Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-04-30

- . NioL II she
dreamed that l see you as often as I
do Well" Rosa lifted her elo-
quent hands and eyes heavenward. 81
suppose that's why 1 enjoy doing It'll
so dearly love to spite her."
IL see /" 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 iady's life totally unbearable."
Silly! She knows nothing about
IT" With fiirtatious sigh Rosa add
ed: That's what rObs the affair of its
chief pleasure. Since 1t does not bother
her in the least, 1 think / 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,
IAN JOu IONCy StnOI
Can /? It's the one ability an
ORellly 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 dlmpled hand I'm holding"
"Oh-hI" The girl allowed his grasp
to remain. But Isabels hand isn't
dimpled: it's thin and bony. I've felt
it on my ears often enough"
Don't interrupt" he told her. Elsa
bel, my little darling"
'IsabePr" exclaimed voice, and
the lovers started guiltily apart. They
turned to find Esteban, Rosa's twin
brother, staring at them oddly. lisa
bel?" he repeated. whats this?"
"You interrupted our theatricaIs. l
was rehearsing an impassioned pro-
posal to your beloved stepmother,
O'Reilly explained, with a pretense of
annoyance.
Eyes, Senior O'Reilly believes he can
infuriate Isabel by laying siege to her.
He's Abolish person" Rosa's
cheeks were family flushed and her
color deepened at the amusement in
Esteban's eyes. ''He makes love
wretchedly"
What little l overheard wasn't bad"
Esteban declared; then he took
O'Reilly's hand.
Esteban was handsome bow.
straight, slim and manly, and his re-
semblance to Rosa was startling.
With a look engaging in its frank d.
rectness, he said: "ROsa told me about
your meetings here and I came TO
apologize for our stepmother's discour-
tesy. I'm sorry we can't invite YOU
into our house, but-yOu understand?
Rosa and l are not like her; we are
quite liberal in our views; we are al
most Americans. as you see. l dare
say that's what makes Isabel hate
Americans so bitterly"
Wouldn't 1t please her to know that
I'm becoming Cubanized as fast as
ever l CAM" ventured the caller.
"Oh, she hates Cubans, too w laughed
the brother. "She's Spanish, you know.
Well, it's fortunate you didn't see her
today Br-r! What temper! She'll
walk in her sleep tonight, If ever"
Rosa nodded soberly, and OReilly,
Suppressing some light reply that had
sprung to his lips. inquired, curiouSly,
"What do you mean by that?'
Brother and sister joined I'm explain
ing that Donna Isabel was given to pc
culiar actions, especially after periods
of excitement or anger, and that one of
her eccentricitieS had taken the form
of somnambulistic wanderings. oh
she's crazy enough" ESteban con.
Guided. Il believe it's her evil con-
science"
O'Reilly scanned the speaker silent.
ly for a moment; then he said, with a
gravity unusual in him, Il wonder II
you know that you're suspected Of
working for the insurrecto cause" >
Indeed? didn't know"
swell, it's a fact" O'Reiry heard
Rosa gasp family. as it true?" he
asked.
Il am a Cuban"
Cuban? Your people were Span.
ish."
True. But no Spaniard ever raised
Spanish child in Cuba. We are Gu
bans, Rosa and l. go everywhere, and
the Spanish officers talk plainly be
fore me. Somebody must be the eyes
and the ears for Colonel Lopez"
Colonel Lopez ~ exclaimed O'Reilly
Esteban nodded.
ROSa's face. as she looked at the two
men, was white and worried. For q
time the three of them sat silent: then
the American said. slowly, you'll be
shot if you're caught"
Some one must run chances" Este.
ban averred. Were fighting tyranny
all Cuba is ablaze must do my part
Put sooner or later you'll be dis.
eovered-then what?s persisted O'Reil.
ly.
ESteban shrugged. "Who knows
ThereI be time enough when"
what of Rosa?"
AT this question the brother stirred
unessily and dropped his eyes. O'Reil-
ly laid hand upon his arm. you
have no right to jeopardize her safety
Without you, to whom could she turn
The girl flashed her admirer 8 grateful
glance.
"Senor. you for one would see that
she"
"But-rm going away. O'Reilly
felt rather than saw Rosa start, foI
his face was averted. II came here to
tell you both good-by. 1 may be gone
for some time. IL don't know when
1 can get back
I'm sorry" ESteban told him. with
genuine regret. I'VE have grown very
fond Of you. But you win come back