Mexico Missouri message., 1918-05-16

| lent view OF the Yumurl, on the one
hand, and of the town and harbor on
the other; no one ever climbed the hill
from the city to gaze over into that
hidden valley without feeling a pleas
urable surprise at finding 1t still there.
We are accustomed to think Of perfect
beauty as unsubstantial, evanescent |;
but the Yumuri never changed, and in
that lay Its supremest wonder.
Through what had once been we'll
tended grounds, 0'Reilly made his way
to sort of sunken garden which, In
spite of neglect, still remained the
most charming nook upon the place;
and there he sat down to wait for Rosa
The hollow was effectually screened
from view by a growth Of plantaln,
palm, orange, and tamarind trees; over
the rocky walls ran n 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 to tell her, somewhat
dizzily, that she was beyond doubt the
sweetest flower on all the Quinta de
Esteban, and since this somewhat hack
neyed remark was the boldest speech
he had ever made to her, she blushed
| prettily, flashing him q dimpled smile
Of mingled pleasure and surprise.
"Oh, but 1 assure you I'm In no
sweet temper" said she. "Just now I'm
| tremendously angry"
"WhyT"
'It's that stepmother-Isabel. If she
| dreamed that see you as often as I
do Well" Rosa lifted her elo-
quent hands and eyes heavenward. II
suppose that's why enjoy doing it,
so dearly love to spite her"
81 seew O'Reilly puckered his
brows and nodded. But why, in that
case, haven't you seen me oftener? We
might just as well have made the
good lady's life totally unbearable."
"Sillyl She knows nothing about
it." With a flirtatious sigh Rosa add
ed: "That's what robs the affair of it's
chief pleasure. Since 1t does not bother
her in the least, think will not al
low you to come any more"
After judicious consideration, O'Reil-
ly pretended to agree.
| "There's no fun In wreaking q hor-
rible revenge, when your enemy isn't
wise to It," he acknowledged. "Slnce
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, senorl"
Can II It's the one ability an
O'Reilly inherits. Listen to 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-hw The girl allowed his GRASP
to remain. "But Isabels hand isn't
dlmpled: it's thin and bony. I've fell
it on my ears often enough"
Don't interrupt" he told her. Elsa.
bel, my little darling"
IsabePW exclaimed q voice, and
the lovers started guiltily apart. They
turned to find Esteban, Rosa's twiI
brother, staring at them oddly. Elsa
belf" he repeated. "What's this2"
"You interrupted our theatricals.
was rehearsing an impassioned pro
posal to your beloved stepmother,'
o'Reilly explained, with q pretense o.
annoyance.
Eyes, Senior oRellly believes he car
infuriate Isabel by laying siege to her
He's Abolish person" Rosa'i
cheeks were family flushed and hel
color deepened at the amusement Il
Esteban's eyes. HE makes Low,
wretchedly."
what little overheard wasn't bad,
Esteban declared; then he tool
OReilly's hand.
Esteban was a handsome boy
straight, slim and manly, and his re
semblanee to Rosa was startling
With a look engaging in its frank dl
rectness, he said: Rosa told me abou
your meetings here and came d
apologize for our stepmother's discour
tesy. I'm sorry we can't invite yoI
into our house, but-you understand
Rosa and / are not like her; we are
quite liberal In our views; we are al
most Americans, as you see. I dart
say that's what makes Isabel hat,
Americans so bitterly"
Wouldn't it please her to know tina
I'm becoming Cubanized as fast al
ever / canf" ventured the caller.
"Oh, she hates Cubans, too - laughed
the brother "She's Spanish, you know
Well. it's fortunate you didn't see hel
! today. Bril- What temperl Shell