Ainslee's Magazine, February 1913 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

SUB ROSA her. Now, confess that you have some of that fearful acid in your closet, wait- ing an opportunity to throw it at me, because you have always been jealous of my good looks. I know you have it, for the devil was mentioning it only last night to the padre.” “He lied!” cried Inés, springing up. “You shall look in my closet yourself!” “No,” said Rosa. “I will never look in your closet, for you would afterward gossip down there, and say I did it to snoop into your laces, as you tried to do in my house yesterday. The suspicion will have to stand between your word and the devil’s, and I know which to take.” “You shall look! You shall!” cried Inés wildly, and she threw the door open herself. “Now remember,’ warned Rosa, “you insisted I should,’ and she care- fully examined the contents. “Well, I admit you have none. I see the devil can tell lies as wickedly as you can. I would not have believed it of him! And I will say your lace is quite pretty—if it were only a little bit prettier, you might be able to sell it to some one.” “But the town, Rosa, the town!” “T will tell you in a moment,” said Rosa, “though I fear it will gain you little, for the place is so very far, I doubt, as the devil did, if you get there by six. But I will help you all I can. Listen carefully. With only your mule, and your cart, and with all of your goods piled in that, you can never cover the distance, for you must go at a most frantic. pace. You shall see whether I came in friendship, for with veriest forethought and kindness I _ have brought a little money with me, and . - though your lace is not as good as you have boasted, there is quite a lot of it, and without examining it further, for the whole of it, I will give you the sum I have brought. It is not much, for though I am richer than you are, I did not feel I should spend more on such a wicked woman, and it will be enough for you to buy that goat of Juanita’s that she is so anxious to be rid of. It is ailing a little, but with the mule to pull it along, it will be better than 9 129 nothing, and something with horns is appropriate. You can at least get well on your way, and at great risk to my- self I will do one other thing for you. Just before six I will return here for the lace, and when the devil comes and discovers your flight, I will engage him in conversation as long as I can. I . would never dare mislead him, but I can be very entertaining when [| like, and it may get you a little extra time. If I am found out, I chance horrible punishment, but I think he will be more inclined to smile at my cleverness. Now hasten with your preparations, for the town, my poor, lost friend, is Algeciras, next door to Gibraltar, and you will have to go a thousand miles an hour! Now will you tell me whether I am kind ?” But Inés did not tell, for she had fainted, and Rosa sped across the square to the smallest house in Terassa, and seized Amarillis by the shoulders. “Here is something that will make you talk for once! It was Inés that defiled the statue, and she has confessed it! Run to the padre, and tell him! I promised to come myself, but I am busy, for I must tell every one else! Keep your wits together, and remember to say ‘Inés did it, and has confessed!’ Run! Run!” Amarillis ran. Running was a sim- ple matter for her, compared with speech; but as she went she became more and more terrified lest the padre would not believe what she said, if she could say it, and at her frantic appear- ance on his threshold he sat forward in his chair, “What is the matter, Amarillis? Why do you make faces? Are you very ill?” Amarillis did ‘not answer, but reached out her hand. “Amarillis, you alarm me! Speak out! Why do you crook your finger at me in that ridiculous manner?” “I—hope we will have rain!” said Amarillis. “You have been drinking again!” thundered the padre. “I shall go to the fonda and expel the proprietor! How many did he sell you?” (C@ NOOK (C@