"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 coarsest 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.
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