Ainslee's Magazine, February 1913 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

128 “Well, here is a point,’ said Rosa. “The reason the devil consulted the padre, to begin with, was on account of your atheism. He said he had been very pleased about it, and spoke of America, which is very guilty on that score. He told the padre that he knew of one gentleman that had been the most popular there—so beloved that he was sent all around the world, and met every single person in it except the pope, and yet he was not a Catholic. ‘But,’ said the devil, ‘even he was not quite an atheist.’ So, by the simplest arithmetic, Inés, you can see that you are worse than any human being in America.” “T never meant it!’ wept Inés. “He was anxious to know whether the padre intended to overlook it, and when he replied that he had not de- cided, and was debating whether to ex- communicate you, the devil asked if, in event of his favoring you there, he would alsb absolve you from having de- filed the statue, and the padre, very pale and with a gesture of horror, cried out that if you had done that he was through with you, and that so far as he was concerned the devil might have you any time he liked. But I will tell you no more, for the rest is so fearful I am sure you could not sustain it.” “T beg you! I beg you!’ wailed Inés. “Very well, then. The reason the devil said six o'clock, was so that you will be in time to cook his supper. That is to be one of your punishments, and I am sure you will not delay about it, for not only would he prod you with his burning stick, but the kitchen, of course, is the most overheated part of the place, and fancy how you will hop on the red-hot floor, and in your bare feet, too! Another punishment is to be for your sin of vainglory, in pre- tending you came from gentle folk. You are not to be allowed to so much as speak to any one of gentle birth there, so you will have no company. The rest I could scarce hear, from fright, or see, with my eyes nearly blind from the little blue flames that flickered up and down on his tail, which is not at all like the limp copy you hung on the statue; but I bated my breath for your sake. AINSLEE’S Will you hear to the end, or would you rather find out when you get there?” “IT beseech you! I beseech you!’ Inés moaned, rocking to and fro on her chair. “Well, when it was arranged, the devil, with a very satisfied expression at having got you for himself, and as im- pressively as I speak it now, leaned over to the padre and whispered to him: ‘Now that we are agreed about her, I will tell you in confidence that there is but one way she can escape me, and that would never occur to her. There is one town in the world that I never go into. It is wicked enough, I assure you, but so expensive that even I cannot af- ford it. Besides, it is so far away that she could scarcely get there before six o’clock.’ Then he mentioned the name; but for years, Inés, you have accused me behind my back of being spiteful, and I fear | am enough so not to tell ou.” “Rosa! Rosa!” moaned Inés. “Is it not enough that I must leave my little house that I have lived in with three husbands ?” “Well, well, I will be charitable,” said Rosa, “‘for I boasted I would be; but not until you have confessed other crimes. Mind you are truthful, or you will never hear the name. First, when I so kindly ordered jelly from you for the Wine Festival, I found a needle in it. Did you, or did you not, deliberately put it in?” “T did, Rosa, I did!” “So! And you did it in the wicked hope that it would kill me!” “No, Rosa! I swear it! It stands to reason that I would have feared to have murder on my soul, but I hoped that it would nearly kill you.” “And you see,” exclaimed Rosa, “that I have lived to save your soul! Oh, you fearful woman, how horrible must your feelings be about it now!” “T have confessed, Rosa, I have con- fessed!” “There is one more thing. While I was in Barcelona, buying the statue, a tragedy occurred, when a fashionable young lady threw a burning fluid in her lover’s face, because he had deserted (C©) ANUC DOO)|KK (C@