Evening star., 1918-03-24

Esteban murmured. "And yet how can
I leave Cuba? What right have I to
This was a subject which Norine
dreaded. question to which she knew
no answer. She was not in a mood to
discuss it, and made attempt to do
so. Instead, she laid the Invalid upon
his pillow, saying:
Leslie is waiting to wish you JOY
and a quick recovery. May ask him
in?''
hold her late companion making off
down the village street in great haste
and evident excitement surprised, Of
Tended. she checked her impulse to call
him back. 4 moment, then she stepped
out into the fuI sunlight and stared
after him. for she saw that which ex-
planned his desertion. Approaching
between the drunken rows OF grass
huts was little knot OF people. Even
as Norine watched it grew into con-
siderable crowd. for men and women
and children came hurrying from their
tasks. There were three figures in the
lead n man and two boys. and they
walked slowly, ploddingly, as If weary
from n long march.
Norine decided that they were not
villagers. but ragged pacificos. upon
Branch break into swifter run and
heard him shout something. then
through eyes suddenly dimmed she
watched him fall upon the tallest of
The crowd grew thicker. 1t surrounded
them.
"Esteban," Norine cried in a voice
she scarcely recognized. She retreated
into the doorway with one hand upon
her loaping heart. "Estebcn, Look.
Some one has just arrived. Leslie has
gone She cleared her vision with
a shake of her head and her tongue
grew thick with excitement. They're
cominS-here, Yes, It's--it's O'ReilIy"
Young Varona struggled from his
hammock. Rosa" he called. loudly.
Rosa
Norine ran and caught him or he would
have fallen prone He paved and FUN
hled in a weak attempt to free himself
from her restraining arms: a wildness
was upon him; he shook as if with palsy.
here2 Why don't You answer me?
Rosa He began to mutter unintel-
ligihly. his vitality fared up, and it was
with difficulty that Norine could hold
square of sunlight framed by the low
doorway, was blazing with excitement.
To Norine it seemed as IL his spirit. in
the uncertainty of this moment. was
straining to leap forth in an effort to
learn his sisters fate.
The crowd was near at hand now
There came the scuffling of feet and
murmur of many voices. Esteban fell
silent. he closed his hot, bony hands
upon Norine's wrists in a painful grip
He bent forward, his soul centered in his
tortured eyes
There came a shadow, then in the
doorway the figure Of a man, a tattered
scarecrow of a man whose feet were
bare and whose brown calves were ex-
posed through tapping rags. His breast
was naked where thorns had tried to
stay him: his beard, even his hair. were
matted and unkempt, and the mud of
many trails lay caked upon his gar
mentS
1t was O'Reilly,
He peered, blinking, into the obscurity,
then he turned and drew forward a frail
hunchbacked boy whose face was almost
a mulatto hue. Hand in hand they
stepped into the hut and once again
Esteban Varona'S soul found outlet in
his sisters name. He held out his shak-
ing, hungry arms and the rnisshapen lad
ran into them.
Dumb with amazement, blind with
tears. Norine found herself staring up
ward into O'Reillys face, and heard him
saying:
Il told you I would bring her home"
The next instant She lay upon his
breast and sobs of joy were tearing at
her.