The Ordway new era., 1918-10-04

qua with Asensio and Evangelina. former
slaves of our father. Such poverty. such
indescribabie circumstances. But they
were cur only friends and they took US
| in when we were homeless. SO we love
them
II this letter reaches you-and I send
1t with prayer-wkat then? I dare not
think too long of that. for the hearts of
men are not like the hearts of women.
What Will you say when you learn that
| the Rosa Varona whom you favored with
your admiration Is not the Rosa of to-
dayf i hear you murmur. THE girl for
gets herself!' But. oh. the standards of
yesterday are gone and my reserve is
gone. too! I am a hunted creature.
Rosa had compelled herself to start
with the death OF Donna Isabel and to
give him a succinct account of all that
had followed. O'ReilIy read the story.
fascinated.
That is how we came to live with Asenslo
and his wife. Imagine 1T A bohio. hid-
den away far up the Yumuri. and SO in
significant as to escape attention We are
no longer people OF consequence or au-
thority; our safety depends upon our in
conspicuousness.
The whole country is in chaos There
is no work-nothing but suspicion. hatred.
and violence. Oh, what desolation this
war has wrought! Esteban has already
pecofno q SuerriIerO. Tie mas stolen a
cow. and so We have milk for our coffee;
but there II only a handful of coffee left.
and little hope of more. Marauding bands
Of Spaniards are everywhere. and the
country people tell atrocious tales about
| them How will It endr How long be-
fore they will discover us and the worst
| will happen?
| II only you were here oh, my dear
est Juan! II only you were hereto take
me in your arms and Danish this ever
20 fo tar nx,lxy WI
were here to tell me that you love me
| still in spite of my misfortune See! The
tears are falling as write. You will re-
| turn. will you not? could not write like
| this II were sure that you would read
these lines. Ny nightly prayer But
will not tell you Of my prayers. for fate
| may guide this letter to you. after all.
| and the hearts of men do change. In
those dark hours when my doubts arise
try to tell myself that YOU will surely
come and search me out.
When you return to Cuba-see, my faith
| Is strong again-avoid Matanxas. for your
own sake and mine Don Mario wanted
| to marry me to save me this exile. But
you, and he was furious He Is power
full: he would balk you, and there Is al
ways room for one more In San Severino
II could come to you. would, but
| am marked. SO II you still desire me you
| must search me out. You will? pin my
faith to that as to the Cross. To doubt
| would be to perish. II we should have to
fnd another hiding-place, and that il al
ways likely. you can learn of our where
abouts from Colonel Lopez
Alas! II you had asked me to go with
you that day! would have followed you,
for my heart beat then as 1t beats today,
for you alone.
The candle Is burning low and It will
soon be daylight. and then this letter must
begin its long uncertain journey. trust
the many blots upon the paper VIII not
give you a wrong impression of my writ
ing. for I am neat, and I write nicely;
only now the ink is poor and there is very
little of It. There is little of anything,
here at Asensio's house. except tears: Oi
those fear there are too many to please
you. my Juan. for men do not like tears
Therefore try to smile as sign myself
Your loving and your faithful
ROSA.
God, Come quickly. II you love mo.