Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-07-11


Rosa nodded soberly. and O'Reilly,
suppressing some light reply that had
sprung to his lips, inquired, curiously,
"What do you mean by that?"
Brother and sister joined in explain
ing that Donna Isabel was given to Pc
culiar actions, especially after periods
of excitement or anger, and that one of
her eccentricities had taken the form
of somnambulistic wanderings. "Oh,
she's crazy enough" Esteban con-
cluded. ~ believe it's her evil con-
science"
O'Reilly scanned the speaker silent
ly for moment; then he said, with a
gravity unusual in him, II wonder if
you know that you're suspected Of
working for the insurrectO cause"
Indeed? l didn't know"
"Well it's a fact" O'Reilly heard
Rosa gasp family. SIS it trueT he
asked.
81 am a Cuban"
Cuban? Your people were Span
ish."
"True But no Spaniard ever raised
a Spanish child in Cuba. We are Gu
bans, Rosa and l. l go everywhere, and
the Spanish officers talk plainly be-
fore me. Somebody must be the eyes
and the ears for Colonel Lopez"
Colonel Lopez :" exclaimed O'Reilly.
Esteban nodded.
Rosa's face, as she looked at the two
men, was white and worried. For
time the three of them sat silent; then
the American said, slowly, you'll be
shot if you're caught"
"Some one must run chances" Este
ban averred. "Were fighting tyranny;
all Cuba is ablaze. l must do my part"
"But sooner or later you'll be dis
covered-then what?" persisted O'Reil-
ly.
Esteban shrugged. "Who knows7
There1l be time enough when"
"What of Rosa?"
At this question the brother stirred
uneasily and dropped his eyes. O'Reil-
ly laid hand upon his arm. You
have no right to jeopardize her safety.
Without you, to whom could she turn?"
The girl flashed her admirer a grateful
glance.
"Senor, you for one would see that
She"
"But-rm going away" O'Reilly
felt rather than saw Rosa start, for
his face was averted. II came here to
tell you both good-by. / may be gone
for some time. IL don't know when
can get back"
I'm sorry" Esteban told him, with
genuine regret. 1--WE have grown very
fond of you. But you will come back
before long, Ell? You're one of US. In
the meantime I'll remember what you
say, and at least I'll be careful" BY
no means wanting in tact, Esteban rose
briskly and after shaking hands with
O'Reilly, left the two lovers to say fare
we'll as best suited them.
| But for once O'Reillys ready tongue
was silent. The laughter was gone
from his blue eyes when he turned to
the girl at his side.
you say you are going away?" Rosa
inquired, breathlessly. But why?"
I'm going partly because of this
war and partly because of-something
else l tried to tell you yesterday, but
l couldn't. When the revolution start
ed everybody thought it was merely
local uprising, and l wrote my COM
pany to that effect; but, bless you, it
has spread like fire, and now the whole
eastern end of the island is ablaze.
Business has stopped, and my employ
ers have ordered me home to find out
what's happened to their profits"
"You said there was something
else"
O'Reillys hesitation became an en-
barrassed silence. He tried to laugh
it off.
"There is; otherwise I'd stay right
here and tell my penurious friends tc
whistle for their profits. 1t seems I'm
cursed with a fatal beauty. You may
have noticed it? No? Well, perhaps
it's magnificent business ability that
have. Anyhow, the president of my
company has a notion that I'd make
him a good son-in-law."
"I- OH" cried Rosa.
And at her tone O'Reilly hurried on
"These rich men have the most alb
surd ideas. I suppose I'll have to
"Then you are in love, senor?"
The young man nodded vigorously
"Indeed / am-with the sweetest CIR
in Cuba. That's the whole trouble
That's why I'm hurrying home to re
sign before I'm fired" Not daring II
look too long or too deeply into Ross
Varona's eyes until she had taken II
the whole truth, he waited, staring a
his feet I'm sort of glad it has com,
to a showdown and 1 can speak out
I'm hoping she'll miss me-" After i,
moment he ventured, "Will sheer
will you, RosaY'
81? Miss your" Rosa lifted he
brows in pretended amazement. "Yol
are amusing, of course, butt won
have much time to think about you
for am so soon to be married"
Married? What? Nonsense I"
Indeed! Do you think Pm so ugl,