Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-05-02

But the father lurched forward, a
frown upon his face. "What is this, my
dears?" he inquired, thickly. "Rua
back to your beds. This is nc place
for YOU"
1--WE love Evangelina," piped the
twins. "You must not let Don Pabl0
have her-if you please"
"Evangelina?"
They nodded. 1--WE love her. . .
She plays with us every day. =.
We want her to stay here. She
belongs to U.S."
Accustomed as they were to prompt
compliance with their demands, they
, spoke imperiously; but they had never
seen a frown like this upon their IA
theirs face.
"Go to your rooms, my sweethearty,'
Don Esteban directed.
"We want Evangelina. She belongs
to u.s." they chorused, stubbornly.
Don Pablo shook with laughter. $50!
She belongs to you, eh? And I'm to
be robbed of my winnings. Very well,
then, come and give me a kiss, both Of
you, and I'll see what can be DONE"
But the children saw that Don Pab-
los face was strangely flushed, that
his eyes were wild and his magnificent
beard was wet with wine; therefore
they hung back.
"You won your bet fairly" Esteban
growled at him. "Pay no heed to these
babies"
"Evangelina is ours" the little nes
bravely repeated.
Then their father exploded: 1.-THE
devil! Am I dreaming? Where have
you learned to oppose me? Back to
your beds, both of you" Seeing them
hesitate, he shouted for his wife. "Ho.
there! Isabel, my love! Come put
these imps to rest. Or must I teach
them manner with my palm? A fine
thing, truly! Are they to be allowed
to roam the house at will and get a
fever?"
Mere mention of their stepmother's
name was enough for Rosa and Este
ban; they scuttled away as fast as
they could go, and when Donna Isabel
SdAuC " ~ AOOAuo, q 4S"
later, she found them in their beds,
with their eyes deceitfully squeezed
shut. Evangelina was covering in a
corner. Isabel had overheard the wager,
and her soul was evilly alight; she
jerked the slave girl to her feet and
with q blow of her palm sent her to
her quarters. Then she turned her at
tention to the twins. When she left
them they were weeping silently, both
for themselves and for Evangelina.
whom they dearly loved.
Day was breaking when Esteban
Varona babe his guests good-by at the
door Of his house. AS he stood there
Sebastian came to him out Of the
mists of the dawn. He was half crazed
from apprehension, and now cast him
self prone before his master, begging
for Evangelina.
Don Pablo, in whom the liquor was
dying, cursed impatiently: "Caramba
Have I o the treasure Of your whole
establishments" he inquired. "Per
haps you value this wench at more
than a thousand pesos; If so, you viii
say that I cheated you"
"No! She's only an ordinary girl
My wife doesn't like her. and SO I de
termined to get rid Of her. She /
yours, fairly enough" Varonh told him
"Then send her to my house. II
breed her to Salvador, my cochero
He's the strongest man I have"
+" Sebastian uttered a strangled or.
md roco IN hjc fa<+ SShIocforI VO1
~ must not" :;S%s~spss~~..
. "Silence!" ordered Esteban. &C.
u about your business. What do yo1
mean by this, anyhow"
" But Sebastian, dazed Of mind an,
70 sick of soul, went on, unheeding. "Sh'
!" Is my girl. You promised me her free
= dom. I wap you"
"Eh?" The planter swayed forwarI
and with blazing eyes surveyed hf
! slave. "You warn me? OF what?" h,
growled.
At this moment neither master no,
y man knew exactly what he said or did
Sebastian raised his hand on high. Ii
y reality the gesture was meant to cal
q heaven as a witness to his years o.
y A@AA " OAls AuAA6 ~
intent, Pablo Pea brought his riding
d, whip down across the old mans back
"a crying:
'e "Ho! None of that"
~ A shudder ran through Sebastian
10 frame. Whirling. he seized Don Pab
los wrist and tore the whip from hi.
c fingers. Although the Spaniard al
a strong man, he uttered a cry of pain.
At this indignity to a guest Esteba1
few into a fury. "Pancho!" he cried
"Ho! Pancho!" When the manager
came running. Esteban explained
y "This fool is.dangerous. He raised hi
IS hand to me ana to Don Pablo"
= Sebastian's protests were dqSEynet
by the angry voices Of the others.
"Tie him to yonder grating" di
q rected Esteban, who was still In thu
n grin of a SenSeless age "FlOg hin