The Island School — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

U 3 ‘ Saigo te a Uy Bese ares lla 7 Ay > ” yy i art He ‘ on PA ae Co wy a vee B | suppose you wonder,” the woman et ons \¢ ‘Tt } ao is an intrusion—granted. But. you will not betray Bt me. I think you still all at your bathe—in the sea, or Iwould not be here.” “Twas not aware we had a strange lady on the island, ” said Jim, rather helplessly. . She smiled, showing a radiant set of teeth. Her _ eyes, so soft and dark, rested pleadingly on his. “You are good | and handsome—a true English sie Mie boy,” she said, softly. “I place myself at your mercy a It is not my wish to be seen here. I go away now, Rath : SPAS 4: LO return no more.” @ ae: ‘Excuse me, senorita,’ said Jim—he saw there was Bi. no wedding-ring upon her finger—“ but this is private property, belonging to Mr. Farrell. You area lady, or [should feel it necessary fo detain you. A recent event of a J aPHOUS nature has taken place on the mew island one “TT know nothing of your events,” she interposed, ree, 2) ah a smile, the sweetness of which Jim had never Me fi seen surpassed. Indeed, he thought at the moment he had never before beheld lips that could part with HERE ae thrilling effect. “I am here alone. I come in i a os little boat—my felucca, from Minorca.” es “Ts it possible ?” cried Jim. i f “Senor, do I look as if I lie ?” (i ‘ _ She certainly did not, and Jim felt very weak in Cee ‘the presence of so much womanly beauty and, pre- Nex _ sumably,truth. — , “You say you are going back again ?” he said, a slowly. “At this hour,” she answered. “Ihave not seen a that which I came to see, but no matter—another 4 time. Icome to see the young senorita, the school- ‘ master’s daughter.” a a | - Jim’s face involuntarily flushed. A light laugh rae from the Spanish woman’s lips. We call her a woman, but in years she was little more than a girl. “T see,” she said, nodding her head, “ you admire her, and as boys will—love her. Is she so very ae beautiful ?” “T think so,” anyway.” ! _ The slightest of frowns settled on the brow of the age Spanish woman; but she smiled the next moment, a “T heard so in Minorca,” she said, “so I come to iy see. Because I love all beauty, and. your English --—-s- women are so soft and fair.” ‘ber “But Eveline—Miss Farrell—has never been in Minorca,” said Ji im ; “how can they know anything of - her there ?” , “They do,” answered the woman, with a light wave answered Jim; “she is very nice, \ : he - self, ‘I will go and see her because she is so beautiful,’ ae and ub sail my felucca across the sea in the night, and i. ; ‘ty TF Ua if tii he - Tr us, Hi. yh aM, i ota) wi Bs Net ; ei Wah Wott huaat ata) fut ie we itis. fi 4 eel 2, et A | ; i , i 7 PW) " ., iv , am cn li iy i r - 8 st y , “7 it ae ave AY) \omare ae y ay NTT AY af er Tas OF e Ly Vas Wi tye We oh Fh ihioh ub. VO RNY, | in ‘ “Ay, in Vhe 4 ra Lee! a Pia parse, peer at vie 7 2 Me yee i Eek ge \ +49 ve ‘ , r & «re 5 a & a On dy of the hand; “ they speak of her, and so I say to my- | es a se Be oe the morning. _ But eis a ber it is a ye ar ee a te Dead ‘FIERY FAIRY. nothing but boys and men, so I come up here to iGo e at the castie; for it was here that my forefathers — ae dwelt—you stare, young senor, but it is so—and Le uf wander sac:y through the silent halls. Coming forth fs to go tomy boat, I behold you. Senor, I wish to Te a leave as 1came—unknown. ShallitbesoP? Iam at i a your mercy.” | be “Where is your boat Manes °” asked Jim, still shee with the idea that this woman was part of the e stranger crew he had seen approaching the island, and — therefore, on that account, ought to be detained. She motioned in the direction opposite to that of , the Silver Bay. , He. eh “ And you are quite alone 2” | Se ae “Thave said, senor. If I lie once, shall I not lio + i twice 2” ” gh She walked past him, and he could not decide how | to act. After all, what wasa woman? She did not look like a spy, and, barring that slight incident of “ a the stiletto, had Buen as gentle asadove. But ei | i ii not a woman who had written to the murdered man? — Bs There was no wonder Jim felt nonplussed. He H' 4 wished that his companions would come, ‘so that he we might take counsel with them; but they lingered in ‘te ty, a most unaccountable manner, | Hee hi “May Iask you a question?” inquired Jim. ae mi): " Two, if you will,” she rephed ; “ but pasta or E a he may lose the morning wind.” {Pi ie ae . Ts your name Lucia?” ha a The question brought a flush of amazement to her — a i cheeks. It was several moments ere she answered it. he f “My name,” she said, “is Lucia di Valo ; ; but how ei is it for you to know it ?” y 4 *T have a letter in my possession you wrote to one NG My of our masters,” said Jim. Py “JT wrote to—one of your masters,” she rejoined a slowly ; ‘who tells the lie ?” a “ An appointment was made for him to meet you 1 a co | Silver Bay, or near there,” continued Jim. “ He went - there to keep that appointment, and wasmurdered.” “T know nothing of him or his death,” said Tucaes ‘ di Valo, with a curled lip. She was not moved on ge hearing of the murder. “Am TI so poor in lovers that I must ask of him, or anyone, to meet me here?” _ “See the letter,” said Jim, producing it and holding it up before her. cae aN She glanced at it and laughed. eat “Tt isa man’s writing,” she said ; “ and now, pretty boy, I must go.” “Tf you could tell me who wrote it——” Jim began, but she interrupted him. “T know nothing of it; well.” She turned quickly and sprang into the wood on the side of the path. It sloped down to the sea, and Jim, ante fat to the verge, saw her bounding down tho i TNCs t ' «af : Ve is ; * ay | * has : » 7) i TAR ) Hh a a vet a tt; ih ad HN eed Bieta NY : a ru E | ; 0h nA a how should I? Fare- iy ‘