Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-05-31


1t was quite true that Johnnie
O'Reilly-or 1.-THE O'Reilly," as his
friends called him-had little in the
way of worldly advantage to offer any
girl, and it was precisely because of
this fact that he had accepted posi-
ton here in Cuba, where, from the very
nature Of things, promotion was likely
to be more rapid than in the New York
office of his firm.
A dancing eye speaks every Ian
guage; singing heart gathers its own
audience. Before the young Irish
American had more than a bowling ac-
quaintance with the commonest Span
ish verbs he had a calling acquaint-
ance with some of the most exclusive
people of Matanzas. He had adjusted
himself serenely to his surroundings
when Rosa Varona returned from
school, but with her coming, away
went all his complacency. His content
ment vanished; he experienced total
change in his opinions, hiss hopes, and
his ambitions.
He discovered, for example, that Ma
tanzas was by no means the Out-Of-the-
way place he had considered it on the
contrary, after meeting Rosa once by
accident, twice by design, and three
times by mutual arrangement, it had
dawned upon him that this was the
chief city of Cuba, if not, perhaps, the
hub around which the whole world re-
volved; certainly it was the most
agreeable of all cities, since it con-
tanned everything that was necessary
for mans happiness. Yet, despite the
thrill of his awakening, O'Reilly was
not at all pleased with himself, for, as
it happened, there was another girl
back home, and during his first year
Of loneliness he had written to her
more freely and more frequently than
any man ON such salary as his had a
right to do.
Inasmuch as her father was O'Reil-
ly's company" it may be seen that
Rosa Varonas homecoming seriously
complicated matters, not only from a
sentimental, but from a business stand
point.
1t was in a thoughtful mood that he
rode up La Cumbre toward the Quinta
Dan Mario's visit. Instead of going d.
rectly to the house, as the merchant
had done, O'Reilly turned off from the
road and, after lettering his horse in
a cluster of guava bushes, proceeded
on foot. He did not like Donna Isabel,
nor did Donna Isabel like him. More
over, he had a particular reason for
avoiding her today.
Just inside the Varona premises he
paused an instant to admire the out
look. The quinta commanded an excel
lent view of the Yumuri, ON the one
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 it's supremest wonder.
Through what had once been we'll
tended grounds, O'Reilly made his way
to 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 profusion of
ter of the open space was an old we'll,
it's masonry curb all but crumbled
away.
When Rosa at last appeared, O'Reilly
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 dimpled smile
of mingled pleasure and surprise.
ooh, but I assure you I'm in no
sweet temper" said she. "Just now I'm
tremendously angry"
"WhyW
"It's that stepmother-Isabel. If she
dreamed that / see you as often as
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."
II 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 lady's life totally unbearable."
"Silly! She knows nothing about
it, With flirtatious sigh Rosa add
ed: "That's what robs the affair of it's
chief pleasure. Since it does not bother
her in the least, I think I will not al
low you to come any more"
After judicious consideration, O'Reil-
ly pretended to agree.
"Theres 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-
err, perhaps it would annoy her If ]
made love directly to her."
Rosa Uttered, and then inquired,
naively, Can you make love, senor?"