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

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Johnnie's exile became no exile at all
He had adjusted himself serenely to
his surroundings when Rosa Naroha
returned from school, but with her
coming, away went all his complacency
His contentment vanished: he expert
enced a total change in his opinions
his hopes and his ambitions.
He discovered, for example, that Ma
tanzas was by no means the out the
way place he had considered it, on the
contrary, after meeting Rosa once by
accident twice by design and three
times by mutual arrangement, il i'to
dawned upon him that this was the
chief city of Cuba. II not, perhaps, the
hub around which the whole world re
volved: certainly 1t was the most
agreeable of all cities, since it con
tanned everything that was necessary
for mans happiness. Yet. despite the
thrill of his awakening. O'Reilly was
not at all pleased with himself, for. as
ii happened, there was another girl
back home. and during his first year OF
loneliness he had written to her more
freely and more frequently than any
man on such salary as his had
right to do.
O'Reilly laid no claims to literary
gifts; nevertheless. it seemed to him
as he looked hack upon il. that his
pen must have been dipped in magic
and in moonlight. for the girl had eN-
pressed an eager Willingness to share
his interesting economic problems. and
in fact, was waiting for him to give
her the legal right. lnasmuch as her
father was o'Re:tly'e t'con1aary,T it may
be seen that Rosa varona's homecom
ing seriously complicated matters, not
only from sentimental but from a
business standpoint.
It was in a thoughtful mood that he
rode liD La Cumbre toward the Quinta
de Esteban late on the afternoon OF
Don Mario's visit. Instead of going
directly to the house. the merchant
had done, OReil1y turned off from the
road. and, after lettering his horse In
a cluster of guava bushes, proceeded on
foot. He did not like Dona. Isab el, nor
did Dona Isabel like him. Moreover
he had q particular reason for avoid
ing her today.
Just inside the yarona premises he
paused instant to admire the out
look. The auinta commanded an ex-
cellent view of the Yumuri. on the one
hand. and Of the town and harbor
on the other: no one ever climbed the
hill from the city to gaze over into that
hidden valley without feeling a pleas
urable surprise at finding it, still there
We are accustomed to think of perfect
beauty as unsubstantial. evanescent;
but the Yumuri never changed. and in
that lay it's supremest wonder.
Through what had once been well
tended grounds O'Reilly made his way
to sort of sunken garden which, in
spltc VI HSHicSt, SIM Inc
most charming nook upon the place
and there he sat down to wait for Rosa
The hollow was effectually screened
from view by growth CT plaintain
palm. orange and tamarind trees; over
the rocky walls ran n profuson OF
towering plants and vines: in the cen
ter of the open space was an old well
its masonry curb all but crumbled
away.
When Rosa at last appeared O'Reilly
felt called upon to tell her. somewhat
dizzily. that she was beyond doubt the
sweetest flower on all the Quinta de
. Esteban. and since this somewhat hack
neTed remark was the boldest speech
he had ever made to her. she blushed
prettily, flashing him dimpled smile
of mingled pleasure and surprise.
.'Oh, but I assure you I'm in no sweet
temper. said she. Just now I'm tre-
mendous1y angry"
Why"
IFS that stepmo ther-IsabeI.''
So You've been quarreling again
Ell? Wen she's the easiest woman in
all Matanzas to quarrel wlth-perhap
the only one who doesn't see something
for fear she'd convince me I'm wholly
abomina b1e.
Rosa laughed. showing her fine. reg
ular teeth-OReilly thought he had
never seen teeth SO even and white
Eyes, she is a difficult person. II she
dreamed that ] see you an often as
do, we'll" Rosa lifted her eloquent
hands and eyes heavenward. II sup
pose that's why enjoy doing i'll so
dearly love to spite her"
Il see!" O'Reilly puckered his