Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-07-11

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 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 its supremest wonder.
Through what had once been we'll
tended grounds, OReilly made his way
to a sort of sunken garden which, in
spite of neglect, still remained the
most charming nook upon the place;
and there he sat down to wait for Rosa.
The hollow was effectually screened
from view by a growth of plantain,
palm, orange, and tamarind trees; over
the rocky walls ran a profusion 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'Reflly
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
neyed remark was the boldest speech
he had ever made to her, she blushed
prettily, flashing him a dimpled smile
of mingled pleasure and surprise.
"Oh, but l assure you I'm in no
sweet temper" said she. Just now I'm
tremendously angry"
"Why?"
Its that epmother-Isabel. If she
dreamed that 1 see you as often as l
do Well" Rosa lifted her elo-
quent hands and eyes heavenward. 81
suppose that's why I enjoy doing it
so dearly love to spite. her"
81 seer O'Reilly puckered his
brows and nodded. "But why, in that
case, haven't you seen me oftener? We
might just as well have made the
good lady's life totally unbearable."
"Silly! She knows nothing about
it," With a flirtatious sigh Rosa add
| ed: That's what robS the affair of its
| chief pleasure. Since it does not bother
| her in the least, l think l will not al
| low you to come any more"
After judicious consideration, O'Reil-
ly pretended to agree.
There's no fun in wreaking a hor-
| rible revenge, when your enemy isn't
wise to it." he acknowledged. "Since
it's your idea to irritate your stepmoth-
er, perhaps it would annoy her if
made love directly to her"
Rosa Uttered, and then inquired,
naively, Can you make love, senor?"
Can I? It's the one ability an
OReilly inherits. Listen to this now
Reaching forth, he took Rosa's fingers
in his: wait !' he cried as she resist
ed. pretend that you're Mrs. Varona
your own stepmother, and that this is
her dimpled hand I'm holding"
"Oh-hw The girl allowed his GRASP
to remain. But IsabePs hand ism
dimpled: it's thin and bony. I've fel
it on my ears often enough"
Don't interrupt" he told her. lisa
bel, my little darling"
"Isabel' I" exclaimed a voice, ant
the lovers started guiltily apart. The!
turned to find Esteban, Rosa's twii
brother staring at them oddly. Elsa
bel?" he repeated. whats this?"
"You interrupted our theatricals.
was rehearsing an impassioned pro
posal to your beloved stepmother,
O'Reilly explained, with pretense o
annoyance.
eyes, Senior O'Reilly believes he cal
infuriate Isabel by laying siege to her
He's Abolish person." Rosa
cheeks were family flushed and he
color deepened at the amusement il
Estebans eyes. HE makes low
wretchedly."
''What little 1 overheard wasn't bad,
Esteban declared; then he too
OReilly's hand.
Esteban was handsome boy
straight, slim and manly, and his re
semblance to Rosa was startling
With a look engaging in it's frank d
rectness. he said: Rosa told me abou
your meetings here and l came t
, apologize for our stepmother's discoul
| tesy. I'm sorry we can't invite 20
, into our house, but-you understand
: Rosa and l are not like her; we ar
quite liberal in our views; we are a
: most Americans, as you see. l dar
/ say that's what makes Isabel hat
| Americans so bitterly"
wouldn't it please her to know tha
I'm becoming Cubanized as fast q
: ever / CAM" ventured the caller.
"Oh, she hates Cubans, too p laughe
: the brother. "She's Spanish, you know
Well, it's fortunate you didn't see he