The Ordway new era., 1918-09-06

The widowed man cried out angrily:
Paradise What Is this but Para
dlgeT' He stared with resentfui eyes
al the beauty round about him. See +,
The YuTnuri ,F' Don Esteban flung
long arm outward. do you think there
is sight IKE that In heaven? Para
disc Indeed. 1 gave her everything.
She gained nothing by dying"
With grave thoughtfulness which
proved him superior TO the ordinary
slare, 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, and a beautiful girl
baby who will grow 10 be another
Donna Rosa. 1 grieyed as you griere,
once upon time. for my woman died
in childbirth. too. You remernberT But
my daughter lives, and she has brought
sunshine into my old age. That IL the
purpose Of children" He paused and
shifted his weight uncertainty. digging
his stin black toes into the dirt. After
tiu.s ne said. slowly: "E1cellency
Sow, about the-well-T
Yes What about iti''
did the Donna Rosa cOnfide her
share of the secret to anyonef Those
priests and those doctors. you know"
''She died without speaking"
'-Then II rests between you and mef''
''It does. unless you have babbled."
''Masteri" Sebastian drew himself
up and there WAS real dignity In his
black face.
Understand. my whole fortune Is
ihere-everything. even 20 the deeds Of
patent for the plantations. II ! thought
there WAS danger Of you betraying me
would have your tongue pulled out
and your eyes torn from their sockets"
The black man spoke with sim
plicify that carried conviction: Times
are unsettled, Don Esteban, and death
comes without warning. You are
province and these government officials
are robbers. Suppose should be left
alone? What thenf'
The planter considered for mo-
ment- well. when my children are old
enough 10 hold their tongues they VIII
have to be told. II 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-
ters he took the path TO the well-the
place where most OF his time was ordl-
narily spent. Sebastian had dug this
well. and with his own hands he had
beautified it's surroundings until they
were the loveliest on the varona
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,
boy and n girl" His gray brows
drew together In painful frown.
Donna Rosa was n saint. No doubt
there Is great rejoicing In heaven at
her coming. Eth? What do you Think"
"Um-m, Possibly. Don Esteban will
miss her for time and then. I dare
say. he will remarry." At the negro's
exclamation Cueto said: $50! And
why notf Everybody knows how rich
he is. From Oriente TO Pinnr del Rio
the women have heard about his treas
ure.''
"Whnt treasurer asked Sebastian,
after an instant's pause.
CuctO's dark eyes CLEANED resent
fully at this show Of ignorance. but he
laughed.
Hot There's careful fellow for
youl No wonder he trusts you But
do you think l have neither eyes nor
ears? My good Sebastian. you know
all about that treasure: In fact. you
know far more about many things than
Don Estcbnn would care to have you
tell. Come now, don't you?'
Sebnstian's face was like II mask
carved from ebony. "Of what does this
treasure conslstl" he inquired. II have
never Heard about it,
"Of gold, of jewels, Of silver bars
and precious ornaments" Cueto's head
was thrust forward. his nostrIls were
dllatcd, his teeth cleaned. "Oh, 1t is
somewhere about, as you very well
know Bah! Don't deny It. I'm no
fool. What becomes of the money
from the slave girls, eh? And the
sugar crops, toof Does 1t go to buy
arms and ammunition for the rebels?
No. Don Estebun hides 1t, and you
help him. Come" he cried, disregard
ing Sebnstian's murmurs of protest,
did you ever think how fabulous that
fortune must be by this time? Did you
ever think that one little gem one
bag of gold, would buy your freedomY"
Don Esteban has promised to buy
my freedom and the freedom of my
,l,It