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

You have lost her, but YOU have gained
an heir. and beautiful girl baby who
will grow to be another Dona Rosa. l
grieved as you grieve, once upon
time. for my woman died in childbirth
too. You remember? But my daughter
lives. and she has brought sunshine
into my old age. That is the purpose
weight uncertainty. digging his stiff
black toes into the dirt. After time
he said. slowly: "Excellency. Now,
about the-well-e
Yes. What about it," Esteban mt
ed smoIderlng eyes.
Did the Dona Rosa confide her share
of the secret to any one? Those priests
and those doctors. you know
she died without speaking. .
Then it rests between you and me
1T does. unless you have babbled.
Master" Sebastian drew himself up
and there was real dignity in his black
face.
Understand, my whole fortune is
there-everything even to the deeds of
patent for the plantations. If thought
there was danger of your betraying me
l would have your tongue pulled out
and your eyes torn from their SOCK
cts
The blaci; man spoke with a simplic-
ity that carried conviction. You have
seen me tested. You know / am faith
full. But. master. this secret is a great
burden for my old shoulders. and
have been thinking Times are un-
settled. Don Esteban. and death comes
be the richest man in this province and
these government officials are robbers.
Suppose should be left alone? What
them"
The planter considered for a moment.
They are my countrymen. but curse
on Them. he said, finally. We'll. when
my children are old enough to hold
their tongues they will have to be told.
~
tell them. Now leave me; this is no
time to speak of such things.
Sebastian went as noiselessly as he
had come On his way back to his
quarters he took the path to the we'll
the place where most Of his time was
ordinarily spent Sebastian had dug
this well. and with his own hands he
had beautif1ed its surroundings until
they were the loveliest on the Varona
grounds. The rock for the building of
the quinta had been quarried here, and
in the center of the resulting depres-
sion. grass grown and Towering now,
was the well itself. Its waters seeped
from subterranean caverns and filtered
pure and cool. through the porous
country rock. Plantain. palm. orange
and tamarind trees bordered the hol-
low: over the rocky walls ran a riot of
vines and ferns and ornamental plants
1t was Sebastian's task to keep this
place green. and thfther he took his
way. from force Of habit.
Through the twilight came Pancho
Cueto. the manager, a youngish man,
with narrow face and bold. close set
eyes. Spying Sebastian, he began:
so Don Esteban has an heir at lastc''
The slave rubbed his eyes with the
heel Of his huge yellow palm and an
Yes. Don Pancho. Two little angels.
boy and a girl" His gray brows
drew together in painful frown
.Dona Rosa was a saint. No doubt
L.
her coming; En-? what do you think? ?"
Um-m' Possibly. Don Esteban will
miss her for a time, and then, ] dare
say; he will remarry." At the negro
exclamation Cueto cried: $50! And
why not? Everybody knows how rich
he is- From Oriente to Pinar del Rio
the women have heard about his treas
What treasurer" asked Sebastian.
Cueto's dark eyes cleaned resentfully
laughed.
.Ho! There's a careful fellow for
do you think I have neither eyes nor
ears? My good Sebastian, you know
All ABOUT that treasure; in fact, you
know Tar more about many things than
Don Esteban would care to have YOU
tell Come now, don't your"
Sebastian's face was like mask
carved from ebony. "Of what does this
treasure re. consist he INQUIRED. Il have
Of gold. of jewels. Of silver bars and
precious ornaments" Cueto's head was
thrust forward. his nostriIs were di-
lated late his teeth cleaned. "oh. it is
know: Bah! Don't deny 1t. I'm no
fool What becomes Of the money from
the slave girls. eh? And the sugar
snd sn eooY Does -, it 60 to buy arms
pom Esteban hides 1t. and you help
him. Come" he cried, disregardfne Sc
oastian's murmurs Of protest. did you
ever think m how fabulous that fortune
think that one little gem. one bag Of
gold. would buy your freedom.
Don Esteban has promised to buy
my freedom and the freedom of nv
girl A''
So. So, The manager was plainly sur
moment he began to laugh And yet
you pretend to know nothing abou.
that treasure? 1Ia. You're good boy,
Sebastian. and SO am. 1 admire you.
But now about Evans sdi s cuet to-,
face took on craftier expression.
she is a likely girl. and when she
grows up she will be worth more than
you. her father. Don't forget that Don
Esteban is before all else a business
man. Be careful that some one doesn't
make him SO good an offer for your
girl that he will forget his promise
and-sell her"
Sebastian uttered a foarse. animal
cry and the whites OF his eyes showed
through the gloom. HE would never
sell Evaneelina."
Cueto laughed aloud once more "Of
course! He would not dare, Ell? am
only teasing You. But see! You have
given yourself away. Everything you
tell me proves that you know all about
that treasure"
Il know but one thing" the slave de-
clared. stfffeninH himself slowly, land
that is to be faithful to Don Esteban
He turned and departed, leaving PAN
cho Cuteo staring after him media
lively.
In the days following the birth of his
children and the death OF his wife. Don
Esteban Earona. had been his cus-
tom. steered a middle course in poll
tics, In that way managing TO avoid a
clash with the Spanish officials who
ruled the island. or an open break with
his Cuban neighbors. who rebelled be-
meath their wrongs. This was not easy
thing tod o. for the agents OF the crown
were uniformly corrupt and quite ruth
less. while most OF the native born
We're either openly or secretly in sym
pathy with the revolution in the orient
But Esteban dealt automatically with
slaves and sugar to his own great
profit. Owing to the impossibIlity of
importing negroes. the market steadily
improved, and Esteban reaped a hand
some profit from those he had on hand
especially when his crop of young girls
matured. His sugar plantations pros
pered. too. and Pancho Cueto, who