Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-07-19

Rosa waved him A fast farewell q
he disappeared into the woods, then. q
occupy herself, she helped Evangelins
with what little Homework there waI
to DO, later going with her to the gar,
den patch where the vlandas grew.
Evangelina'S early devotion to her
mistress had not diminished with time
II anything, 1t had deepened. When
emancipation came she would have TO
turned to the SerVtr< OF her beloved
twins had It not been for Donna La
bells refusal to accept her. As II was,
she and Asensio had married, and by
means OF RoSa'S surreptltlous help
they had managed to buy this llttle
piece OF land, Rosa had practiced self.
denial TO make the purchase possible,
and her s~elf-sacriice had borne fruit:
that act Of childish beneicence had
created a refuge for ESteban and her.
self and had rlpened the negro WON.
ans affection into idolatry.
E%vangelina'S JOY at having the girl
TO herself. where she could daily see
her, touch her, serve her, was ten.
pered only by the knowledge OF Rosa's
unhapplness. She scolded aud tyran-
nized, she mothered and adored the
girl to her hearts content; she
watched over her like a hawk: shs
deemed no labor In her service too ex.
acting. 1t would have gone Ill with
anyone who offered harm to Rosa. for
Evangellna was strong and capable:
she had the arms and the hands OF
a man, and she possessed the smoldsr-
ing black temper OF Sebastian, her
father.
Even in peaceful times few people
came to this clearing in the woods,
far Off from the main-traveled roads
of the Yumuri, and the day, as usual,
passed uneyentfully. Evangelina
worked, with one eye upon her Rosa.
the other watchfully alert for dan.
ger. When evening came she pre-
pared their scanty meal, upbraidlng
Rosa, meanwhile, for her attempts
to assist her. Then they sat for an
hour or two on the bench outside the
door, talking about Juan O'Rail-ys
and the probable hour Of his coming.
When Rosa fretted about her broth.
err, the negress treasured her. Don't
be frightened, little dove; he has the
makings Of a great soldier. Now.
then, 1t is growing cool and the night
carries fevers. Creep into your bed
and dream about that handsome lover
of yours"
Rosa obeyed, although reluctantly.
"Fll sleep for a WHILE" she compro-
missed, "then I'll come out and take
my turn"
Dawn was still q long way OF
when, true to her promise, Rosa
emerged from the hut with an apol.
ogy for having slept so long. Evan.
gelina protested, though her eyes
were heavy and she had been yawn.
Ing p~rodigiously for hours. But for
once the girl was firm. Having f.
nally prevailed In her determination,
she seated herself in the warn place
Evangelina had vacated, and, curling
her small feet under her, she settled
herself, chin In hand, to think OF
O1icilly. 1t was a good time to think,
for the jungle was very still and the
night like a velvet curtain.
1--WE had better leave the horses
here" Pancho Cueto hesltatingly nd.
dressed the dim blur which he knew
to be Colonel Cobo. The colonel OF
volunteers was in n vile temper, what
with the long night ride and an error
of Cuet0's which had considerably
heightened the journey.
"Where is the house?" growled the
officer.
Not far. But the path Ia rocky
and the horses feet"
"Yes, yes!" There was a creak of
saddle feathers and a groan as the
colonel dismounted. Nov, my good
he threatened, another OF
your mistakes and I'll give you some
thing to remember me by"
A curt order brought his men out
Of their saddles. One OF their mum.
Der was detailed to guard the ami.
mails, while the rest fell In behind
Cneto and followed him up the trail
by the starglow.