The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-07-05

brother" she cried, shrilly. swell te
Don Pablo to 60 home and leave our
E~vangelina."
my blessed dovesi But will they
listen to your" moaned the slave.
"Papa does whatever we ask" they
assured her, gravely. III he should
growl well come back and hide YOU In
the big wardrobe where nobody will
ever find you." Then hand In hand.
with their long nightsowns lifted to
their knees, they battered out into the
hall and down toward the living room.
whence came the shouting and the
laughter.
Don Mario de Castano, who was fac
Ing the door, stopped In the midst Of .
ribald song to cry: "God be praised!
What's this l see1"
The others looked and then burst
into merrtment, for across the litter Of
cards and dice and empty glasses they
saw . dimpled girl and boy. a. ike as
two peas. They were just out Of bed;
they were peering through the smoke,
and blinking Ike two little owls.
$50! You awaken the household
With your songs" seme ons chided Don
Mario.
1.-TWO cherubs from heaven" another
exclaimed.
But the father lurched forward. q
frown upon his face. "What IL this. my
dears?" he inquired, thickly. Run
back to your beds. This IL NO place
for you"
I'VE love Evangelina," piped the
twins. "You must not let Don Pablo
have her-if you please"
"Evangelina1"
They nodded. I'VE love her. . .
She plays with ii every day. . .
We want her to stay here. . She
belongs to rs"
Accustomed ~ they were to prompt
compliance with their demands. they
spoke imperiousiy: but they had never
e a frown like this upon their ia
theirs face.
"Go to your rooms. my sweethearts,"
Don Esteban directed.
1--WE want Evangelina. She belongs
to u.s." they chorused, stubbornly.
Don Pablo shook with laughter. "Sol
She belongs to you. eh9 And I'm t
be robbed Of my winnings. Very well.
then, come and give me q kiss. both Of
you. and I'll see what can be DONE"
But the children saw that Don Pab-
los face was strangely flushed. that
his eyes were Wild and his magnificent
beard was vet 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
bravely repeated.
Then their father exploded: THE
devil! Am l dreaming2 Where have
you learned to oppose met 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 anners with my palm3 A fine
thing, truly! Are they to be allowed
to roam the house at will and get q
fever?"
Mere mention Of their stepmother's
name was enough for Rosa and Este
bauq they scuttled away a. fast a.
they could so. and when Donna Isabel
came to their rooms. . Few moments
later. she found them in their beds.
with their eyes deceitfully squeezed
shut. Evangelina q covering in q
corner Isabel had overheard the wager.
and her apul was evilly alight; she
jerked the slave girl to her feet and
with q 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 E~vangelina.
whom they dearly loved.
Day was breaking when Esteban
varona babe his guests good-by 1t the
| door OF his house. A. he aeod 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 Evangelina.
The secret % the hidlne