The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1918-05-17

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
time he said, slowly: "Excellency!
Now, about the-weli-?"
yes. What about it?'
Did the Donna Rosa confide her
share of the secret to anyone? Those
priests and those doctors, you know
"She died without speaking
"Then it rests between you and me?'
at 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-eyerything, 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 sim
plicity that carried conviction: "Times
are unsettled Don ESteban, and death
comes without warning. You are
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 Il mo-
ment. "Well, when my children are old
enough to hold their tongues they will
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-
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
beautitied it's surroundings until they
We're 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
CHeto, the manager. a youngish man,
with q 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.
Il boy and Il girl Ills gray broWs
drew together in a painful froWn.
Donna Rosa was Il 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 a 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 0riente to Pinar del Rio
the women have heard about his treas
ure"
"What treasurer" asked Sebastian,
after an instant's pause
Gueto's dark eyes cleaned resent
fully at this show of ignorance, but he
laughed.
"Ho! There's careful fellow for
you, No wonder he trusts you. But
do YOU think | 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 Esteban would care to have you
tell. Come now, don't your"
Sebastan's face was like a mask
carved from ebony. "Of what does this
treasure eonsist?" he inquired II have
never heard about 1t"
"Of gold. of jewels. of silver bars
and precious ornaments" CuetO'S head
was thrust forward, his nostrils We're
dilated, his teeth cleaned. "Oh, it 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, Ell? And the
sugar crops, too? Does it go to buy
arms and ammunition for the rebels?
No Don Esteban hides it, and you
help him. Come" he cried, disregard
ing Sehastian'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 freedom?"
Don Esteban has promised to buy
my freedom and the freedom of my
girl
"So?" The manager WIS plainly
surprised Il didn't know that" After
Il moment he began to laugh. And
yet You pretend to know nothing about
that treasure? Ha. You're good
bog. Sebastian, and so | am. | admire
You. We're both loyal to our master,
eh? But now about Evangelina."
Cueto's face took on craftier express
sion. "She is a likely girl, and when
she grows up she will be worth more
than YOU her father. Don't forget that
Don Esteban is before all else bust
ness man. BE careful that some one
doesn't make him so good an offer for
your girl that he will forget his prom
Use and-sell her.
Sebastian uttered a hoarse. animal
cry and the whites of his eyes showed
through the gloom. "He would never
sell Eyangelina -
Gueto laughed aloud once more. "of
course He would not dare, eli? | am
only teasing YOU But see You have
given Yourself away. Everything you
tell me proves that you know all about
that treasure
= know hut one thing, the slave
declared sfiffening himself slowly,
and thai is 10 be faithful to Don Is
teban." He turned and departed. leav-
ing Pancho Cueto staring after him