Evening star., 1918-01-27

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share with her twin--that was her love
for o'Reilly. Spanish-reared women. as
a rule, do not play with love: when 1t
comes they welcome 1t, even though 1t
be that first infatuation SO often scorn-
ed by older, colder people. So II was
with Rosa varona. Whatever might
have been the true nature Of her first
feeling for the Irish-American. suffer-
ing and meditation had deepened and
strengthened it into mature and
old found wisdom in cave or desert, so
Rosa in her solitude had learned the
truth about herself. Now, in the hour
of her extremity. thoughts of o'Reilly
yearning for him and her faith in his
coming stimulated her desire to live,
and SO aided hersrecovery.
The day arrived when her brain was
normal and when she could creep about
the hut. But she was only the ghost
of the girl she had been; she seldom
spoke and she never smiled. She sat
for hours staring out into the sunshine.
and when she found tears upon her
cheeks she was surprised, for 1t seemed
to her that she must long ago have shed
the very last
Asensio. likewise recovered. but he,
too. was sadly changed; There was no
longer any martial spirit in him: he
feared the Spaniards, and tales of their
atrocities cowed him.
Then Cobo came into the Yumuri.
The valley, already well nigh deserted.
was filled to the brim with smoke from
burning fields and houses, and through
It the sun showed like a copper shield.
Refugees passed the bohio, bound far
ther into the hills. and Asensio told the
two women that he and they must also
go. So the three gathered up what
few things they could carry on their
backs and fed.
They did not stop until they had
gained the fastnesses of the Pan de
Matanzas. Here they built shelter
and again took up the problem Of liv-
ing, which was now more difficult than
ever.
Asensfo would not have been greatly
inconvenienced by the change had he
been alone. for certain fruits grew wild
IN the forests, and the earth. where the
Spaniards had not trod. was full of
roots upon which a creature of his
primitive habits could have managed to
women. one Of whom was as delicate as
flower. Asensio found his task ex-
tremely difficult. And 1t grew daily
more dihcult; for there were other
people here u the woods, and. more
being steadily secured by the enemy.
who had orders to destroy every living
growing thing that was capable Of
sustaining human life. Stock was
outcnered and left to rot, trees were
cut down. root fields burned. VIEWERS
policy of frightfulnes was in full SWAY
and starvation was driving its reluctant
victims into his net. Meanwhile rowing
oands or guerrillas searched out and
killed the stronger and the more tena-
cious families.
The Pan de Matanzas, so called be-
cause OF its resemblance to a mighty
ioaf OF bread, became a mockery to the
npuns1y people covering in its shelter
breao! Rosa Varona could not remem-
per when she had last tasted such a
luxury Raw cane, cocoanuts, the taste
less 'ruita bomba, roots. the pith from
PAIN tops, these were her articles of
She was always more or less hungry
one was ragged. too, and she shiyered
miserab1y through the long. chill nights
rosa could measure the change in her
appearance finp rance only by studying her reflec-
tlon from the surface of the spring
"nere she drew water, but she could
see that she had become very thin. and
sne judged that the color had entirely
gone from her checks. 1t saddened her.
Tor O'Reilly's sake.
Time came when Asensio snok. -
giving up the struggle and going IN
Ihey were gradually starving. he said
ana Rosa was i'll; the risk Of discovery
vas ever present. 1t was better to go
but surely to perish here. He hai,
heard that there were twenty fbou.
sand reconcentrados in Matanzas: in
such a crowd they could easily manage
70 moe themselves; they would at least
be fed along with the others.
No one had told Asensio that the
government was leaving its prisoners
to shift for themselves, supply them
with not pound of food nor a square
inch of shelter.
idea declaring that Rosa would never
De allowed to reach the city, since the
roads were patrolled by lawless bands
OF troops. Nevertheless her husband
continued to argue. Rosa herself took
no part In the discussion, for 1t did NOT
greatly matter to her whether she
stayed or went.
Misery bred desperation at last:
Evangelfna's courage failed her, and
she allowed herself to be won over,
ing Rosa Gathering herbs and berries
she made stain with which she col
ored the girls face and body, then sha
sewed a bundle OF leaves into the back
OF Rosa's waist SO that when the lat
ter stopped her shoulders and walked
with stick her appearance Of de-
formity was complete
On the night before their departure
Rosa Varona prayed long and earnestly
asking little for herself, but much for
the two black people who had sufYered
so much FOR her. She prayed also that
CReilly would come before it was too
late.
XIV.
A WOMAN WITH A MISSION.
Within a few hours after o'Reilly's
return to New York he telephoned to
Felipe Alvarado. explaining briefly the
disastrous failure of his Cuban trip.
Il feared as much" the doctor told
him. You were lucky to escape with
your life"
We'll. I'm going back"
"Of course; but have you made any
plans?"
mot yet. I dare say I'll have to Join
some nlibustering outfit. Won't you in
tercede for me with the junta? They're
constantly sending parties"
''Um-m! not quite so often as that"
Alvarado was silent for a moment;
then he said: "Dine with me tonight
and we'll talk 1t over. I'm eager for
news of my brothers and-there Is some
one 1 wish you to meet She Is In
terested In our cause.
".She? A woman"
Yes. and an unusual woman. She
has contributed literally to our cause
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