The Rival Toreadors

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 144, 18 June 1906, Page 6

The Rival Toreadors

A ROMANCE OF SUNNY SPAIN

By ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE,

Author of "Dr. Jack," "The Winning of Isolde" "An American Nabob" "Miss Caprice," etc.

CHAPTER IV. THE MAID, YSABEL. Charlie was not at all impressed with the GOinbre aspect of everything about him, for he had seen much more depressing interiors in his wanderings over the surface of the earth. His one object was to come upon Ysabel as speedily as possible, for he had much to tell the young girl, and the success of his venture depen.ded in a great measure upon how she received him. He tripped merrily down a passageway, and brought up in a sacristy, which he knew should not be upon his course, so that once more he retraced his steps until another branch invited inspection. This seemed to twist and turn until he quite lost his bearings, and was compelled to keep on for lack of any better course. Dim lights at intervals made gloom only seem all the more intense ■between, but he managed to get along with only a few stumbles, for which his unaccustomed robes were more accountable than anything else. Once he heard distant chanting of. a peculiarly weird nature that aroused his curiosity; but lealising that he was not here to gratify this human weakness, but to carry out a human plan, he resisted the temptation to investigate, and plodded onward. '*

Again he found himself on the wrong tack, for presently lie came to where several tiers of doors bespoke the presence of cells, where the self-immured inmates of the sacred edifice shut themselves up to pray, and weep for the sins of the world.

As he looked in one he heard a low cry of astonishment, for even the padre had not the entree to this reserved <=pction of the convent save when especially urged to come in order to absolve and shrive the dying.

Each niche held its lone inmate, and as the lost priest passed by he hoard a constant 'succession of exclamations, followed by the banging of doors. Charlie had no desire to shock these saints any more than he could help, and realising the impotency of continuing farther in this direction he turned and beat a hasty retreat.

Evidently someone must come to his assistance, if he hoped to accomplish the business that brought him there; and he resolved to capture the very first sister whom he met. impressing her into his service as cicerone. The. occasion soon arrived. He quite startled tae black-garbed teacher who came gliding along the passage; but his explanation was so reasonable that she believed him, and cheerfully agreed to lead him to the snuggery of Ysabel. They all knew of the strenuous efforts being put forfh by the head of the school, assisted by the benign old priest, to influence the little heiress ns to her future, and doubtless sympathised with the idea all right.

At any rate, this one showed an eagerness to conduct tho wandering father aright. It was not often such an office sought them, and besides, perhaps the good man would feel grateful enough to grant his guide some special indulgence. Now they entered upon quite n different portion of the building: it was not so gloomy here, for young girls were wont to gather during' the day to be taught the various tbings consistent with their proper bringing "up. as viewed by Spanish parents, and there was no need of their seeing the darker side of the life led by those who took the veil.

"This is the door, holy father. You have but to knock and enter. Doubtless the maid is anticipating the pleasure of your coming," said the teacher.

He spread out his hands, and as she dropped on her knees, spoke a few words in execrable Latin. It was not meant for sacrilege, and no doubt the -ecipient went away presently just as well satislied and blessed in her mind as though the benediction had come from the genuine padre.

When he found himself alone in the passage before that door. Charlie raised his hand and knocked.

He had considered while mounting the steep stairs that in all probability this was the very section of the massive pile, where he had seen some hand flaunting the signal kerchief to the departing girl?>, as though the prisoner of the turretroom yearned to possess the same liberty of action as the day scholars of the institution. "Come in." he heard a voice say 171 Spanish, and it struck him that there was considerable of petulance in the tone, a fact that rather caused our adventurer to rejoice than otherwise, since ifc hinted at dissatisfaction on the part of the maid. He walked in. The little room was plainly furnished, but it did have an air of comfort such sis must have seemed positively wicked in the eyes of those whose vows forbade their accepting anything beyond absolute necessities. A lamp burned on a table. The one who entered had eyes only for the occupant of the room.

Ysabel was before him, the little cousin whom he had cheerfully journeyed thousands of miles to assist, even though as yet unaware n;5 to whether she would accept of his proffered aid or indignantly spurn him as an impostor.

The first thing he realised was that she certainly vraa a queenly little; beauty and no mistal'.p. The consul had spoken truly when declaring that one would be only too glad to assist Ysabel for her own sake, rather than through general principles of philanthropy.

She had arisen; books upon the tabl3 told that she had been at her studies or was reading such literature as the rules of the institution allowed. Her eyes were black as midnight, and of wondrous size and brilliancy, such orbs as haunt the fancy of painter and poet. Her face and figure marked the Hebe, and there was that in her very attitude to proclaim a descent from the proudest hidalgos of old Spain. That the music teacher who had lured away the daughter of the Euglish squire came of no plebeian stock was evident. And Charlie carefully closed the door, since he had that to say presently which he would hardly care to have other ears catch.

'"My daughter, peace to you," said Charlie, in the padre's queer voice. The girl did not bow her head submissively, as she ought—rebellion was rife in her heart, and the yoke oppressive. '"Father, why will you join with the othprs to oppress mc? Surely I have told you time and again that it ,is not in my soul to shut myself aM-ay from the world: that if anything. 1 yearn to sec more of the wonderful things scattered over its surface, and of which I have so often read. It is utterly useless trying to influence mc, for it seems to make mc all the more stubborn, and that annoys mc, for I would show the proper spirit toward the mother superior. I beg of you, father, to let mc go my way when the time comes. I am of such a worldly disposition that 1 fear it would be like taking a firebrand into a magazine to introduce mc to the hoiy company of those who have given up their lives to prayer."

There was such entreaty in her voice, os sdip unconsciously wrung her little clasped hands while speaking, that Charlie was greatly moved.

Why longer keep up the deception? The sooner she knew that she had friends who meant to see that her rights were secured, the better.

lie therefore threw back the cowl that up to now had concealed his features to a great extent.

While the consul had made him up so as to pass muster under favouring conditions, still, with the lamplight falling full upon his face, there was something unfamiliar about his physiognomy that struck consternation to the heart of the young girl—something that made, her fear a crisis had indeed arrived in her fortress. "You are not Father Stefano. Why hiis he sent another? What can this menu?' for in the years she had passed under the roof of the convent only the one priest had ministered to the inmates: it was always Father Stefano, and the very sight of another evoked a multitude of conjectures.

''My child. J have come to you from faraway Africa, because it reached my ears that you were in trouble. Instead of seeking to influence you to conform your course in life according: to the will of others, I am resolved that you sh.il! have an opportunity to follow the dictates of your own heart. It is the inherent wish of every soul to have liberty of action—we breathe it in the air in the great republic which I proudly claim r.s my native land. If you foar to trust to my word of honour; if I cannot convince you that my motives are above suspicion, then 1 ln.iy retire, and no harm will be done. Look closely in my face, and tell mc if you can see anything there that would make you distrust mc."

This was a bold move on Charlie's part, for since ho had allowed the consul lo shave off his Van Dyke hoard in o^er to further the deception, he felt as though he might pass for a rather toughlooking citizen. Tt is always so when a man sacrifices tb.fi hirsute appe.ndag* to which ho lias in years become attached, and did Ysibrl but know the pang it caused him to allow a sacrilegious hand lo thus alter his appearance she might well feel complimented. Nevertheless, while his fare might seem unfamiliar nnd ndrl in his eyes, it was clean-out, and possessed features calculated to inspire rare confidence, in other?. The girl had been wonrlrously aroused by what he sairl. Perhaps she had for many months dreamed of the coming of a good fairy who would release her from the bonds she grew more and more to dislike, though it may be she had never imagined this offer of help would come in the shape of a man!

Charlie could not remember having ever passed a more nervous minute than when he thus stood and allowed this chit of a girl to pass judgment on him through an examination of hir. feature.-.

Mentally he groaned because she could not have seen him before this radical transformation had been effected in his looks, for manlike, he fancied he had made a better appearance under the old regime. Others might differ with him on that score, for he liad certain classical features that were now disclosed to view, and not hidden like a candle under a bushel. He heard her give a sigh. Evidently one way or another his fate was settled, and it seemed strange how great an interest he should feel in the matter, when, after all, it was her fixture and not his own that was involved.

Had she deckled against him, and was that sigh the record of h°r unwillingne?? to put her confidence in any men ?

He held his bren.th awaiting her decision, hoping strenuously that it might, after all, prove favourable to his de sire.

''Yes, I think T could trust you," she said, simply; and really the man in all his life never had so great a compliment paid to him as when that inexperienced maid thus indorsed his honesty of purpose. ;

'May God deal with mc as I serve you. Listen. Ysabel. have you never heard about that branch of your family grafted on the American tree? T am a Rochefort, and your cousin one removed—at any rate, a kinsman, which accounts for the deep interest I have taken in your welfare. Much 1 can irll you when a more fitting opportunity occur*, but just now it is necessary that you take my word for it, and trust mc."

"I will; I have become so despondent of late that it seems as thouzh a kind

Heaven must have sent mc a champion in my last extremity. Oh! this persecution on the part of the good mother superior is not all—there is another source of anxiety and trouble that haunts mc day and night, kind father."

Then Charlie understood that ,Sir Henry had not been idle; that in all probability this was not his first visit to the Spanish city on the sea.

"Yes, I know something of the facts: tlioy came into my hands through n strange interposition of Providence. A man dying on the burning sands of an African desert was the means of telling mc about you. What could I do but take

She looked at him defiantly, he thought, as though these weekly visits were beginning to provoke her antagonism—as though deep down in her heart she rebelled against being made a party to a transfer of iher liberty without a coiuadera,tum £01; hsi swehee.

it as a direct invitation to fly to your relief? and I find now that I have indeed arrived not one day too soon. From this hour then, cheer up, and believe in your heart that you are not without sincere friends —that you have found a relative who, because we are of the same blood, has vowed to keep the lamb from the wolves. They may appear to succeed for a brief time, but in the end everything that you have wished shall come to you. , ' His manner was convincing. 'and Ysabel found herself ready to believe. .Some instinct must have told her that this man was quite the opposite of the elderly English gentleman who claimed relationship, and yet whose manner gave her a sensation of dread. Even a younc girl may sometimes judge rightly'when using her immature judgment with regard to character, and surely Ysabel's good angel stood by when she thus decided who was her real friend. (To be continued daily.)