The Monticellonian., 1918-08-09

NlSlDly excited; he waved ana shouted at them. He was panting when he ar rived.
 News From Matanzas!' " he cried. "G0mez' man has arrived"
 Esteban struggled to rise, but No rine restrained him. Rosa? What does he say? Quick :"
 Good newsl She left the Pan de Matanzns with the two negroes. She went into the city before Cobo's raid"
 Esteban collapsed Imply. He closed his eyes, his face was very white. He crossed himself weakly.
 "The letter is definite. It seems they were starving. They Obeyed Weyler's bando. They're In Matanzas now"
 Do you hear, Estebanf" Norine shook her patient by the shoulder. "She's alive. Oh. can't you see that it always pays to believe the bestw
 Alive! SafeH' Esteban whispered His eyes, when he opened them, were swimming; he clutehed Norine's hand tightly; his other hand he extended to O'Reilly. "A reconeentrado! In Ma tanzas! Well, that's good. We have friends there-theyll not let her starve. This makes q new man of me. Seei I'm strong again. I'll go to her"
 You'll go?a quickly cried Miss Evans. "You'll gol You're not strong enough. It would be suicide. You, with a price upon your head Every body knows you there. MatanzaS is virtually a walled city. There's sick ness. too-yellow fever, typhus-"
 Exactly. And hunger, also. I sup pose no one has taken Rosa in? Those concentration camps aren't nice places for girl
 But wait I have friends in Wash ington. They're influentiaI. They will cable the American consul to look after her. Anyhow, you mustn't think of re- turning to Matanzas," Norine faltered {; her voice caught unexpectedly and she turned her face away.
 OReilly nodded shortly "Yeu're a sick man." he agreed. ''There's no need for both of us to go.'
 Esteban looked up. "Then you"
 'I leave at once. The Old Man has given me commission to General Be tancourt, and I'll be on my way in an hour. The moon is young; I must cross the trocha before"
 That trochai i' Esteban was up on his elbow again. Be careful there OReilly. They keep a sharp lookout and it's guarded with barbed wire Be sure you cut every strand. Yes, and muffle your horses hoofs. too, in cross ing the railroad track That's how we were detected. Pablo's horse struck q rail, and they fired at the sound. He fell at the first volley. riddled. Oh, l know that trocha !"
 D the trocha p O'Reilly ex- claimed. At last I've got chance to dc something God How long I've waited"
 Esteban drew O'Reilly's tense form down and embraced his friend, after the fashion of his people. "She has been waiting. too" he said. huskily. "We Varonas are good walters, 0'Reil- ly. Rosa will never cease waiting un- til you come. Tell her for me"
 Norine withdrew softly out of ear shot. There were lump in her throat and pain in her breast. She had ac- quired a peculiar and affectionate in terest in this unhappy girl whom she had never seen, and she had learned to respect 0'Reilly's love. The yearning that had pulsed in his voice moment before had stirred her deeply; it awoke throb in her own bosom, for O'Reilly WAS dear to her. The pacifieos. accord ing to all reports, were dying like flies in the prison camps. Norine wondered l if there might not be q terrible heart ache at the end of O'Relly's quest? Her face was grave and worried when, hearing him speak to her, she turned to take his outstretched hand.
 You will be careful, won't you?' she implored. And you'll be stout of heart, no matter what occurs?"
 He nodded. Its long way back here to Cubitas. You may not see or hear from me again
 q understand" She choked miser- ably. "You mean you may not come back. oh. Johnnie !"
 Tut, tut We 0'Reilys have more lives than n litter of eats. I mean l may not see you until the war Is over and We meet in New York Well. we've been good pals, and-rm glad you came to Cuba" His grasp upon her two hands was painful
 You must go, know. and wouldn't f try to keep you, but" Norine faltered, then impulsiyely she drew him down and kissed him full upon the lips. For Rosa. :" she whispered. Her eyes were i shining as she watched him pass swift l ly out of sight.