The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-07-05

CuetoB race took on = Cr0ftler express
sion. "She IL q likely girl. and when
she grows mp she will be worth more
than You. her father. Don't forget that
Don Esteban Is before all else a bust
ness man. Be careful that some one
doesn't make him so good an offer for
your girl That he will forget his prom
lSe and-sell her."
Sebastian uttered q hoarse. animal
cry and the whites Of his eyes showed
through the gloom. HE would never
sell Evangelinai"
Cueto laughed aloud once more. "Of
course! He would not dare, eh1 am
only teasing you. But seel You have
given yourself away. Everything you
tell me proves that you know Ill about
that treasure"
Il know but a thing" the slave
declared. ~stiffening himself slowly,
land that II to be faithful to Don Els
teban." He turned and departed. leav-
Ing Pancho Cueto staring after him
m~editatively.
In the days following the birth OF
his children and the death Of his wife.
Don Esteban varona. n had been his
custom. stored Z middle courss in
politics, In that way managing to avoid
4 clash with the Spanish oflcials who
ruled the island. or al 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
NJ great prent.
The twins. Esteban and Rosa. devel-
oped into healthy children and became
the pride of Sebastian and his daugh-
ter. into whose caro- they had been
given. A for Evangelina, the young
negress, she grew tall and strong and
handsome. until she was the finest
slave girl. In the nelghborhood.
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
noon cooled the groom began to fear
that he had made = serious mistake.
Donna Isabel. he discovered. was both
vain and selfish. Not only did she
crave luxury and display. but with sin
gulnr 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
40 the victim Of q mercenary marriage
he turned bitterly against his wife.
Her curiosity he sullenly resented, and
he unblushingly denied his possession
Of any considerable wealth. In fact,
he tried with malicious ingenuity to
make her believe him ! poor man. But
Isabel was not Of the sort to be readily
deceived. Finding her arts and CO.
Quetries OF no avail, she dew into .
rage. and I furious quarrel ensued-
the nrst Of many. For the lady could
not rest without knowing oil there was
to know about the treasure.
She searched the quinta. Of course.
whenever she had Q 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 q time came when they lived
In frank enmity: when Isabel never
spoke to Esteban except In reproach or
anger. and when Esteban unlocked his
lips only to taunt his wife with the
fnct that she had been thwarted de-
spite her cunning.
Il was only natural under such con
ditiOns that Donna Isabel should learn
to dislike her NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
had told her frankly that they would
inherit whatever fortune he possessed.
A. may be imagined. she found ways
70 vent her spite upon the twins. She
widened her hatred 50 as to include old
Sebastian and his daughter. and even
went % far ~ to p~ersecute Evange-
llna's sweetheart. Q slave named Assem-
zig.
II had not taken Dqnna Isabel long
to guess the reason TOR Sebastian's
many privileges, and Of her 6rst
efforts hid been to win the old mans
confidence. It was In vain, however.
that she battered and cajoled, or
stormed and threatened; Sebastian
withstood her ~ ! towering ceiba with
stands the summer heat and the Win
ter hurricane.
His nrmness made her vindictivs,
and % Ia time she laid = scheme 20
estrange him from his master.
Donna Isabel Was crafty. She began
to complain about Evangelina. but Il
was only after many months that she
ventured 4 suggest to her husband
that he sell the girl. Esteban. OF
| course. refused point-blank : he was too
fond Of Sebastian's daughter. he do.
/ clared. to think Of such 4 thing.
s'So.s that In Il" sneered Donna lsa-
bel. *Well, she Il young and shapely
and Handsome. al wenches 80. I rather
-~-~-Aa $50 1880 hnmA - 80.