Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-30

reedy from fright.
In the midst Of their agitation they
rush of feet down the hallway, and the
next instant EvangeIina flung herself
into the room. summer moon flooded
the chamber with radiance and enabled
her to see the two small white figures
sitting up in the middle of the bed.
Evangelina fell upon her knees before
them. Little master. Little mistress.
she sobbed. You will save me. won't You ?
what crime this is. Say that you will
save me-" She was beside herself. and
her voice was hoarse and cracked from
grief. She wrung her hands. she
kissed the twins nightgowns. tugging
at them convulsively.
The children were frightened. but
they managed to quaver: what has
happened? Who has harmed you?"
"Don Pablo Peza." wept the negress.
Your father has sold me to hin1--lost
me at cards Oh. shall die. Sebas-
tian won't believe 1t. He is praying.
And Asensio-- o God! But what can
they do to help me? You alone can
save me. You won't let Don Pablo ia Ike
me away? 1t would kill me.
Wait" Esteban scrambled out of
bed and stood beside his dusky nurse
and playmate. Don't cry any more.
Pablo
Rosa followed. Yes. come along.
brother she cried. shrilly. Wen tell
Don Pablo to go home and leave our
Evangelina."
My blessed doves. But will they
listen to you?" moaned the slave
Papa does whatever we ask" they
assured her, gravely. IF he should
arowl wen come back and hide you In
the big wardrobe. where nobody will
ever find you Then. hand in hand.
with their long nightgowns lifted to
their knees. they battered out into the
hall and down toward the living room.
whence came the shouting and the
laughter.
Don Mario de castano. who was
facing the door. stopped in the midst
OF ribald song to cry: God be praised,
What's this I see?"
The others looked and burst into
merriment. for across the litter of cards
and dice and empty glasses they saw a
dimpled girl and boy, as like as two
peas. They were just out of bed: they
blinking like two little owls. Their
evident embarrassment amused the
guests hugely.
80. You awaken the household with
you, songs" some one chided Don
Two cherubs from heaven" another
exclaimed.
And third cried, "A toast to Este
bans beautiful children"
But the father lurched forward a
frown upon his face. What is this,
my dearso" he incurred. thickly. Run
back TO your beds. This is no place
for you
We love T:vangelina." niped the
twins. You must not let Don Pablo
have her-ie YOU please"
"Evangelina %
They nodded I'VE love her i.
She plays with US every day. !.
We want her to stay here. She
belongs to u.s.
Accustomed as they were to prompt
compliance with their demands. they
spoke imperiousiy: but they had never
fathers face. and at his refusal their
voices grew squeaky with excitement
and uncertainty.
Go to your rooms. my sweethearts,"
Don t,steban directed. finally.
We want EvanRe1ina. She belongs
to us. thew chorused. stubbornly
Don Pablo shook with Laughter 80,
Sn" belongs to You. eh9 And I'm to he
robbed Of nv winnings. Very we'll
then. com" and give me a kiss both Of
you. ard IN Sc what can be done
But the children saw that Don Pablo's
face was strangely flushed, that his
eyes were wild and his magnificent
beard was wet with wine: therefore
they hung back.
You won your bet fairly" Esteban
Frowled at him. Pay no heed to these
babies"
"Evangslina is ours the little ones
Then their father exploded: THE
devil, Am I dreaming? Where have
Won learned to oppose me" Back to
your beds, both of you" Seeing them
hesitate, he shouted to his wife. "Ho
there Isabel. my love! Come put
these in1ps to rest. Or must l teach
them manners with my palm? A fine
thing, truly! Are they to be allowed
to roam the house at will and get
fever?"
Mere mention of their stepmothers
name was enough for Rosa and Este
ban: they scuttled away as fast as they
could go, and when Dona Isabel came
to their rooms. few moments later,
she found them in their beds, with their
eyes deceitfully squeezed shut. Evan
gelina was covering in a corner. Isa-
bel had overheard the wager. and her
soul was evil1y alight; she ierked the
slave girl to her feet, and with a blow