Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-08


30 Rob!' choking sob in her throat. That
was all; but it revealed to him ell the trouble
and grief In her lonely heart more eloouently
than any lengthy address could have done
lie opened his lips to speak. but what could
ne tell her! What can any man who loves q
woman say to her but the truth? So he told
her all-his love, his fathers commands
But you are all the world to me-" he said
in conclusion.
She interrupted him.
No. not all the world Rob, or you would
not hesitate a moment still / am satisfied il I
am the larger half OF it, as Your truthfulness
has proved to me-
"But am going to do exactly as you say.
darling" he replied.
DO you think would be a milestone about
your peck?" she asked
You could never be that. Celeste"
81 could, but never will :"
You do not mean that must give you up
darling? would renounce the whole world
first"
. "1on are to give up nothing" she answered.
celeste, do you love me?"
II will wait for you.'' she said
Few weeks thereafter Celeste was upon the
ocean, bound for Havana. Thanks to her
knowledge OF Spanish, she had been engaged
as goserness to the daughter Of wealthy Gu
ban planter, wIdower, whose wife had been
an American. Her sister, middle-aped and
ugly, both in form and feature, engaged Ce-
leste; and with the child, Viola accompanied
her on the voyage from New York The
weather was soft and mild, and the first evening
out oeieste sat upon the deck, almost happy
when she reflected that she was taking care of
herself while waiting for Rob. There was only
starlight, and as they moved along seeming to
swing iaziiy IN midair, with the sky above and
below them, Celeste twirled the diamond upon
her finger thoughtfuily, for 1t was Rob's last
glft to her. A sudden movement Of the vessel,
how or why she never could tell Cor the sea
was smooth. and the ring slipped from her
slender third finger and was lost IN the water
below. An almost irresistible impulse to plunge
into the water and follow it came over her, but
she shook 1t oil. and going below she crept into
bed and sobbed herself to Sleep
From the first Viola seemed an interesting
child. She was accustomed to travel and SO
was not shy, yet she was not OVERLOAD. She
spoke English with pure accent, but her aunt
usually conyersed in Spanish She was a short
dark woman. with a forbidding expression of
countenance, and as she was always bewailing
her lot her name, Dolorite. suited her we'll
Her dress, a shabby and faded silk. she wore
both night and day, but her fat fingers were
covered with costly diamonds that glittered as
unpleasantly upon Celestes sight as did the
owner $ weird eyes.
They passed stormy Hatteras, and. shooting
out to avoid the gulf stream soon reached the
crystal sea around the bahamas, with the deep
blue OF the tropical skies above them and the
white coral reefs below. All this was new to
Celeste. and she would have enjoyed it thor
oughly only for the loss of her ring This
preyed upon her mind Ii. spite of all her efforts
to overcome it. When they reached Havana
and anchored in the bay little Viola looked
anxioasly about in the little sail boats which
came TO convey the passengers on shore for her
father, one hand ciasping Ceeste's mean
while.
II want to introduce you to my papa" she
said, because love YOU
Then turning to look again, she gave little
scream Of delight. and threw herself into the
arms OF gentleman whom she announced to
Celeste as her father Senior Pedro Laramello.
He was handsome man, or would have been.
only there seemed something in his bright
black eyes so very like his sisters. sinister
expression. but it was not there always, and
never when he looked upon his child.
The custom mouse safely passed, they entered
two separate yOlantes and rode to the railway
depot, for Senior Larameilo resided upon his
plantation. which was situated few miles dis
tant from Havana.
Celeste gazed upon the country about her,
wondering il she had not by some chance been
spirited into Central Asia, everything was SO
strange. Havana. with its many colored
houses. had appeared singular enough. but the
country, with Its stately palms, some standing
slngIy, some IL colonnades; its cocoa tree,
bending like aged man under the weight of
years; It's few squaiid houses, with here AID
there the rum OF some ancient wall or dwelling.
looked very dreary, very unlike anything she
could ever call home.
When the house was reached Celeste begged
to be shown 1T once 20 her room. II was cool
and comfortable with ipJ marble floor, its cane
seated chairs ard lounges, the doors reaching
but half way to the ceiling 70 allow free circu-
lation of air. The building, like all Cuban
houses, was low and rambling. But it was ele-
gantly furnished and willing slaves were always
ready to do the slightest bidding of Celeste.
She received letter from Rob, one
manly, precious letter. and then she heard from
him no more. She wrote him once, twice,
thrice, but no answer came. Day by day she
watched and waited her desoate heart filed with
sad torebodings. but her watching was in vain
She grew thinner. paier; her form was languid
and her SMILES were shadowy when they came
at all. She devoted herself assiduously to little
Viola. winning the love and trust of the child.
One day. while teaching her embroidery, she
came to skein of knotted silk.
ut is worthless" she said to a servant
take it away" Then more quietly to herself,
II cannot bear tangled sken.''
Meanwhile the house was gay with invited
guests. Sumptuous entertainments were given
by Senior Lararieiio and his sister; balls, fetes
and brilliant banquets followed in quick sue
cession. Celeste avoided these at first but
gradually, at the urgent solicitation of Senior
Larame!io. she joined the reyelers. She was a
fine pianist and possessed sweet, clear voice,
and sooa became the life of these entertain
ments.
Still she received 10 tidings from Rob- Even
Lucy had forgotten her: for, after the first
month OF her stay iii CUBA. she had no letter
from horne. Their letters could not have been
miscarricd. she argued with herself for the first
ones came in safety. Lucy had ceased to care
for her, Robert was unture.
One day when there was little company and
it was growing toward evening SO they could
venture out i'll the sun Celeste accompanied
Sann DnIr TO ylauy tha ,,,,lts a
watch the slaves they gathered the coffee
berries and spread them out to dry upon the
Ions platform prepared for them. The senior
spoke tolerable English. and as he conversed
with Celeste in low voice something in his look
and tone struck her suddenly-was it panS or
thrill of joy? He loved her-she was very
sure. Then she remembered that though she
had been a member OF his household for more
than year, though sine had been far from
friends and completely in this mans power. he
had never been unpleasantly familiar, had never
caused her to feel her dependence in any way
Yet he was ever thoughtful of her comfort
She was too warm, and the volante was imp,e-
diately drawn into the shade. She was thirsty,
glass of wine was at once Forthcoming,
brought by slave a. her masters bidding,
together with pomegranate ripe and fair. She
paled suddenly as these things dawned upon her
mind. Was the senorita weary? II SO they
would return. No, she was not weary, she told
him. and then she sighed.
The senorita is sad then" he persisted
.'She is grieving for the friends she has left
behind"
She looked up into his eyes. There was only