The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-07-11

HILL " OulUu II DO SLC
cried. Wouldn't il be wonderful. to
be rich, and to want for nothing; to
have fine clothes and good things to
eat once more? Good things to eat ~
Her lip quivered. ''Oh-Fm so hun,
gry.'
Poor little girl -
''Wait till O'ReiIIy hears about this"
Rosa was all excitement once more.
He'll be glad he came and got me,
if he does come"
Esteban caressed her. He'll come,
never fear. 1 know 1t. Every time 1
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.'
THERE 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 a 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 profted by the dis
honesty Of an enemy, and, although 1t
had taken all his money to effect the
! purchase, Esteban considered the sac
rifice well 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 1t. After a few pre-
Hminary forays under Esteban's lead
| ership they had absorbed bit OF dis
cipline and were beginning to feel
military ardOr.
In the Cuban field forces there were
many negroes. and few of their fell
low patriots fought better, or endured
the hardships of guerrilla warfare
more cheerfulIy 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
! ~ less distinguished, and they were
! but of q few of many dark-skinned he
roes. This struggle for independence
was no patrician'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 Joxa was long he had summoned
them early
BE careful :" Rosa tmplored him. SCI
shall die of suspense"
ct is for you to be careful" he
laughed Keep a good watch, and
conceal yourself at the first alarm
However, think we have taught these
| bandits q 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 affectionateIy and
then rode off 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
Evange1ina's early devotion to her
mistress had not diminished with time :;
| if anything, it 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 1t 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-saerifice had borne fruit ::
that act of childish beneficence had
created a refuge for Esteban and her
self and had ripened the negro wom-
ans affection into idolatFy.
Evangelina's Joy at having the girl
to herself, where she could daily see
her, touch her, serve her, was tenn
pered only by the knowledge OF Rosa's
unhappiness. She scolded and tyran-
/ niZed, she mOthered and adored the
girl to her hearts content; she
| watched over her like a hawk; she
deemed no labor in her service too ex-
| acting. 1t would have gone i'll with
anyone who offered harm to Rosa, for
| Evangelina was strong and capable (;
| she had the arms and the hands Of
man, and she possessed the smolder-
/ ing black temper of Sebastian, her
| father.
Even in peaceful times few people
came to this clearing in the woods,
far of from the main-raveIed roads
of the Yumuri, and the day, as usual,
| passed uneventfully. Evengelina
worked. with one eye upon her Rosa,
the other watchfulIy alert for dan
ger. When evening came she pre-
pared their scanty meal. upbraIding
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-ye
and the probable hour OF his coming
When Rosa fretted about her broth