The Ordway new era., 1918-09-06

she grows up she will be worth more
tlian you, her father. Don't forget that
Don Esteban is before all else d bust
ness man. Be careful that some one
doesn't make him - good an offer for
your girl that he will forget his prom
ise and-sell her"
Sebastian uttered a hoarSe. animal
4 cry and the whites Of his eyes showed
through the gloom HE would never
sell Evangelina! !"
Cneto laughed aloud once more. "Of
I course, He would not dare. eh? / am
only teasing you. But see You have
given yourself away. Everything you
/ that treasure"
Il know but one thing" the slave
declared. stiTenIng himself slowly.
"and that is to be faithful TO Don Es-
teban." He turned and departed. leay-
ing Pancho Cueio staring after him
meditatiyely.
In the days following the birth Of
his children and the death Of his wife
Don Esteban yarona, as had been his
custom. steered middle course in
politics. in that way managing TO avoid
a clash with the Spanish officials who
ruled the island, or an open break with
his Cuban neighbOrs, who rebelled be-
meath their wrongs Esteban dealt
automatically with both factions and
went on raising slaves and sugar to his
own great profit.
The twins. Esteban and Rosa, deyel-
oped into healthy children and became
the pride of Sebastian and his daugh-
TpNa ,.-h. haI
given. As for Eyangellna, the young
negress. she grew tall and strong and
handsome. until she was the finest
slave girl In the neighborhood.
Then. one day Don Esteban VarOna
remarked. and the Donna Isabel. who
had been famous Habana beauty.
came to live at the quinta. The daugh-
Ter Of Impoverished parents, she had
heard and thought much about the
mysterious treasure Of La Cumbre.
Before the first fervOr Of his honey
moon cooled the groom began to fear
that he had made "A serious mistake.
Donna Isabel. he discovered, was both
vain and selfish. Not only did she
crave luxury and display. but with sin
gular persistence she demanded to
know all about her husbands financial
affairs
Now Don Esteban was no longer
young; age had soured him with sus-
picion, and when once he saw himself
as the victim of IA mercenary marriage
he turned bitterly against his wife.
Her curiosity he sullenly resented, and
he unblushingly denied his possession
II any considerable wealth. In fact.
ne tried with malicious Ingenuity 10
make her believe him a poor man. But
Isabel was not of the sort to be READILY
deceived. Finding her arts and CO.
quetries Of no avail, she flew into "A
rage. and a furious quarrel ensued-
the first OF many. For the lady could
not rest without knowing all there was
to know about the treasure.
She searched the qulnta, Of course,
whenever she had a chance, but she
discovered nothing-with the result
that the mystery began to engross her
whole thought. She pried into the OBJ
scurest corners, she questioned the
slaves, she lay awake at night listening
TO Esteban's breathing, In the hope Of
surprising his secret from his dreams.
At length n time came when they lived
spoke to Esteban except In reproach or
anger, and when Esteban unlocked his
lips only to tnunt his wife with the
fact that she had been thwarted de-
spite her. cunning.
II was only natural under such con-
ditions that Donna Isabel should learn
TO dislike her stepchildren-Esteban
had told her frankly that they would
inherit whatever fortune he possessed
As may be imagined, she found ways
to vent her spite upon the twins. She
widened her hatred SO as to include old
Sebastian and his daughter and even
went so far as to persecute Eyange-
linn's sweetheart a slave named Assem-
sio.
II had not taken Donna Isabel long
to guess the reason for Sebastian's
many privileges, and one OF her first
Efforts had been to win the old mans
confidence. II was in vain. however.
that she hattered and cajoled, or
stormed and threatened; Sebastian
withstood her as n towering ceiba with
stands the summer heat and the win
Ter hurricane.
His frmness made her vlndlctive,
Nnu ~ III tiiHf SHt Iulu IL ScHeine 10
estrange him from his master.
Donna Isabel was crafty. She began
to complain about Evangelina. but 1t
was only after many months that she
ventured to suggest to her husband
that he sell the girl. Esteban, of \
course, refused point-blank he was too
fond of Sebpstinn's daughter, he dk-
clured, TO think of such thing.
80, that is It," sneered Donna Isa-
bel. well, she is young and shapely
and handsome, as wenches go. rather
suspected you were fond of her"