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

to recover himself, made but a wealq
resistance when Pancho Cueto locked
his wrists into a pair Of clumsy, old
fashioned manacles, first passing the
chain around one Of the bars of the
iron window grating which Esteban
had indicated.
Cueto swung a heavy lash; the
sound Of his blows echoed through the
quinta, and they summoned, among
others, Donna Isabel, who watched
the scene from behind her shutter with
much satisfaction. The guests looked
on approvingly.
Sebastian made no outcry. The whip
bit deep; it drew blood and raised
welts the thickness Of ones thumb;
nevertheless, for the first few moments
the victim suffered less in body than in
spirit. His brain was sc benumbed, so
shocked with other excitations, that
he was well-nigh insensible to physical
pain. That Evangelina, flesh of his
flesh, had been sold, that his lifelong
f%aithfulness had brought such reward
as this, that Esteban, light of his soul,
had turned against him-all this was
simply astounding. Gradually he be-
gan to resent the shrieking injustice Oft
it all, and unsupported forces gathered
inside of him. They grew until his
frame was shaken by primitive savage
impulses.
After Il time Don Estcban cried:
THAT will do, Cueto! Leave him now
for the flies to punish. They will re.
mind him of his %insolence."
Then the guests departed, and Este
ban staggered into the house and went
to bed.
All that morning Sebastian stood
with his hands chained high owe his
head. The sun grew hotter and ever
hotter upon his lacerated back; the
blood dried and clotted there; a cloud
of flies gathered, swarming over the
raw gashes left by Cueto's whip.
Since Don Esteban's nerves, or per-
haps it was his conscience, did not
permit him to sleep, he arose about
lOOul1llC UI1u ulSoSCu 1AAlloClls TX was
still drunk, and the mad rage Of the
early morning still possessed him !;
therefore, when he mounted his horse
he pretended not to see the figure
chained to the window grating. Sebas-
tian's affection for his master was dog
like and he had taken his punishment
as a dog takes his, more in surprise
than in anger, but at this proof Of cal
lous Indifference a fire kindled In the
old fellows breast, hotter by far than
the fever from his fy-blown sores. He
was thirsty, too, but that was the least
of his sufferings.
Some time during the afternoon the
negro heard himself addressed through
the window against the bars Of which
he leaned. The speaker was Donna
Isabel.
do you suffer, Sebastian?" she be.
gan in a tone of g%entleness and pity.
"Yes, mistress" The speakers
tongue was thick and swollen.
"Can I help your"
The negro raised his head; he SHOOK
his body to rid himself Of the insects
which were devouring him.
"Give me a drink of water" he said
hoarsely.
"Surely, a great gourdful, all COO
and dripping from the well. But first
want you to tell me something"
"a drink, for the love Of heaven
painted the old man, and Donna Isabe
saw how cracked and dry were hi:
thick lips, how near the torture hat
come to prostrating him.
"Ill do MORE" she promised, and hel
voice was like honey. "Ill tell Panch(
:, Cueto to unlock you, even If l risk Els
TEXANS anger by so doing. Will you b
my friend? Will you tell me some
, thing?"
"What can I tell your"
, ooh, you know very we'll! I've asked
+! it oftenRenough, but you have lied, JUS
!, as my husband has lied to me. He Is
: miser; he has no heart; he cares TO
, nobody, as you can see. You mus
| hate him now, even as I hate him. Tel
me-is there really a treasure, or?
~ ~a"as&sssSs44- sSas&ss s1zsEss8si-@ asr" "