Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-06


Rosa waved him last farewell M
be disappeared into the woods, then, to
occupy herself, she helped Evangelina
with what little housework there was
to do, later going with her to the gar.
den patch where the viahdas grew.
Evangelina's early devotion to her
mistress had not diminished with time;
IL anything, 1t had deepened. When
emancipation came she would have re-
turned to the service Of her beloved
twins had II 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-sacrifce had borne fruit:
that act Of childish beneficence 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
unhapplness. She scolded and tyran-
nized, she mothered and adored the
girl to her hearts content; she
watched over her like a hawk; she
deemed no labor in her service too ex-
acting. 1t would have gone Ill with
anyone who offered harm to Rosa, for
Evangelina was strong and capable;
she had the arms and the hands of
a man, and she possessed the smolder-
ing black temper of Sebastian, her
father.
Even in peaceful times few people
came to this clearing In the woods,
far off from the main-traveled roads
Of the Yunuri, and the day, as usual,
passed uneventfully. Evangelina
worked, with one eye upon her Rosa,
the other watchfully alert for dan
ger. When. evening came she pre-
pared their scanty meal, upbraiding
Rosa, meanwhile, for her attempts
to assist her. Then they sat for an
hour or two on the bench outside the
door, talking about Juan O'Rail-ye
and the probable hour of his coming.
When Rosa fretted about her broth
er. the negress reassured her. 'Don't
be frightened, little dove; he has the
makings of a great soldier. Now,
then, it is growing cool and the night
carries fevers. Creep into your bed
and dream about that handsome lover
of yours"
Rosa obeyed, although reluctantly.
'Tll sleep for a while," she compro-
missed, "then I'll come out and take
my turn"
Dawn was still a long way of
when, true to her promise, Rosa
emerged from the hut with an apol-
ogy for having slept so long. Evan
gelina protested, though her eyes
were heavy and she had been yawn-
ing prodigiously for hours. But for
once the girl was firm. Having a.
nally prevailed in her determination,
she seated herself in the warm place
Evangelina had vacated, and, curling
her small feet under her, she settled
herself, chin In hand, to think of
| O'Reilly. 1t was q good time to think,
for the jungle was very still and the
night like velvet curtain,
1--WE had better leave the horses
here" Pancho Cueto hesitatlngly ad-
dressed the dim blur which he knew
| to be Colonel Cobo. The colonel Of
volunteers was in vile temper, what
with the long night ride and an error
of Cueto's which had considerably
heightened the Journey.
"Where is the house?" growled the
| officer.
"Not far. But the path is rocky
and the horses feet"
Eyes, yes" There was creak of
saddle feathers and a groan as the
colonel dismounted. "Now, my good
Cueto," he threatened, another Of
your mistakes and I'll give you some
thing to remember me by"
curt order brought his men out
of their saddles. One of their num-
ber was detailed to guard the ami
mails, while the rest fell in behind
Cueto and followed him up the trail
by the starglow.
| T=--------