Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-08-02

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The widowed man cried out angrily
Paradise! What is this but Para.
dlseT He stared with resentful eyes
at the beauty round about him. "See
The Yumuri!" Don ESteban flung q
long arm outward. do you think there
is q sight like that In heaven? Para
disc indeed! gave her everything.
She gained nothing by dying"
With a grave thoughtfulness which
proved him superior to the ordinary
slave, Sebastian replied:
True! She had all that any WON
ans heart could desire, but in return
for your goodness she gave you chill
dren. You have lost her, but you have
gained an heir, and a beautiful girl
baby who will grow to be another
Donna Rosa. l grieved as you grieve,
once upon a 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 of children" He paused and
shifted his weight uncertainty, digging
his stiff black toes into the dirt. After
a time he said, slowly: "Excellency =!
Now, about the-well-"
"Yes. What about it,"
ibid the Donna Rosa confide her
share Of the secret to anyone? 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, ever to the deeds Of
patent for the plantations. If l thought
there was danger Of you %betraying me
I would have your tongue pulled out
and your eyes torn from their sockets"
The black man spoke with a sim.
plicity that carried conviction: "Times
are unsettled, Don Esteban, and death
comes without warning. You are
known to be the richest nan In this
province and these government officials
are robbers. SUPPOSE should be left
alone? What thenY
The planter considered for a mo-
ment. well, when my children are old
enough to hold their tongues they will
have to be told. II I'm gone, you shall
be the one to 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 quar-
tiers he took the path to the well-the
place where most Of his time was ordi-
narily spent. Sebastian had dug this
well, and with his own hands he had
beautifed its surroundings until they
were the loveliest on the Varona
grounds. 1t was Sebastian's task to
keep this place green, and thither he
took his way, from force Of habit.
Through the twilight came Pancho
Cueto, the manager, q youngish man,
with a narrow face and bold, close-set
eyes. Spying Sebastian, he began:
$50 Don Esteban has an heir at
last?"
The slave rubbed his eyes with the
heel Of his huge yellow palm and an
swered, respectfully:
"Yes, Don Pancho. Two little angels,
a boy and a girl" His gray brows
drew together In a painful frown.
Donna Rosa was a saint. No doubt
there is great rejoicing in heaven at
her coming. Eth? What do you Think"
"Um-m! Possibly. Don Esteban will
miss her for a time and then, l dare
say, he will remarry." At the negro's
exclamation Cueto said: $50! And
why not? Everybody knows how rich
he is. From Oriente to Pinar del Rio
the women have heard about his treas
ure."
"What treasure" asked Sebastian,
after an instant's pause.
Cueto's dark eyes cleaned resent
fully at this show of ignorance, but he
laughed.
"Ho! There's a careful fellow for
you! No wonder he trusts you. But
do you think l have neither eyes nor
ears? My good Sebastian, you know
all about that treasure; In fact, you
know far more about many things than
Don Esteban would are to have you
tell. Come now, don't your"
Sebastian's face was like a mask
carved from ebony. "Of what does this
treasure consist? he inquired. 81 have
never heard about it."
"Of gold, Of jewels, of silver bars
and precious ornaments" Cueto's head
was thrust forward, his nostrils we're
dilated, his teeth cleaned. "Oh, it Is
somewhere about, as you very well
know! Bah! Don't deny it. I'm no
fool. What becomes of the money
from the slave girls, Ell? And the
sugar crops, too? Does 1t 60 to buy
arms and ammunition for the rebels?
No. Don Esteban hides 1t, and you
help him. Come" he cried, disregard
ing Sebastian's murmurs Of protest,
'did you ever think how fabulous that
fortune must be by this time? Did you
ever think that n little gem, one
bag of gold, would buy your freedom?'
Don Esteban has promised to buy
my freedom md the freedom of my