Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-08-22

There's no doubt that father hid his
money. He turned his slaves into gold,
he bought jewels, precious metal, any
thing he could hide. Well, perhaps
there were old coins in the lot The
water in the well is shallow; Isabel
must have CROPPED this piece from the
bottom. Some day shall explore the
hole and-we shall see."
Rosa flung her arms rapturously
about her brothers neck and kissed
him. wouldn't it be glorious?" she
cried. wouldn't it be wonderful, to
be rich, and to want for nothing; to
have fine clothes and good things to
eat once more? Good things to eat!'
Her lip quivered. "Oh-I'm so hun
cry"
'Poor little girl !"
''Wait till O'Reilly hears about this"
Rosa was all excitement once more.
He'll be glad he came and got me,
If he does Gomez
Esteban caressed her. Hell come,
never fear. I know it. Every time
leave you my heart is in my throat for
fear of what may happen in my alb
sence-and yet I can't always be at
your side"
"Therel You acknowledge that I
handicap you. Except for me you would
be making a glorious name for your
SELF
'Nothing of the sort. More probably
I'd be getting myself killed. No! It's
better this way. We must be brave
and patient and-think of what is wait
ing for us at the bottom of that we'll"
1t was indeed a great piece of luck
which had enabled Esteban Varona to
buy half-dozen Mausers from a Span
ish soldier. Through Asensio's &C
quaintance he had profited by the dis
honesty of an enemy, and, although it
had taken all his money to effect the
purchase, Esteban considered the sac
rifice well worth while. The fire of
patriotism burned fiercely in him, as
did his hatred of Pancho Cueto, and
the four trusty young negroes to whom
he had given rifles made, with Asensio
and himself, an armed party large
enough to be reckoned with. These
blacks were excitable fellows, and
wretched marksmen, but, on the other
hand, each and every one had been
raised with a machete at his hip and
knew how to use it. After few pre-
liminary forays under Esteban's lead
erShip they had absorbed a bit Of dis
cipline and we're beginning to feel a
military ardor.
In the Cuban field forces there were
many negroes, and few of their fell
low patriots fought better, or endured
the hardships of guerrilla warfare
more cheerfully than they. General
Antonio Maceo was of mixed blood,
and yet his leadership was character
| lied not only by rare judgment and
ability, but also by an exalted abandon
of personal bravery. His several
brothers rendered Cuba services scarce
| ly less distinguished, and they were
but of few of many dark-skinned he
roes. This struggle for independence
was no patrician's war; the best stock
of the island fought side by side with
field hands.
At dawn of the morning following
his talk with Rosa, when the members
of his command assembled, Esteban
was up and ready. He had made his
preparations to destroy Pancho Cueto's
fields, and since the road over the hills
to La Joya was long he had summoned
! them early.
"Be careful !" Rosa implored him. II
shall die of suspense"
ut is for you to be careful" he
| laughed. Keep good watch, and
conceal yourself at the first alarm.
| However, think we have taught these
bandits lesson. AS for Cueto, he
would run to the jungle II he saw us.
| He has the heart of a mouse" He
! kissed his sister affectionately and
| then rode off at the head of his tat
| tered band.
| Rosa waved him last farewell as
he disappeared into the woods, then, to
occupy herself, she helped Evangelina
with what little Homework there was
to do, later going with her to the gar
den patch where the viandas grew.
Evangelina's early DEVOTION to her
mistress had not diminished with time;
If anything it had deepened. y WAen
emancipation came she would, have re-
turned to the service of her beloved
twins had it not been for Donna Isa-
bells refusal to accept her. AS it was,
she and Asensio had married and by
means of Rosa's surreptitious help
they had managed to buy this little
piece of land. Rosa had practiced self
denial to make the purchase possible,
and her self-sacrifice had borne fruit:
that act of childish benefcence had
created refuge for Esteban and her
self and had ripened the negro wom-
ans affection into idolatry.
Evangelina's joy at having the girl
to herself, where she could daily see
her. touch her, serve her, was tenn
pered only by the knowledge of Rosa's
unhappiness. She scolded and tyran-
nized, she mothered and adored the
GIRL to her beart,S coDtant she