Mexico Missouri message., 1918-05-02

she grows up she will be worth more
than you, her father. Don't forget that
| Don Esteban is before all else bust
ness man. Be careful that some one
doesn't make him so good an offer for
your girl that he will forget his prom
| Use and-sell her"
Sebastian uttered a hoarse, animal
cry and the whites of his eyes showed
through the gloom. HE would never
sell Evangelina ~
CuetO laughed aloud once more. "Of
course! He would not dare, eh2 am
| only teasing you. But see You have
given yourself away. Everything you
tell me proves that you know all about
that treasure"
II know but one thing" the slave
declared, stiffening himself slowly,
"and that is to be faithful to Don Es-
teban." He turned and departed, leav-
ing Pancho Cueto staring after him
meditatively.
In the days following the birth Of
his children and the death OF his wife,
Don Esteban Varona, as had been his
custom, steered middle course in
politics, In that way managing to avoid
a clash with the Spanish officials who
ruled the island, or an open break with
his Cuban neighbors, who rebelled be-
meath their wrongs. Esteban dealt
automatically with both factions and
went on raising slaves and sugar to his
own great profit. f..
The twins, Esteban and Rosa, devel-
oped into healthy children and became
| the pride of Sebastian and his daugh-
ter, into whose care they had been
given. AS for Evangelina, the young
negress, she grew tall and strong and
| handsome, until she was the finest
slave girl in the neighborhood.
Then, one day, Don Esteban Varona
remarked, and the Donna Isabel, who
had been a famous Habana beauty,
came to live at the qulnta. The daugh-
ter Of impoverished parents, she had
heard and thought much about the
mysterious treasure of La Cumbre.
Before the first fervor of his honey
moon cooled the groom began to fear
that he had made a serious mistake.
Donna Isabel, he discovered, was both
vain and selfish. Not only did she
crave luxury and display, but with sim
gular persistence she demanded to
know all about her husbands financial
affairs.
Now Don Esteban was no longer
young; age had soured him with sus-
picion, and when once he saw himself
as the victim of a mercenary marriage
he turned bitterly against his wife.
Her curiosity he sullenly resented and
he unblushingly denied his possession
of any considerable wealth. In fact,
he tried with malicious ingenuity to
make her believe him poor man. But
Isabel was bot of the sort tO-be readily
deceived. Finding her arts and CO.
quetries of no avail, she few into a
rage, and a furious quarrel ensued-
the first of many. For the lady could
not rest without knowing all there was
to know about the, treasure.
She searched the quinta, of course,
whenever she had a chance, but she
discovered nOthing-with the result
that the mystery began to engross her
whole thought. She pried into the OBJ
scurest corners, she questioned the
slaves, she lay awake at night listening
to ESteban's breathing, in the hope Of
surprising his secret from his dreams.
At length time came when they lived
In frank enmity; when Isabel never
spoke to Esteban except in reproach or
anger, and when Esteban unlocked his
lips only to taunt his wife with the
fact that she had been thwarted de-
spite her cunning.
1t was only natural under such con-
ditions that Donna Isabel should learn
to dislike her stepchildren-Esteban
had told her frankly that they would
inherit whatever fortune he possessed.
AS may be imagined, she found ways
to vent her spite upon the twins. She
widened her hatred so as to include old
Sebastian and his daughter, and even
went so far as to prosecute Evange-
lina's sweetheart, slave named Assem-
slo.
1t had not taken Donna Isabel long
to guess the reason for Sebastian's
many privileges, and one Of her first
J efforts had been to win the old mans
, confidence. 1t was in vain, however,
that she flattered and cajoled, or
J stormed and threatened; Sebastian
withstood her as towering ceiba with
, stands the summer heat and the win
] ter hurricane.
! His firmness made her vindictive
, and so in time she laid scheme ia
, estrange him from his master.
; Donna Isabel was crafty. She began
7 to complain about Evangelina, but II
2 was only after many months that she
] ventured to suggest to her husband
that he sell the girl. Esteban, Of
, course, refused point-blank; he was toe
t fond of Sebastian's daughter, he de
] clared, to think Of such thing.
3 $50, that is it," sneered Donna lisa
bel. swell, she is young and shapely
? and handsome, as wenches go. rather
? suspected you were fond of her"