Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-05-09

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 a 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 nee been we'll
tended grounds, O'Reilly 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 vas 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 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, hat she was beyond doubt the
sweetest flower on all the Quinta de
L>o+o1,.- or1 CHE, M this c0,poy,hnt hoo 1/
neyed remark vas 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 10Y I'm
tremendously angry"
"Why?"
"It's that stepmother-Isabel. If she
dreamed that I see you as often as I
do Well" Rosa lifted her elo-
quent hands and eyes heavenward. II
suppose that's why I enjoy doing it
so dearly love to spite her"
IT 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 tho
good lady's life totally unbearable."
"Silly! She knows nothing about
it." With q firtatious sigh Rosa add
ed: "That's what robs the affair of its
chief pleasure. Since it does not bother
her in the least, I think l will not al
low you to come any more"
After ju%dicious consideration, O'Reil.
ly pretended to agree. .
"There's no fun in wreaking q hor
rible revenge, when your enemy ISM
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 1? It's the one ability al
O'Reilly inherits. Listen to this now
Reaching forth, he took Rosa's finger
in his: "Wait !" he cried as she resist
ed. pretend that you're Mrs. Varona
your own stepmother, and that this i
her dimpled hand I'm holding"
"Oh-h!" The girl allowed his gras]
to remain. "But Isabel's hand ism
dimpled: it's thin and bony. I've fel
it on my ears often enough"
Don't interrupt" he told her. Elsa
bel, rly little darling"
Elisabeth" exclaimed a voice, ant
the lovers started guiltily apart. The.
turned to find Esteban, Rosa's twill
brother. staring at them oddly. elsa
), bel?" he repeated. "What's this?"
"You interrupted our theatricals.
. was %rehearsing an impassioned pro
posal to your beloved stepmother,
! sO'Reilly explained, with a pretense o
annoyance.
eyes, Senior O'Rei11y believes he cal
e %infuriate Isabel by laying siege to hel
> He's Abolish person." Rosa
, checks were family flushed and he
y cclor deepened at the amusement ii
E%steban's eyes. "He makes luv
wretchedly."
: "What little I overheard wasn't bad,
: Esteban declared; then he tool
( O'Reilly's hand.
Esteban was q handsome boy
straight, slim and manly, and his re
semblance to Rosa was etaytline
With a look engaging in it's frank di.
rectncss, 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
i into 6ur house, but-you understand
. Rosa and I are not like her; we are
quite liberal IN u views; we are al.
y most Americans, as you see. I dare
: say that's what makes Isabel hate
Americans so bitterly"
/ wouldn't it please her to Know that
I'm becoming Cubanized as fast as
ever I can?" ventured the caller.
: "Oh, she hates Cubans, too !" laughed
3 the brother. "She's Spanish, you know.
Well, it's fortunate you didn't see her
, today. Br-rl What a temper! She'll
walk in her sleep tonight, If ever"
Rosa nodded soberly, and O'Reilly.