The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1918-05-31

| from view by growth of plantain
palm, orange, and tamarind trees; over
the rocky walls ran profusion OF
Towering plants and vines; in the cen
ter of the open space was an old well
| its masonry curb all but crumbled
away.
When Rosa at last appeared, O'Reilly
] felt called upon 10 tell her, somewhat
dizzily, that she was beyond doubt the
sweetest flower on all the Quinta dc
Esteban, and since this somewhat hack
neyed remark WIS the boldest speech
he had ever made to her, she bmshed
prettily, flashing him a dfmpled smile
of mingled pleasure and surprise.
"Oh, but l assure you I'm in no
sweet temper" said she. Just now I'm
tremendously angry
"Why?n
Its that tepmother-Isabel If she
dreamed that | see you as often as ]
do Well" Rosa lifted her elo.
quent hands and eyes heavenward. 81
suppose that's why enjoy doing 1T
so dearly love to spite her"
Il seei" O'Reilly puekered his
brows and nodded. But why, in that
case, haven't you seen me oftener? We
might just as we'll have made the
good lady's life totally unbearable."
SILLY! She knows nothing about
it." With flirtatious sigh Rosa add
ed: That's what robs the affair of its
chief pleasure. Since ii does not bother
her in the least, l think l will not al
low You to come any more"
After judicious consideration, O'Reii
! ly pretended to agree.
There's no fun in Wreaking hor.
rible revenge, When your enemy isn't
wise to It," he acknowledged "Sinee
it's your idea to irritate your stepmoth
er, perhaps it would annoy her if
made love directly to her"
Rosa Uttered, and then inquired
naively. Can you make love. senor?e
Can /? It's the one ability an
O'Reilly inherits. Listen 10 this now
Reaching forth, he took Rosa's fingers
in his: wait :" he cried as she resist
ed. pretend that you're Mrs. Varona
your own stepmother, and that this is
her dimpled hand I'm holding"
"Oh-h p The girl allowed his GRASP
to remain, But Isabels hand ism,
dimpled: it's thin and bony. I've felt
| Ii on my ears often enough"
Don't interrupt" he told her. lisa
bel, my little darling"
Isabel'!' exclaimed voice, anG
the lovers started guiltily apart. They
turned to find Esteban. Rosa's twir
brother, staring at them oddly. lisa
bel?" he repeated. whats this?"
you interrupted our theatricals.
was rehearsing an impassioned pro
posal to your beloved stepmother,'
O'Reilly explained, with pretense OF
annoyance.
'Yes, Senior O'Reilly believes he car
infuriate Isabel by laying siege to her
He's Abolish person." Rosa's
cheeks We're family flushed and her
color deepened at the amusement in
Estebans eyes. HE makes love
wretchedly."
what little overheard wasn't bad,
Esteban declared; then he took
OReillys hand.
Esteban was handsome boy
straight, slim and manly. and his re-
semblance to Rosa was startling
With look engaging in it's frank d.
rectness, he said: ROSA told me abou,
your meetings here and came te
apologize for our stepmothers discour
tesy. I'm sorry we can't invite you
| int h,rt
Rosa and l are not like her we are
quite liberal in our views; we are al
most Americans. as you see. l dare
say that's what makes Isabel hate
Americans so bitterly
wouldn't 1t please her to know thai
Pm becoming Guaranteed as fast as
ever | can?' ventured the caller.
''Oh she hates Cubans, tool" laughed
the brother. shes Spanish. you know
Well, It's fortunate you didn't see heI
today. Br-rl What a temper, Shell
walk in her sleep tonight. If ever
Rosa nodded soberly, and O'Reilly
suppressing some light reply that haG
sprung to his lips, inquired curiously
what do you mean by that?"
Brother and sister Joined In explain
ing that Donna Isabel was given to pc
culiar actions, especially after periods
of excitement or anger. and that one OF
her eeeentricities had taken the form
of somnambulistic wanderings. "Oh
she's crazy enough" Esteban con
cluded. 81 believe it's her evil con
science"
O'Reilly scanned the speaker silent
ly for a moment; then he said, with Il
gravity unusual in him, Il wonder il
you know that you're suspected Of
working for the insurrecto cause"
Indeed? / didn't know"
"Well, it's fact" O'Reiily heard
Rosa gasp family. us it true?" he
asked.
81 am Cuban"
Cuban? Your people were Span
| ish."
True. But no Spaniard ever raised
Spanish child in Cuba. We are Gu.
bans, Rosa and l. go everywhere, and
the Spanish officers talk plainly be,
fore me. Somebody must be the eyes
and the ears for Colonel Lopez"