The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-23
THE HAUNTED GARDEN

<THE HAUNTED GARDEN.
Rosa Narona did not die. ON the
contrary. under her lovers care sine
maze SO Amazingly swift recovery
that improvement was visible from
hour to hour: she rallied like a wilted
flower under a refreshing ram. II
Was O'Reilly's presence as much, as
the nourishing diet provided by his
money which effected this marvel. al
though the certainty that Esteban
was awe ana sale put added force
into her determination to live. Rosa
found herself laughing. The marvel
of it was unbelievable. O'Reilly was
sitting beside her bed of leaves AT
the time: impulsively she pressed MS
nand to her lips. repeating a question
she had asked him many times:
DO you love me-
For answer he bent and kissed her.
What he said was OF no consequence.
Rosa held his hand against her
cheek. at loss for words with which
to voice her gladness.
such happiness as mine belongs
in heaven" she managed to tell him.
Sometimes it frightens me. With
you by my side this prison is para
disc and | want for nothing War.
suffering. distress-I can't imagine
they longer exist"
Nevertheless, they do. and Matan-
zes is anything but a paradise" said
he. 1T is-hell. and we must set
about quickly TO get out Of it,"
Escape, do you mean? But that Is
impossible. Asensio can tell YOU all
abont that The SpaniardS used TO
issue passes for the men to go out
side the lines in search of food. 1t
was just a trick. They never came
hack-all of them were killed Every
one knows better than TO try. now"
Nevertheless. We can't stay here
much longer" In answer 10 the girls
puzzled inquiry he explained: My
money is cone-all but a few cents
This is the last OF our food and there
~ no chance of getting more. Jacket
has some mysterious source OF supply
and he manages TO bring in somethin.
every now and then, but there are i've
of us to feed. and he can't furnish
more than enough for himself No
We must make move at once. whiIc
we have the strength"
Rosa had not asked the source
whence came the blessed food which
was bringing the life blood back to
her body. and although that food was
not much-a little meal. n plantain. an
occasional scrap of meat or fish-it
had never occurred to her that the
supply might be limited. She met
the problem bravely. however.
Il have been close to death so long
that it means little to me-" she con-
fessed. Il have you. and-well. with
you at my side can face the worst -
have to-" he assured her IF I had
money il would be simple proposi-
ton to bride some guard to pass us
through the lines. but / have spent
all that General Betancourt gave me. -
He Smoothed back Rosa's dark hair
and smiled reassuringly at her Wen.
I'll manage somehow: so don't worry
your pretty head. I'll find the price.
IL ] have to waylay old Don Mario
and rob him. Don't you think I look
like a bandit? The very sight of me
would terrify that fat rascal"
ITO me you are beautiful" breathed
the girl. Then she lowered her eyes.
La. la. How spoil you, | have
quite forgotten how to be IadyIike.
Isabel was right when she called me
bold and forward hussy. Now. then.
please turn your face aside. for /
wish to think, and so long as YOU look
at me l cannot-I make love to YOU
brazenly. See. Now. then. that is
much better. | shall hold your hand.
so. When ! kiss it you may look at
me again, for a moment" Drawing
closer to O'Reilly. Rosa began
thoughtfully: Before you came |
more than once was on the point Of
appealing to some OF my former
friends but they are all Spaniards and
We are no ionser-simpatico, you I'M
derstand?"
Rosa paused for his answer.
Perfectly; I'm in the same fix. OF
all the people l used to know there
isn't one but would denounce me If
made myself known. Now that I've
been fighting with the InsurrectoS.
daren't even go to- the American con-
sui for help-if there is an American
consul"
Rosa nodded. then continued hest
tatingly: Il had n vivid dream last
night. Perhaps it was a portent Who
knows? 1t was about that 5. epmothcr'
of mine. You remember how she met
her death? 1 wrote you"
Yes, and Esteban also told me-
ut was he who recovered her body
from the well. One day. while we
were in hiding, away up yonder in the
Yumuri. he showed nut an old COIN
Il know" O'ReilIy said. quickly.
He told me the whole story. lie
thinks that dolIbloon is a clue to your
fathers fortune. butt can't put m;Ich
faith in il. In fact didu't believe
until this moment that there Was n
doubloon at ALL"
''Oh. indeed there was. ] saw it."
ITO be Continued.)