Mexico Missouri message., 1918-05-02
God was jealous and took here to Para

The widowed man cried out angrily:
Paradise! What is this but Para
diseT He stared with resentful eyes
at the beauty round about him. See!
The Yumuri !" Don Esteban flung a
long arm outward. do you think there
is a sight like that in heavenH Para
disc indeed / gave her everything.
She gained nothing by dying"
With grave thoughtfulness which
proved him superior to the ordinary
slave, Sebastian replied:
"True She had all that any wom-
ans heart could desire, but In return
for your goodness she gave you chill
dren. You have lost her. but you have
gained an heir, aud a beautiful girl
baby who will grow to be another
Donna Rosa. / grieved as you grieve,
once upon time, for my woman died
in childbirth, too. You remember? But
my daughter lives, and she has brought
sunshine into my old age. That Is the
purpose of children" He paused and
shifted his weight uncertainty, digging
his stiff black toes into the dirt. After
a time he said, slowly: "EKcellency
Now, about the-well--7"
"Yes. What about it,"
did the Donna Rosa confide her
share OF the secret to anyone2 Those
priests and those doctors, you know"
"She died without speaking"
"Then II rests between you and me?"
ut does, unless you have babbled."
MASTER" Sebastian drew himself
up and there was real dignity In his
black face.
Understand my whole fortune is
there-everythlng, even to the deeds Of
patent for the plantations. If thought
there was danger of you betraying me
l would have your tongue pulled out
and your eyes torn from their sockets"
The black man spoke with n sim
plicity that carried conviction: "Times
are unsettled, Don Esteban. and death
comes without warning. You a.e
known to be the richest man in this
province and these government officials
are robbers. SUPPOSE should be left
alone? What then?"
The planter considered for a mo-
ment. "Well, when my children are old
enough to hold their tongues they will
have to be told. If I'm gone, you shall
be the one to tell them. Now leave me (;
this is no time TO speak of such things"
Sebastian went as noiselessly as he
had come. On his way back to his quar-
tiers he took the path to the well-the
| place where most Of his time was Ordi-
narily spent. Sebastian had dug this
well, and with his own hands he had
| beautified its surroundings until they
| grounds. 1t was Sebastian's task to
keep this place green, and thither he
took his way, from force of habit.
Through the twilight came Pancho
CuetO, the manager, youngish man,
with a narrow face and bold close-set
eyes. Spying Sebastian, he began:
$50 Don Esteban has an heir at
last?"
The slave rubbed his eyes with the
heel of his huge yellow palm and an
swered, respectfully:
"Yes, Don Pancho. Two little angels,
|
drew together in a painful frown.
Donna Rosa was a saint. No doubt
there is great rejoicing in heaven at
her coming. Eth? What do you think? 2"
"Um-m! Possibly. Don Esteban will
miss her for time and then, dare
say, he will remarry." At the negro's
exclamation CuetO said: $50! And
why not? Everybody knows how rich
he is. From Oriente to Pinar del Rio
the women have heard about his treas
ure."
"What treasurer" asked Sebastian
after an instant's pause.
Cueto's dark eyes cleaned resent
fully at this show of ignorance, but he
laughed.
"Ho! There's a careful fellow for
you No wonder he trusts you. But
do you think have neither eyes mol
ears2 My good Sebastian, you know
all about that treasure; In fact, yoT
know far more about many things thar
Don Esteban would care to have yoJ
tell. Come now, don't your"
Sebastian's face was like a mash
carved from ebony. "Of what does thi'
treasure consist?" he inquired. 81 have
never heard about It."
"Of gold, OF jewels, of silver BAR
and precious ornaments" Cueto's head
was thrust forward, his nostrlls wer,
dilated, his teeth cleaned. "Oh, 1t Il
somewhere about, as you very wei
know! BAIL Don't deny it, I'm NJ
fool. What becomes of the none!
from the slave girls, Ell? And th,
sugar crops, too? Does 1t go to blu.
arms and ammunition for the rebels
No. Don Esteban hides 1t, and yov
help him. Come" he cried, disregard
ing Sebastlan's murmurs of protest
did you ever think how fabulous tina
fortune must be by this timer Did yol
ever think that one little gem, on
bag of gold, would buy your freedom7
don Esteban has promised to bu
my freedom and the freedom Of m