Evening star., 1918-02-03

U SEE. THIS IS MY FIRST TASTE OF
Look, That's not her first
mango. Enough to destroy an
army. You can see for yourself.
Wait! Ask her how many
she ate. Ask her. senior. 1 emplore
your
There was silence while Johnnie
translated the question and she repeat
ed the answer.
She says she doesn't remember, they
are so nice and ripe
$50 nice and ripe"" shouted the
owner Of the farm. tearing his hair.
mice nice and and spe eeAeea eraan hs wle the
man who had awakened o'Reilly.
Mai. Ramos told me to guard her with
my life because she is the guest of
Cuba. Well. shall kill myself
The country woman laid a trembling
hand upon Norines arm. inquiring.
gently: How are you feeling. my
beautiful doveo Sick. eh?"
What on earth ails these people,
inquired the object of all this solicit
tude Il haven't made away with a
baby: Maybe they're afraid I won't
pay for my food?'
Light came to o'Reilly. 81 remember
supposed to be poisonous. The woman
wants to know how you feel
Poisonous! Nonsense. They taste
splendid: Tell her I'm still half
It proved now that one of the three
ed an unsuspected knowledge of Eng
lish. which modesty alone had pre-
vented him from revealing. Under the
stress of his emotion he broke out:
"Oh. missy! Those fruit is skill you
Il don't believe it Miss Evans de-
elared.
TT skill you. all right. Maybe you
got a headache here. eh?' The speaker
hi O hid
leaned forward expectantly.
Nothing but an aching void
This confession. or garbled transla-
tion of it. was enough for the others.
farmer volunteered to ride for the
nearest priest but hesitated declaring
II waste of time, inasmuch as the lady
would be dead in half an hour. His
and rosary. which latter she insisted
upon hanging around Norines neck.
After that she directed the men to
carry the sufferer indoors, her inten-
moments as comfortable as possible.
When Norine refused to be carried she
was warned that the least exertion
would but hasten the end. which was.
alasi all too near.
O'Reilly was impressed, in spite of
himself by this weight of conviction.
especially when the Cubans ridiculed
his suggestion that the combination of
gether fatal to an American. Nothing.
they assured him. could possibly be
deadIier than this abominable mixture.
The victim herself. however. remain
matter lightly. and although she did
finally consent to lie down. it was
merely to please the others and be-
cause she was tired
"They have set their minds on seeing
me expire and they're such nice people
I'm almost ashamed to disappoint
them" she confided TO OReiIly. But
really I'm too hungry to die. Now.
don't forget to call me when dinner
is ready.
Honestly. do YOU feel all right ?" he
asked of her.
Never better.
The meal was slow in coming. for not
only were the cooking arrangements
primitive. hut the apprehensfve house
wife could not long remain aWav from
the sickroom. She made frequent visits
thereto and after each she reported In
whisper the condition of the patient.
Her breathing was becoming slower.
She was unconscious. !"
All would soon be over. :" It was
better to let her pass patnlessly to
naradise than TO torture her with use
less remedies. Realizing that the poison
had at last begun to work. the men tip
toed to the door and peered in com
passionately. whereunon the sufferer
"a lot of rubber-necks" and bid them
begore.
Her mind wanders" explained the
man of the house. and then to cheer
O'Reilly he added she is Young and
strong: she may linger until evening"
The meal was set at last, however
The men were stealthily attacking it,.
Suddenly the sick woman swept out
from her retreat and sat down among
them.
"senorita: This is suicide" they i'm
plored
Then, as she ignored them and helped
herself liberall.' to the food. their own
appetites vanished and they pushed
themselves away from the table.
With twinkle in his eye O'Reilly
said. gravely. Owing people have
strange fancies. Pray don't thwart
her."
Indifference so callous on the part of
a lover shocked the Cubans. They re-
buked OReillv silently. 1t was plain
that they considered Americans bar
barously cold -blooded race Meanwhile
they apprehensively watched Sorine's
every mouthful
When, after a time, no ill effects
having appeared. she suggested de-
parting, they whispered together. They
agreed at last that it was perhaps the
course of wisdom to humor her She
was the guest Of their government; 1t
would not do to dtsplease her. .Inas-
much as her end was inevitable. 1t
could matter little whether she died
here or elsewhere. Accordingly they