of St. John of Brozas.
"I think," began Will, rising uneasily,
"that I should go and meet"
""Sit down!" cried the lady, quoting a
Spanish proverb. "The only folly I cannot
forgive Is Ingratitude, the only sin stu
p.dlty. Time enough to greet your folk
when they nrrivc!"
f? .PMfrVv.e had t0 slt down oea'n.
and tell the lady -many things to fill up
tne time, I spoke of my mother, but could
not summon resolution to tell her of Anna.
Ana Indeed If any one will take the trouble
to think on all the circumstances. I judge
that he will not greatly blame me. So
that, be It well believed. It was with a
tremulous heart that I waited the advent
of my mother and Little Anna Mark.
" CHAPTER XLIL
Jezebel's Ds.URh.ter.
Before her husband's return tho lady
had time to tell us all her adventures, now
standing by Will's stool and playing with
his hair, anon gazing out at the window.
She spoke of Moreham. She queried con
cerning New Milns. Tet all the time
she continued to Inform us In the com
mon accent of the vulgar that she only
knew these places from having visited at
the house of a noble family In the nelch
borhood. "It was in her leddyship's time that I
gaed malstly about Clay Pots." she said,
with the careless hauteur born of high
breeding, "aye. aye. fell fond o' me was
hir pulr leddyshlp. an' tried hard to get
up a match atwecn me an her auldcst
eon Halrry. that Is noo my lord. But na
no for Leddy Johanna Macklnstry that
was royeel'. My maiden name we maun
ken. I fairly scorned him. I julst couldna
bear to look at him. And then a things
gaed wrang when the guld cause gacd
to the war: an' at the last, me that wns
sae proud, was stown awa frae my native
land!"
Anon she would relapse into a number
of Spanish proverbs, and the curious thing
was that so soon as she ceased telling
talcs of her own Invention and began to
porallze after the manner of her adopted
-ountry. she spoke good enough English,
relinquishing completely the common
Scots" manner of speech.
"But there I have come to a country
where the slaves are the only free men,
where I must put ud with fool nnrt
knaves and sing 'Why left I my homer
Tet God be thanked. I can make them
serve me. If a dog barks at you, give
him a bone: and death Is the only elck
ness for which there is no remedy. But
what keeps my husband? He has had time
to have been there and back a score of
times. What Is your name, young ladf
"Philip r i said, without Adam? my
surname.
"Ah I" she meditated, "one I kenned a
Philip but he did not favor you: far
otherwise. Indeed!" She looked me over
a little disdainfully, and I blushed (I fear
.somewhat foolishly), knowing of whom she
spoke. It was not vanity, God wot. For
I know well I was never so tall or so well
favored as my father. But so long as
Anna thought otherwise, I cared naught
for the opinion of any other.
"Now. Philip, go and. And my husband!"
she said to me. "Tell him to make haste,
for I am Instant to see those who came
from the pirate Isle with you."
I started up and was at the door in a
moment, but Will was before me.
But this the lady would In no wise
permit. She thought more of Will's bodily
presence than of mine, being older. 1
suppose a thing that made me glad, and
I resolved to vex will afterward by cast
ing up to him the lady's preference
"Bide, Englishman," she said, "let
young Abercairn go!"
At which Will had perforce to return
against his will and I departed well con
tent. But I was none so well pleased
with the sight that met me outside of the
town. For mounted on mules and canter
ing ponies I met a whole cavalcade. First
came my mother on a steady pacing beast
of a gray color. She had on a kind of
nun's dres with a white nand across the
forehead. In which I hated to seo her. A
brown rosary was about her neck, and
she looked as It she had spent all her
life within convent walls, this owing not
so much to piety as to the delicate purity
of her complexion, of which she always
took the greatest care.
Next came the old witch woman, carried
In a sort of rude Utter by two stalwart
negroes, while Eborra ran beside her.
ready to render any assistance which
might be necessary.
But the last pair caused nj the great
est astonishment of all. For' Anna rode
boy fashion on a fiery little steed with
the Commandante beside her on his black.
She was still dressed In the manner which
some of the Spaniards have learned from
the Indians; that Is to say. In a youth's
suit of dressed deerskin, fringed and bead
ed. A short tanned skirt of fine doeekln
came a little Below her knees. Cross
gartered hosen, little peaked Indian shoes
and a feathered cap completed an attire
pretty Indeed to look upon, but one which,
appearing In Moreham Kirk on a Sab
bath morn, would have raised a revolu
tion In all the parochln.
All the time the commandante was de
vouring Anna with his eyes, while as for
the minx herself, as usual, she was eking
out ner Droken Spanish with her eye-
I ft W AS '
lashes.
"No puede. senorl'
she as saying, "no
mfl nfnm "
What It was that the senor could not
do. or why Anna wanted more water. I
cannot tell. Most likely the whole was
but an excuse to make play with her
darkly roguish eyes. For it was about
this time that Anna began to snow a
consciousness of her beauty wholly new,
and I will admit that, though I mlsllked
It at the time, afterwards It was pleas
ing to recall her little successes, and how
she served this one and that other, know
ing all the time that her heart was alto
gether mine.
Presently they all came within the ln
closure of the castle. I hclpl my mother
down from tne saddle as from a castle
wall, who, when she had disentangled her
self, fell Into my arms and wept over mc.
The first question she asked was whether
Umphray Spurway had yet arrived. And
when I told her "no" "Ah. then," she
murmured, "he Is surely on his way!"
Over my mothers shoulder I could see
the red-faced commandante, who had dis
mounted In puffing haste, holding out his
arms to catch Anna In the free island
manner.
But of this Anna would have nothing,
for with a merry laugh, tho little witch
leaped nimbly down, resting only the tips
of her fingers lightly on Don Nicholas'
outstretched arm. Whereupon the gallant
soldier of the most Catholic King bent
him on one knee In the dust of the exer
cising yard, and kissed the small brown
hand which Anna permitted him to retain.
"Why, what harm? I thought I was do
ing the best for all of usl" said my lass
afterward, and gave not a fig for any dlc
trine or proof of mine. But all the same
It had been better If she had chosen an
other spot for her Ill-set tricks than Imme
diately beneath tho window of Mistress
Juanlta Sllveda.
Will Bowman told me of it nftrnmni
"I was standing by the window sulky as
a dog that you have kicked." said Mas
ter Will, "and I wished I had been one, too.
For the woman came ajid leaned upon mc
faugh and pawed my hair and breathed
upon my neck OH I thought I would have
burst, or It may be, clouted her on the
car. Had I not remembered that she was
our only hope Indeed, but for your moth
er's sake and Anna's I would let drive at
the besom with my foot,"
I said something here.
"Oh, that be hanged for a tale. CWill
did not often swear.) I knew as soon as
I clapped eyes on her that the trollop
was no more of a lady than Tip. our cat.
that rakes the roofs in the midnight! And
as I say, if it had not been for your moth
er, I would have knifed her and thrown
her over the window to the dogs, like that
other besom In the Bible Jezebel, was
that not her name? I heard Miss John
read about her In the kirk once. And a.
rare tale it was, too!
"Then, all suddenly. I had ease'lndecd."
Will went on. "for It chanced that Jezebel
looked out of the window over my shoul
der and there upon the plaza she saw
King Aham kneeling. If you please, on the
hard mud to our Anna, decked out like
a stripling from a play-acting booth, all
flno with beads and tags and gauds. And
she. well looking down at him like the
little vixen she Is.
"Well then I tell you. she was in a rare
taking. My lady thought no more of
breathing down my nck. By the head
of Noll, will a cat lick her pawn when sho
can l.ck cream? Jezebel stamped her foot
and clenched her hands, looking as If she
would have leaned down from the window
upon the pair of them. She strode up and
down like one of Lag's troopers in a cov
enanting house, and when at last the door
opened I expected her every moment to
fly at Anna as she came in.
"And she would, too only that the Don
camo first, and the brunt of her anger fell
on him. He quailed and stammered as
Indeed you heard him. His own flno Cas
tilllan failed him In the hour of need as
If It had been a foreign tongue.
" 'Foul toad, spawn of a mud bank,' she
cried, "you would betray me to mv fu-
"" ""t wjmi a siuy ape-zaced girl, tho
slave of a slave? By our lady. I will mTr
her. She shall no longer witch fools with
her upward glances. I will pluck out her
eyes pyke them as corbies do '
"At this, thinking that she would do
eren as she said, I came between. In a
moment she had a dagger drawn on me,
the which she stuck through my forearm.
JrL
M&m
lj
- ,. CC-'J-T-J.
mtJii.
. O',
. ..
"WITH TREMBLING
Then, plucking It out again, she flew like
a fury upon Anna, and If you, Philip, had
not gotten between them, I trow she
would have had It In her heart."
Thus far. Will. I may as well tell thercst
In my own plain tale. I did step pctweeu
tho two, for Anna kept her ground gal
lantly as the wife of the commandante
rushed at her with dagger uplifted.
"Hold. Janet Mark!" I cried loudly,
catching hold of her: "do not kill your
own child.
Sho struggled wildly for a minute as I
held her by the wrist.
"She Is your own child, your little Anna
Mark!" I repeated In a calmer tone.
And the second time the spoken words
did not fall of their effect.
"Little Anna Mark!" she repeated after
me. uncertainly, pausing between each
word.
"Aye. Anna Mark. Indeed,' I continued:
"the babe you bade farewell to on tho
steps of Moreham kirk. I kenned you.
Janet Mark, even as soon as I clapped
eyes on you!"
I expected every moment that she would
turn on me and order us all to the sal
lows, being In fear lesf her husband should
discover her for the thing she was. Bui
I -misjudged the woman. Sin like this
woman's debases the heart, but It does not
kill natural affection.
She looked at Anna long and keenly.
The stiletto, or thln-bladed albacete knife
dropped from her hand. She ran forward,
caught her daughter by the shoulders nnd !
eagerly perused herfeatures. '.
Tt conna be It canna-lt canna." she
cried aloud In country speech; "this Is no
my wee lass my bonny wo lasa that I
left sae far awa'!"
Atma stood mute, looking questtonlngly
from one to the other of us.
"This is. Indeed. Little Anna Mark,"
said my mother; speaking for the first
time, "but Philip doats. You are not her
mother. Her mother wan nn evil woman,
a murderess. She, was transported for
her crime. She was sold for a slave In
tho plantations of Carolina."
Now, thought I. -we are done for. Indeed.
Recognizing a hostile voice, Janet Mark
turned on my mother.
"Who are your.' sho said with a sud
denly whitened face.
"l am Philip Btansfield's wife." an-
swercd my mother calmly, "and this Is
mX STr ,. ,.,. j. .. .. i .
Janet Mark lifted her hands and hid her
"v n. m ... . ...
Philip Stansfleld s wife! she mux- !
mured, and again. "Philip Stansfleld's wife.
God be merciful to me a sinner!"
Then sho turned to where her husband, I
Don Nicholas, was standing open-mouthed,
not understanding a word of our discourse.
but following with hungry curiosity every
gesture and action.
She held out a hand to htm.
"Take me away." ehe sold In Spanish.
She kept hrr eyes averted from Anna's
pale face with Its look of wondering in
nocence. In which was yet no fear.
"My little Anna Mark!" sho repeated
wistfully, like one in a dream.
And. as the door closed upon the com
mandante and his wife my mother sank
down in a. dead faint Into Will Bowman's
arms. Anna and I looked at each other,
while Eborra'. mother muttered Incanta
tion after Incantation as if to appease
an angry demon.
And truly all the demons of circum
stance and misfortune seemed to dog our
track, and for the .first time In all our
wanderings I began to despair.
CHAPTER XLIII,
The Castaways.
And had I. with the doubtful wm.i
& of Eborra?. StehTte."bS
MS- .nHpJlU.eV.-i
able tp see that which was approachln
the Isle of Ban Juan, I might well have
said to myself that malignant demons
were following; our trail.
But as It was I could not discern a
certain .small boat far out to sea-a boat
which seemed to drift here and there, yet
which notwithstanding progressed nearer
and ever nearer to our Island.
There -were two men In It. one of them
Wing at full length In the bottom with
nla face In the shadow of a thwart. He
had his head turned away. The other
at "With one hand in his bosom. The
other was laid occasionally on the tiller,
from which It would drop off again In a
moment. For the dull, rlery glow from
the slanting sun made the Iron of tbo
tiller bar as hot as the bans of a grate,
falling at the same time upon the pros
trate man and turning a pair of largo
silver earrings into hoops of burning cop
per. The man at tho tiller looked down as
his companion turned bis head and
moaned. He slid his hand into a locker
and drew from It a case bottle and a
small cluster of bananas. Then he held
the bottle up to the light, turning It up
side down to seo how much liquid re
mained in it. The wide neck was scarce
ly filled.
The next moment Captain Philip Stans
fleld. late of the Corramantee and of the
Isle of the Winds, was supporting the
bead of Saul Mark on his knee and pour
ing the last drops of rum down his throat.
He did not reserve so much as one drop
for himself.
To all intents the man he now stooped
FI.GEItS HE OPEXED THE BOX AXD
to succor had been dead. The slight
I movements he made from time to time
wero no more than the spasm .of im
minent rigor. But the strong liquid pene
trated to the springs of life. The heavy
eyelids were slowly upraised, life looked
out of tho bloodshot eyeballs. The soul
of the man awoke and showed n mo
ment like an evil beast nt the mouth ot
his lair. Saul Mark recognized the fact
that was bent over him, and the faint
somblance of a grin twitched his mouth
downward and to one side. "Still a
sea-mile to windwnrd of hell. Philip!" he
murmured, and closed his eyes with a,
singular gleam of triumph in them.
Captain Stansfleld sighed and went on
trying to force a piece of crumbled banana
between tho clenched teeth.
"Not yet." he murmured: "not yet
Death alone shall release me from my
bond. I "will pay the price yes, to the
uttermost farthing I will pay!"
And lifting his eyes, ho saw blnck
across the crimson arc of the sinking
sun, very far away, the sierra of tht
isie ot san Juan do Puerto Rico.
It Was a Week or two aftprwnrrt thnt I
the lady Juanlta Sllveda. who had re- '
covered fronNher brief Indisposition, and
now went out more than ever, ordered out
her carriage that she might tnke the air.
With her went Anna, by reason of th
sudden favor which had descended ,upon
her. Indeed, the scnora could not bt
parted from the girl, scarcely for nn hour.
A b"lroom had been hastily thrown InU
"ifiT.J,.1""""-
rX""' ", , ; "T " ' """"? h""'"
officers from old Spain .iwore under their
breaths that Donna Juanlta had sudden
ly gone mad. For they said It was easy
tosce that Don Nicholas had fallen over
head nnd ears ("and" that last Is a long
fall." murmured Ramon Garcia. Lieu
tenant of Artillery) In lovo with the young
English girl, whose eyes are like ftr
matches and whoso skin like tho roso
leaves of the huerta of Arlhuela.
"Carramba. scnora." quoth Don Ra
mon, curling his moustnchlos. "It Is a
shame that one ehlny-pated old command
ante with a forehold on him like the port
of Spain galleon should monopolize the
only well-looking women In the planta
tion. XjAt (hem olmtA nrm lnt ttiAm
I choose. Trust a woman's eye for plck-
inr- it nn. .. - - .., ,-
And with his conclusion Don Ramon
swung tho end of his cloak over his shout-
der nnd about his mouth, according tc
tho Pinion of the Murclnns: who. being
condemned to grill six months of the year
in holl-flre heat, and to shiver tho other
six In an ley Gehennn. use their cloaks
Indifferently to moderate the rigors of
either.
There was also much jeauousy among
the officers concerning WW and myself.
And many there were, racked with fever
and disappointment, fingered their dag
gers when they found themselves passed
over In fnvor of a pair of heretics fresh
from the chain gang, whose only merit
was that they knew something about the
duties to which they had been appointed.
For ready to our hands (and some
what readier to Will's than to mine), wt
found a weaving shed where Indians nnd
half-breeds, negro slaves nnd mulatto
freedmen, starving colonists ond men too
weak for the chain gang, wrought side
by side 'n the weaving of the striped
eernpes, the thlek-wefted ponchos, tho
gauzy mosquito nets and the comforting
Mexican blankets.
By virtue of the commandante's favor
Will was placed In charge of this, and
having appointed me for his lieutenant,
ho set about reorganizing the whole after
Umphray Spurways model with his own
quick decision.
Now in theso new colonies there is no
such thlnr as promotion by merit. Of
fices are given and taken with, retard
only to the amount of money cr per
quisite which is attached or attachable
to them. So that a sea captain will man
age a gold tdlne or superintend a mint,
take charge of a government printing
press or start a sugar plantation with
equal readiness, being noways conoerned
at any Ignorance of his duties, but hav
ing only a single eye to any plunder which
might stick to his fingers.
So that when Will dispossessed the in
capable superintendent of the Puerto
Rico cloth weaving- (a distinguished "san
crado" or island doctor), he naturally
made a bitter enemy or rather many.
For every holder of a comfortable sin
ecure feared that one or other of these
pushing, irrepressible English would su
persede him and divert the plunder from
donnish breech-pockets to those of the
King of Spain.
But Eborra and. his mother, by using
their great influence among- the blacks
and Indian half-breeds, kept us informed
of the plots to assassinate us as we
passed through the forest. So that whe
tho masked bravos sprang from the bushes
Albocete, knife In one hand, cloak wrapped
about the other arm, we were ready for
them with our swords; bare in our hands
and hastened towards our assailants with
loud cries. These incontinently turned tall
and vanished, even on one occasion plung
ing Into thickets of prickly pear In their
desperation.
A clstol shot out of the wood was a
more dangerous Incident, and they be
came almost a feature of our pilgrim oars.
GLAXCED WITniX.
till, consulting the commandante.' we ob
tained two men as escort. So, with great
bell-mouthed muskets loaded with slugs.
we marched to and fro. the muzzle of each
piece laid affectionately over the shoulder
of a Saanlsh soldier. In this manner we
had peace, nnd the weaving prospered In
our hands. Every Sunday we went to the
convent to see my mother and to do what
offices of kindness we might to the poor
fellows of the chnln gang who bad once
been our comrades.
But I began to tell of Donna Juanlta's
excursion to take tho air. Anna went
with her. still wearing her frlnzed In
dian hunting dress, which she found ex
ceedingly convenient. And In beaded leg
gings, fringed skirt of tanned doeskin,
quilled blouse, pearled with silver buttons
of Potosi. and close-fitting cap, daintily
feathered, who but Anna Mark "was a
sight for sore eyes." as the saying is at
Moreham? The soldiers at the fort
watched for her, hollow-eyed with fever,
and shook as they waited. The negroes
worshiped her as though she had been a
divinity. The commandante walked bo-
b)a her nrlth hla h In M Y,arA nA
marvel 'of marvels, the Lady Juanlta
seemed more fond of her than of any
other, so much so that it was almost
Impossible to find them separate by night
or day.
I know not what tale tho Lady Juanlta
had told Anna to account for her own
transportation across the seas. I have
never asked Anna from that day to this.
Probably It was some Invention of cap
ture by pirates at sea, or kidnaping at
home, as would appear the more credi
ble. In thjt It had been her own fate.
At nil ovents. Anna, willing, though not
rejoiced, to be claimed as a daughter
by this handsome and powerful lady,
endured many caresses, in the hope that
thus one day she might be able to bring
us alt safe back to our native land.
But this thought had to be severely
concealed from the Lady Juanlta, who,
naturally enough, had no Intention of re
visiting Scotland.
"Two years. Anna," she would say.
"and with our economies we will bo able
to return to old Spain! Nicholas has
promised It. We shall see the glories of
tho king's court. I shall have my car
riage repainted, and a new coat of arms
blazoned. Nicholas will receive the order
of the Golden Fleece. I have heard that
the king himself has expressed a desire
to seo me. He likes fine women, so they
say. You as my my younger sister shall
accompany me. We will marry you to a
grandeo of Spain. You shall have a Win
ter house In Madrid, a Summer villa on
the mountains at La Granja, where the
court goes. Nicholas Is rich. We have no
children. Alt he has shall be yours and
mine. If anything should happen to htm
welt, who knows I may marry again.
The Spanish rave about women of my
complexion."
To all this Anna listened without re
monstrance or making objection. For, as
she said to me afterwards, when I spoke
to her about marriage with a grandee ot
Spain:
"No, I did not refuse. For, you know
well. Spain is so far on the road home,
and if wo can get a passage thither and
means to make Umphray acquainted with
our case, we shall all see the Mlln house
again and hear tho water lashing over
the weir."
For, as all may see, Anna had an old
head on young shoulders, and no idea
of bartering the shadow for the sub
stance. So long therefore as the grandee
abode in the background, she was quite
wiumg mat ner motner should talk as
much as she pleased about marriage In
tho abstract. All the same, I knew ehe
had no Idea of marrying any Spaniard,
prince or becsar. Atxmt that X vo my
self no coBcsra whatsoever.
It was talklnc in this fashion that Anna
and her mother rode forth towards the
neTT road on wnie the gangs of half
naked men were at work, their chains
f r?11-?11 tlrJUtner whUo tho cracking
of tna driver's whips resounded from one
end of the busy antheap to the other.
l rri? P in the red
57 "a "ernoo the outriders were
suddenly stopped by some obstruction on
m 5jlwy. Voices cried confusedly
and whips smacked as the negro gang
masters strove to clear the road for the
wile of the commandant. Juanlta looked
put of the belly of the coach. She was
in a good humor. She had that moment
married Anna to a prince of tho blood
and settled Don Nicholas under a marble
monument as heavy as a church.
"Ah, a poor man fallen down! It Is
those accursed chains in the heat ot the
day. It is cruel indeed! But why people
will not worship in the fashion of the
country when they live In a country, I
cannot understand. Stand out of the way
there, fellow! Your hand, Anna. I will
descend. I will descend! Bring the strong
spirit with you; we will revive the poor
man. Take your black haunches out of
a lady's way. wilt your'
And so with loud, humoreome authority
she caused a way to be cleared. In a mo
ment more Anna found herself looking
at two men chained even as we had been
one was gray of head, the other blade
one was elder and the other younger, but
both were gaunt and haggard and naked
oven to the iron rings about their waists.
The elder had the head of the younger on
his knees at the moment when the two
women came up. The younger opened his
eyes.
"Let me go! he murmured. "Why do
you torment me? Let me go to my own
place! You are a devlln
And the elder answered him with a ter
rible grimace of hate. "I will never let
you go. Death Itself shall not release you.
I will haunt you. follow you. live with
you. You shall not die, but live on chained
to the man you wronged. Philip Stans
fleld. my debt is not yet half paid!"
But tho younger man had araln fnfntaA
Then even as Lot's wife stood above
the gate of Sodom, slowly chilling from
warm throbbing- flesh and blood into a
pillar of salt, so stilled and stiffened to
breathing stone Btood the Lady Juanlta.
At the first opening of the press she had
gazed with growing horror on that which
lay before her. The silver rings in tho
ears of tho gray-headed man fascinated
her. Sho could not pluck her eyes from
them.
Her lips moved or rather her jaw.
"What what what whatr' she gasped
as If her voice had spoken of Itself with
out impulse of her will.
The man with the sliver rings lifted hh
head. The surprise must have been even
greater to him than to tbo woman. Yet
he manifested no smallest wonder. Not a
quiver passed over his brown wrinkled
countenance.
"Ah. Joe Janet!" wns all he said.
And though the woman stood there rich
ly uressea ana ine man oeiore ner was
chained and well nigh naked, the tones
were those of a master who speaks to
a slave. Then he seemed to recall him.
self to the case of his companion.
"A happy reunion!" he said, while the
crowd of blacks and soldiers stood and
gaped, psrtly at the foreign tongue and
partly at the ladles. "Philip must not
miss this I will wake him!"
And stooping down he bit his compan
ion's ear till it bled, as calmly as a priest
who gives tho sign of absolution.
A whip cracked and the lash hissed
across the naked back of the man with
tho silver rings. It was Eborra, who
stood before them quivering with anger.
"Let the captain alone!" he cried, "let
him alone, Saul Mark."
Saul Mark raised his head and looked
.at Eborra.
"Yellow Jack!" he sold, calmly. "Wen
the wheel has turned once It may turn
again. I shall not forget."
CHAPTER XLTV.
Snnl Mark's Whisper.
But the savage reveille had been suc
cessful. Philip Stansfleld slowly rose to a
sitting posture. His eyes, glazed and sunk
en, gazed about at first vaguely, then
with growing terror and comprehension.
The Lady Juanlta stood still as It carved
In marble, her hands gripping each other
convulsively. Anna had passed an arm
about her mother, and now half-supported
the elder woman, looking like a tall
young Indian In her hunting skirt ot
fringed and beaded skins.
Saul Mark watched his comrade's fac
with a certain grim and malicious pleas,
ure. laughing a little as he did so.
"Janet Janot Mark!" ejaculated the re
vivified man. panting and gasping In his
turn even as the woman had done, and
for the time could say no more, but sav
up gazing wildly as though he had seen a
specter.
"Journeys end In lovers meeting!" the
words seemed to burn and smoke like add
that is poured on copper. "Philip Stans
fleld and his paramour kiss one another
embrace! Is all forgotten between you!
Have ye found other mates? Fie fle
thus to deny each other, who sinned to
gether! Think of the blood shed for that
cause! Consider"
But he got no farther. For there In the
midst stood forth the woman whom his
presence hod affected with such deadly
terror. But ,now sho was no longer the
Lady Juanlta Sllveda. Sho was Janet
Mark, tho felon.
"Aye," she cried. "I bid you consider
the blood shed and who shed it! You.
Saul Mark, drop by drop! The guilt may
be mlno and his. That I deny not. But
before God the Judge, tho blood-shedding
was yours first and last. By your sug
gestion and compelling I sinned and fell.
I suffered for your crime. And he he "
She paused as If at a loss for words.
Saul Mark laughed a low, cackling laugh,
nodding his head at the same time. Ho
had crossed his legs under him and eat
upon his feet, the chains that were upon
him stretched to their utmost, looking like
some hideous malignant Idol of the Orient.
"What of him aye. what of hlmr ha
chuckled. "Are Philip Stansfleld's sins
mine, toor'
"Aye. by God's great name, are they.
Saul (Mark!" she cried, "yours yours
youra!"
"You arc "generous with other people's
sins, Janet," said Saul Mark. "Pray keep
one or two for yourself, lest you grow
lonely in your old age!"
But she went on. her voice rising with
every word till It rang out Into a shriek
as she pointed her finger at Saul Mark,
the man who was still her husband. Then
Captain Stansfleld raised his head and
sold, speaking very quietly, "Janet, the
greater sin Is ours alone. Iet us endure
the Test! Be silent as I have been!"
There was a sudden commotion on the
other side of the widening circle. Most
of the men had shrunk away, fearing they
knew not what. Perhaps the foreign
tongue used In anger had a strange sound
to them.
And there, through the gap. could We
seen the abbot of San Juan de Brozas
and the Grand Inquisitor, sitting upon
their mules, listening the abbot dark,
stern and Inscrutable as ever, the man of
tho holy office with his head Inclined,
blrdllke. to catch every word.
"Your servant!" said the latter, bow
ing, "my lady, are these more friends of
ypurs? You are most fortunate in friends.
Providence Is Indeed kind to you."
He turned to Saul Mark.
"And you. my friend, are you also from
Scotland and of the Scottish persuasion Is
religion r
"I am Indeed of Scotland," said Saul,
rising to his feet respectfully, and speak
ing In admirable Spanish so that all might
understand, "but I am a humble follower
of the true and ancient faith. I claim
your protection, most reverend fathers.
In this cause I have suffered much."
"By what sign shall we know that you
speak the truth, my eonr' said the Grand
Inquisitor, cunningly.
"By two Infallible proofs," answered
Saul with readiness: "by this that I shan
show you in my hand, and by the word
wnich I shall whisper in your ear."
He slid down his hand and fumbled in
the dirty breech clout which alone clad
mm sparsely about the loins. Then he
held up a hfK at Tlno end of which
swung a cross and as gmn golden re
liquary. "This Z naive carried with me ever
since at Rome, at the tombs of the apos
tles, the holy father himself delivered
to me this blessed relic of St. James the
martyr!"
Ha gave the chain and box into the ab
bot's hand, who received tt with lowly
reverence, crossing himself and commend
ing himself to the saints and espedolly
to St. James, the blessed proto martyr.
With trembling fingers he opened the
box and glanced within. A folded letter
lay on top, written upon a sheet of vel
lum fine as a butterfly's wing. The grand
Inquisitor almost snatched it In hls eager
ness. "It Is true! It is xenulnet" he cried.
"This is the holy father's own hand and
runlcatlon. I have seen it in the holy
office at Madrid, commanding to greater
diligence in the burning of heretics. Bless
ed blessed most blessed the attestation
In Latin and all most complete! How
came you by this great marveir
"I am a rude and unlearned man," sold
Saul, with a low bow. "but It was my
lot to receive It for a service I did the
holy father. I have kept It till now. I
have been In peril of great waters, in fear
of my Ufe among cruel pirates and dead
ly heretics. But now. most reverend
fathers. I give you this blessed reliquary,
that you may keep It in the church of your
noble abbey. I am not worthy to be
the custodian of such a treasure. It is
yours."
The abbot fairly blushed with pleasure.
"It will make us as celebrated as Com
postella," he said. "We shall have pil
grimages from all tho world to this, my
abbey of St. John of Brozas. We will re
name it. St. James shall It be the very
completely to be venerated Santiago da
Brozas!"
"So rare a relic wouM be wasted here."
said the grand Inquisitor, suavely, bal
ancing the golden casket tn hl; hand. "I
will take It back to the King of Spain at
Madrid, and for it he win make me
abbot of Poblet. I have always desired
that post, their prlorato wlno Is so good.
And for such a treasure even Poblet were
not too much to bestow."
During this colloquy Anna had conveyed
tho Lady Juanlta to her carriage, where
now she eat palo and Inert, leaning back
among the cushions like one who had had
a deadly stroke. At this moment tho
commandante rode np hastily. He had too
long been out of sight of Juanlta and
Anna. So he came ot the gallop, riding
like one of the sons of Tehu.
He caught sight of the golden box and
Saul Mark standing erect. The heads ot
the monks were very close together. In
an instant he hod grasped the situation, or
at least a part ot It. Treasure had been
found on one of the castaways who last
had recruited tho chain gang. The black
ravens ot Brozas had swooped upon It.
The Captain of Spain bore them no good
will. The gold box was his It contained
Jewels of price, most like. He would
soon show these derks who was master
on the island of St. John of Puerto Rico
whether they or he, Nicholas Sllveda,
Commandante in the service of His Most
CathoUo Majesty, Ferdinand, ICIng of all
the Spalns.
"Give It here,' he cried: "all treasure
Is the prerogative of His Majesty King
Ferdinand. I claim that which Is found,
whatever It may be, as his alone!"
"Excellency," said the inquisitor, with
deference, "this is not found trtasure. It
is a gift to the holy church, being a box
containing the blessed parings of the great
toenails of a martyr. Such even the King
himself could not claim, were he here in
personr
"The box la gold. I claim that!" cried
the Commandante, truculently.
"The box !b tho gift of the holy father,
the successor of Peter," cold the priest.
"It cannot be separated from the blessed
relics it enshrines!"
"Deliver it or I wfll take it by force!"
cried the ofilcer fiercely. For in hl3 heart
be hated and feared the rival authorities
of the monastery. "Forward, there, men!
Sleze hunt"
The two priests put their bands to their
sides swiftly as a horseman draws a pis
tol from his holster. And the next mo
ment a crucifix was in each right hand.
They held it toward the Commandante and
his soldiers, who shrank back ta they
would not have done from the muzzles
of hostile guns.
"Dare to lay a hand on the priests ot tho
Lord." cried the abbot, towering above
them all on his white mule, "and we will
wither the blasphemous fingers and de
liver to eternal fire the eoul of the dese
cratort By these reUcs ot the blessed mar
tyr. James, we swear ltl"
And so for a. 'space they remained thus,
daring the powers military to come on.
The Commandante was speechless with
wrath, but, looking about, he saw well
enough that hia men would not obey him
nor yet seize those headstrong eons of tho
church.
"I shall not forget Qsia," he said, turning
away.
"Do not." returned the inquisitor, gently.
"I pray that you will remember. Let It bo
a lesson to you. my eon."
The churchmen were riding off together
when Saul Mark, seeing himself forsaken,
cried out to them: "Have pity, deliver
me. They wilt wreak their vengeance on
me. Take me with you, reverend fathers
In God. Do not forsake me, who did this
thing for your sakes!"
But the abbot and the-inquisitor seemed
not to hear.
They had obtained all they cared about,
and what mattered a naked man In the
chain gang. Tho reliquary was a reliquary.
authenticated by the holy father or, at
least, well enough documented for their t
purpose. But most like the man was a
pirate, and got it ai the sacking of soma
town of good Catholics, or mayhap from
a plundered galleon laden with racks and
thumbscrews and such like, blessed ma
chinery for the propagation of the faith.
Let him abide. If he were a Just man.
God would reward htm. They would leave
the matter to him.
Then Saul Mark, seeing himself deserted
and growing afraid, csled aloud: "The se
cretthe secret! I have a secret that will
make you and your church richer than
Kings of Castile and Arragonr wealthier
than the mines of PotosL I swear It. De
liver me and I will reveal the secret."
They turned about end consulted. Saul
cried aloud again with even greater ve
hemence. "Save me deliver me. I swear I have
the secret I and only I."
The abbot and the Jesuit came slowly
bock. Saul stood eagerly waiting, his eyes
flaming and the perepl ration running down
from his flnger-tlpa. They bent their ears
and he whispered, long. The look of un
belief with which they began gradually
merged Into a growing surprise. Then
awe took Its place, and lastly, they cried
out a simultaneous question: "Where is
it? Tell us where."
Then a cunning look passed over the
face of Saul Mark. He was not a second
time going to give something for nothing.
"Only I can guide you thither," he said
aloud.
Then in a tevr moments they bade cast
him loose, and he begged that the com
panion whom he loved and could not be
separated from night or day might go with
him. This also was allowed. As the two
passed the carriage of tho Governor's lady,
Saul Mark spoke a word, loud enough to
be heard within:
"Do not fear," he said: "I will not
shorten my pleasure oy revealing your
secret. Our loving service to you, Jf
Janet! Sleep sound tonight. Old friend
are near!"
T be continued-
First Essential.
"I understand you hope to make a
great musician of your sonr
"Yes, indeed."
"Whom have you selected to teach
himr
"Oh, we haven't advanced that far yet.
At present he's giving all his time to the
aoctor, who guarantees- to make his hair
Ita""- -"c ncara
1..1. A . .. ..... .