The Mena weekly star., 1918-10-24

conIpTTancc~ With Thslr demands tnev spoke imperiously; but they had never seen frown like this upon their fa. ther's face.
 Go to your rooms, my sweethearts 1" Don Esteban directed.
 We want Evangellna. She belongs to us,' they chorused. stubbornly.
 Don Pablo shook with laughter. @so She belongs to you, eh? And I'm to be robbed of my winnings. Very well then, come and give me kiss. both of you, and I'll see what can be done"
 But the children saw that Don Pab. los race was strangely flushed. that ms eyes were wild and his magnificent beard was wet with wine; therefore they hung back.
 You won your bet fairly" Esteban growled at him. 'Pay no heed to these babies"
 Evangelina is ours," the little ones brayely repeated.
 Then their father exploded: "The devil Am I dreaming? Where have you learned to oppose me? Back to your beds, both of you" Seeing them hesitate, he shouted for his wife. "Ho, there Isabel, my lovel Come put these imps to rest. Or must I teach them manners with my palm7 A fine thing. truly Are they to be allowed to roam the house at will and get fever2" --v---..r .sa.. 1T
 Mere mention of their stepmother's name was enough for Rosa and Este ban; they scuttled away as fast as they could go, and when Donna Isabel came to their rooms, few moments later, she found them in their beds, with their eyes deceitfully squeezed shut. Evangelina was covering in a corner. Isabel had overheard the wager. and her soul was evilly alight; she 1erked the slave girl to her feet and with blow of her palm sent her to her quarters. Then she turned her at tention to the twins. When she left them they were weeping silently, both for themselves and for Evangelina, whom they dearly loved.
 Day was breaking when Esteban Varona bade his guests good-by at the door of his house. As he stood there Sebastian came to him out of the mists of the dawn. He was half crazed from apprehension, and now cast him self prone before his master, begging for Eyangeina.
 Don Pablo, In whom the liquor was dying, cursed impatiently: "Caramba Have l won the treasure of your whole establishment" he inquired. Per haps you value this wench at more than thousand pesos; if so, you will say that cheated you"
 "Nol She's only an ordinary girl. My wife doesn't like her. and so de- termined to get rid of her. She is yours, fairly enough" varona told him.
 "Then send her to my house. I'll breed her to Salvador, my cochero. He's the strongest man have"
 Sebastian uttered a strangled cry and rose to his feet. "Masteri You must not"
 "Silencel" ordered Esteban. "Go about your business. What do you mean by this, anyhowf"
 But Sebastian. dazed of mind and sick of soul, went on, unheeding. "She is my girl. You promised me her free dom. warn you"
 "EhT" The planter swayed forward and with blazing eyes surveyed his slave. You warn me? Of what?" he growled.
 At this moment neither master nor man knew exactly what he said or did. Sebastian raised his hand on high. In reality the gesture was meant to call heaven as a witness to his years of faithful service, but, mlsconstruing his intent, Pablo Peza brought his riding whip down across the old mans back. crying:
 "Hol None of that"
 A shudder ran through Sebastian's frame. Whirling. he seized Don Pab- los wrist and tore the whip from his fingers. Although the Spaniard was 6 strong man. he uttered cry of pain.
 At this indignity to guest Fsteban flew into a fury. .Punchoi' i'' he cried "Hol Panchoi" When the manager came running, Esteban explained "This fool Is dangerous. He raised his hand to me and to Don Pablo"
 Sebastian's protests were drowned by the angry voices of the others.
 ''rie him to yonder grating" di- rected Esteban. who was still in the grip of a senseless rage. "Flog him we'll and make haste about it."
 Sebastian, who had no time in which to recover himself, made but weak resistance when Papcho Cueto locked bis wrists into pair of clumsy, old. | fashioned manacles, first passing the chain around one of the bars of the iron window grating which Esteban | had indicated.
 Cueto swung q heavy lash; the sound of his blows echoed through the quinta, and they summoned, among others, Donna Isabel, who watched the scene from behind her shutter with much satisfaction. The guests looked on aDnrovingly.