The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1918-05-03
CHAPTER |.
The Valley of DELIGHT.

UG GICJ vi 0CitHuk
In all probability your first view of
the valley of the Yumuri will be from
the Hermitage of Montserrate, for 1t is
there that the cocheros drive you.
There you overlook the fairest sight in
all Christendom-"th loveliest valley
In the world" as Humboldt called it
for the Yumuri nestles right at your
feet, vale of pure delight, glimpse
Of Paradise that bewilders the eye and
fills the soul with ecstasy.
Standing beside the shrine of Our
Lady of Montserrate, you viii see be-
yond the cleft through which the river
energies another hill, La Cumbre, from
which the view Is wonderful, and your
driver may tell you about the splendid
homes that used to grace Its slopes
In the golden days when Cuba had an
aristocracy. Your cochero may point
out q certain grove of orange trees.
now little more than rank tangle,
and tell you about the quinta Of Don
Esteban Varona, and Its hidden treas
ure about little Esteban and Rosa, the
twins; and about Sebastian, the giant
slave, who died In fury, taking with
him the secret of the well.
The Spanish Main is rich in tales of
treasure-trove, for when the Antilles
cure, and men were put to strange
shifts to protect their fortunes. Ger
tain boards, like jewels of tragic his
tory, in time assumed a sort of evil
personality, not infrequently exercising
dire influence over the lives of those
who CHANGED TO fall under their spells.
1t was as If the money were accursed,
for certainly the seekers often came
to evil. OF such a character was the
Varona treasure. Don Esteban himself
was neither better nor worse than
other men of his time, and although
part Of the money he hid was wrung
from the toll of slaves and the traffic
In their bodies, much of it was clean
enough, and in time the earth purified
1t all. Since his acts made SO deep an
impress, and since the treasure he left
played so big a part in the destinies of
those who came after him, it is well
that some account of these matters
should be given.
The story, please remember, is an
old one; it has been often told, and in
the telling and retelling it is but natural
mat a certain glamour a certain
tropical extravaganza, should attach to
II, therefore you should make allow
ahee for some exaggeration, some ac-
cretions due to the lapse of time. In
The main, however, it is well authenti-
Gated and runs parallel to fact.
Donna Rosa Varona lived barely long
enough to learn that she had given
pifth to twins. Don Esteban. whom
people knew as a grim man, took the
blow of his sudden bereavement as be-
came one of his strong fiber. Leaving
.ne priest upon his knees and the doc
tor busted with the babies, he strobe
through the house and out into the
sunset, followed by the walls of the
slave women.
Don Esteban was at heart a selfish
niah, and now, therefore, he felt a sui
,eh' neree resentment mingled with
MS grief. What trick was this? he
asked himself. What had he done to
merit such misfortune? Had he not
made rich gifts to the church? Had he
no. knelt and prayed for his wife's
0aie delivery and then hung his gifts
upon the sacred image, as Loyola had
nung up his weapons before that other
.ounterpart of Our Lady? Don Este
Van scowled at the memory, for those
gems We're of the finest.
ne looked up from his unhappy
musings to find a gigantic bare
~ negro standing before him.
4ne slave was middle-aged; his kinky
aair was growing gray; but he was of
superD proportions, and the muscles
"iiicn showed through the rents in his
so'eon garments were as smooth and
s'pple as those Of STRIPPING. His
luck face was puckered with grief,
as ne began:
master, Is 1t true that Donna Rosa
The fellow choked.
: les Esteban nodded, YEARLY, "she
uead, Sebastian
lears came to Sebastian's eyes and
s'ernowed his cheeks; he stood mo-
Vn'ess striving to voice his sympathy.
g length he said:
Sne was too good for this world.