The Island School — page 67: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

b2 “Now,” he said, “I understand everything, I know the woman who wrote this letter.” ‘“ You know her!” exclaimed Eveline. “1 guess I do,” said Jim. “Goodness! how is that ?” “I have seen her on theisland. It was not long aco, I tumbled across her near the castle.” “Jim,” said Eveline, “ you never told me this.” “I never had an opportunity,” replied Jim; “besides, I thought it would do no good.” “Then you do not care to see her again ?” “NotI. I hope she will keep away from here.” “Jim, I think you are very sensible. Neither sex of the Spaniards are much good.” “ With regard to this letter,’ said Jim, “I wouldn’t worry over it, if f were you. Don’t wander about the island alone, but keep near home. Perhaps we have given this Reonardo a sickener. Anyway, we will try to do it the next time he comes along. I intend to form a vigilance body especially to protect you, Evy.” “Now, that. is kind of you, Jim. Who are to be the members of it ?” “Morse, to begin with.” ‘‘ Jim, I rely more upon you than all the rest.” “Ts that a fact P?” ** A solid fact, Jim.” “Oh, Eveline!” And, then, as the French would say, the incident came to an end with an exchange of cordial greetings. Afterwards Jim laid some of his plans before Kveline, and she approved of them all, not merely by word of mouth but in her heart, for she thoroughly believed Jim to be a sort of Admirable Crichton, who could do no wrong. As the afternoon was by that time well! on the way, she declared she must be getting home, “to see to mamma's afternoon tea.” Jim would fain have detained her a little longer, but she got up, and with a pretty little curtsey bade him good-bye. Left alone, he sat for a time, and then rising, wandered on in the direction of Silver Bay. Suddenly, from behind a clump of rocks, the form of a woman leapt out and confronted him. “Ha! my pretty boy,” she cried, “you walk as if you weresad. Fie!andsheisso nice. I see her— this young child of the schoolmaster.” It was Lucia di Vaio, brown and handsome, and lithe of limb, so like a panther or a tigress. She showed her white teeth, smiling in a dry, sarcastic way. “So you have come again?” replied Jim, hardly knowing what to say. “I come, and I come, and I come, and I 20, and go, and go as I please,” she answered, vehemently. “ Where is Reonardo? I hear you speak of him, you two, 1 I hear not all you say.” | : THE ISLAND SCHOOL. ‘ Reonardo,” answered Jim, “has bolted. We have scared him off the island.” “You scared him 2” “We did. But how we did it is our affair. gone.” ‘Come here,” said Lucia, imperiously. “Nearer. I wish to speak to you. I have no dagger in my hand. I would not harm you.” Jim could not resist drawing nearer to her, although he wished himself a dozen miles away. Hoe wasasa small bird fascinated by a snake. She laid a hand upon each of his shoulders. “Took me in the eyes,” she said, ‘Now, you say Reonardo is gone ?” “Yes.” “When did he go ?” “ Last night.” “Tt is strange,’ Lucia murmured, half-aloud. “ Wa must have passed in the night.” | Her face wore a troubled look, and she withdrew her hands from Jim’s shoulders. Tapping her foot upon the soft sand, she meditated for a while, Jim watching her curiously. Wild, wayward, impulsive and passionate, she un- doubtedly was, but he could not think there was any real evil in her. When wrapt in thought there was something very sweet about the expression of her face- “Can you read Spanish ?” she abruptly inquired. raising her eyes to his. He admitted he could not. It was one of the languages not taught in the school. “Tf you could,” she said, producing a bill from her pocket, “I would have asked you to read this. But 1 will translate for you. It puts a price upon the head of Reonardo.” Holding the bill at arm’s length, she read, or rather translated aloud, as follows: ‘FIVE HUNDRED DUCATS REWARD: <¢ Information of a robbery of magnitude committed in one of the royal castles having come to the knowledge of the authorities, and He is ESPARDO REONARDO being implicated therein, and he, the said Reonardo, having disappeared from his accustomed haunts, the above reward will be given to any of the liege subjects of Her Majesty of Spain who shall give such information as will lead to his capture.” Then followed a list of the gendarme stations where such information would be acceptable. Lucia did not read them, but folding the bill, replaced it in her pocket. “ You see,” she said, “‘ he is proscribed, and I came here to warn him. Weak, you willsay. But woman, where she loves, is weak. Now he is gone into the very jaws of the lion, and unless some friend should warn him he may look to the galleys for life. For, mark you, itis a very serious thing to rob a royal ruler.” ‘Ss (ei @) mn (@ 0) mn Cc 900