Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-13
Rainbow's
End
lcontinued from Page rive.l

eat once moref Good things to eatl"
Her lip quivered. "oh-rm so hun
gry."
poor little girlr
"Wait till O'Reilly hears about this"
Rosa was all excitement once more.
"He'll be glad he came and got me,
ifShe does come"
Esteban caressed her. Hell come,
never fear. I know It. Every time I
leave you my heart Is in my throat for
fear Of what may happen in my alb
sence-and yet I can't always be at
your side"
"Therel You acknowledge that I
handicap you. Except for me you would
be making a glorious name for your
self"
Nothing Of the sort. More probably
I'd be getting myself killed. No! It's
better this way. We must be brave
and patient and-think Of what is wait
ing for US at the bottom Of that WELL"
It was indeed q great piece Of luck
which had enabled Esteban Varona to
buy a half-dozen Mausers from Span
ish soldier. Through Asensio's &C
quaintance he had proflted by the dis
honesty Of an enemy, and, although 1t
had taken all his money to effect the
purchase, Esteban considered the sac
rifice we'll worth while. The fire OF
patriotism burned fiercely In him, as
did his hatred Of Pancho Cueto, and
the four trusty young negroes to whom
he had given rifles made, with Asensio
and himself, an armed party large
enough to be reckoned with. These
blacks were excitable fellows, and
wretched marksmen, but, on the other
hand, each and every one had been
raised with a machete at his hip and
knew how to use it. After few pre-
liminary forays under Esteban's lead
ership they had absorbed bit Of dis
cipline and were beginning to feel a
military ardor.
In the Cuban field forces there were
many negroes, and few Of their fell
low patriots fought better, or endured
the hardshins Of guerrilla warfare
more cheerfully than they. General
Antonio Maceo was Of mixed blood,
and yet his leadership was character
lied not only by rare judgment and
ability, but also by an exalted abandon
of personal bravery. His several
brothers rendered Cuba services scarce
ly less distinguished, and they were
but Of few of many dark-skinned he
roes. This struggle for independence
was no patfcian's war the best stock
Of the island fought side by side with
field hands.
At dawn Of the morning following
his talk with Rosa, when the members
Of his command assembled, Esteban
was up and ready. he had made his
preparations to destroy Pancho Cueto's
fields, and since the road over the hills
to La Joya was long he had summoned
them early.
BE careful !" Rosa implored him. VI
shall die Of suspense"
ut is for you to De careful" he
laughed. keep a good watch, and
conceal yourself at the first alarm.
However, think we have taught these
bandits lesson. As for Cueto, he
would run to the jungle If he saw us.
He has the heart Of a mouse" He
kissed his sister affectionately and
then rode of at the head Of his tat
tered band.
Rosa waved him a last farewell as
he disappeared into the woods, then, to
occupy herself, she helped Evangelina
with what little homework there was
to do, later going with her to the gar
den patch where the viandas grew.
Evangelina's early devotion to her
mistress had not diminished with time !;
If anything, 1t had deepened. When
emancipation came she would have re-
turned to the service Of her beloved
twins had it not been for Donna Isa-
bells refusal to accept her. AS it was,
she and Asensio had married, and by
means Of Rosa's surreptitious help
they had managed to buy this little
piece Of land. Rosa had practiced self
denial to make the purchase possible,
and her self-sacriflce had borne fruit:
that act Of childish benefcence had
created refuge for Esteban and her
self and had ripened the negro wom-
ans affection into idolatry.
Evangelina's Joy at having the girl
to herself, where she could daily see
her, touch her, serve her, was tenn