Part 8 (1/2)

”I had learned to make lace, and my friends thought I could sell it, so I began to make zat my trade. I thought I could save enough to go back to my father, and the beloved island--perhaps to free him.”

”How did you hope to do that?” asked Cora.

”Because, in New York, I found one of his political party--himself an exile, who gave me what you call doc.u.ments--I know not ze term--”

”Evidence?” suggested Belle.

”Zat is it. Evidence! I have evidence, zat would free my father, if I could get it to him. But I fear to send it by mail, for it would be taken--captured by his enemies.”

”It's rather complicated--isn't it?” suggested Cora.

”Yes, Senorita--more so even zan I am telling you. Of myself I know but little, save zat if I can get ze certain papairs to my father, he might go free. But how am I to go to Sea Horse Island, when I have not even money to buy me food to keep from starving? I ask you--how can I? And yet I should not trouble you wiz my troubles, Senoritas.”

”Oh, but we want to help you!” declared Cora, warmly.

”Surely,” added Belle. ”Perhaps I had better speak to my father. He may know of someone on Sea Horse Island, where he is going to gather orchids.”

”No, no, Senorita! If you please--not to speak yet!” broke in the Spanish girl suddenly. ”It must be a secret--yet. I have enemies even here.”

”Enemies?” echoed Cora.

”Yes. Zey followed me from New York. Listen, I haf not yet tell you all. I make ze lace in New York, but it so big a city--and so many lace sellers--not of my country. It is hard for me to make even a pittance. Some of my friends, zey say to go out in ze country. So I go. But I weary you--yes?” and with a quick, bird-like glance she asked the question.

”Oh, no, indeed!” answered Cora. Then the girl told of traveling out of New York City, into the surrounding towns, plying her humble calling. She made a bare living, that was all, dwelling in the cheapest places, and subsisting on the coa.r.s.est food in order to save her money for her father's cause. Then came a sad day when she was robbed--in one of her, stopping places, of her little horde. She told of it with tears in her eyes.

”The poor girl!” murmured Bess, with an instinctive movement toward her pretty, silver purse.

Inez Ralcanto, for such she said was her name, her father being Senor Rafael Ralcanto, was heartbroken and well nigh discouraged at her loss. But to live she must continue, and so she did. She made barely enough to live on, by selling her laces, and since reaching Chelton the day-before, she had not sold a penny's worth. Her money was exhausted, and she was nearly on the verge of fainting when she applied at the Kimball home. Cora's mother had seemed interested in the lace, which really was beautifully worked, and while showing it on the porch, the girl had overheard the mention of her home island.

The rest is known to the reader.

”And so I am so silly as to faint!” said Inez, with a little tinkling laugh. ”But I faint in good hands--I am so grateful to you!” she went on, warmly, her olive checks flus.h.i.+ng.

”And you want to go to Sea Horse Island?” asked Belle.

”I want--Oh! so much, Senorita. But I know it is a vain hope. But you are good and kind. If you could take zese papairs wiz you--and manage to get zem to my father--he could tell you how to help him.

For it is all politics--he had committed no--what you call crime--not a soul has he wronged. Oh, my poor father!”

”And these papers?” asked Cora. ”'What are they?”

”I know not, Senorita. I am not versed in such zings. A fellow patriot of my father gave them to me.”

”Have you them with you?” asked Bess.

The girl started up in bed, and clutched at her breast. A wild look came over her face.

”I had zem in New York--I bring zem away wiz me. Zat man--he is ze enemy of my father and his party. He know I have zem, and he try to entrap me. But I am too--what you call foxy, for him! I slip through his fingernails. Ze papairs--in my valise--Oh, where is it?

I--when I faint--I have it at my feet--”