The Washington herald., 1919-10-22

rs the victim Of mercenary marriage
he turned bitterly against his wife.
Her curiosity he suilenly resented. and
h unblushingiy denied his possession
Of any considerable wealth. In fact,
he tried with malicious ingenuity 20
make her believe him a poor man. But
Isabel was not OF the sort 10 be read
iiy deceived. Finding her arts and
coouetries OF no avail. she few into q
rage. and q furious quarrel ensued>-
the first OF many. For the lady could
not rest without knowing all there was
TO know about the treasure. Avari-
cious TO her finger-tips, she itched to
weigh those bags Of precious metal
and yearned to see those Jewels burn
ing upon her bosom. Her mercenary
mind magnined their value many
bans obstinacy deepened into q
smoldering hatred
She searched the quinta, Of COURSE.
whenever she had a chance, but she
discovered nothing - with the result
that the mystery began 10 engross her
whole thought She pried into the OBJ
scurest corners. she questioned the
slaves. she lay awake at night listen
ing to Esteban's breathing, I'm the hope
of surprising his secret from In.
dreams. Naturally such a life was
trying to the husband, but as his
wife's obsession grew his determine
ton to foil her only strengthened.
Outwardly. OF course. the pair main
tanned a show OF harmony. for they
were proud and occupied . position of
some consequence in the community.
But their private relations went from
bad TO worse. At length a time came
when they lived In frank enmity;
when Isabel never spoke TO Esteban
except in reproach or anger. and
when Estebsn unlocked his lips only
to taunt his wife with the fact that
she had been thwarted despite her cum.
ming.
the story OF the Varona treasure was
forgottep, or at least put down as
legendary. Only Isabel. who. IN spits
of her husbands secretiveness. learned
much. and Pancho Cueto. who kept
his own account Of the annual income
from the business. held the matter in
serious remembrance. The overseer
was a patient man; he watched with
interest the growing discord at the
Quinta and planned to profit by it,
should occasion offer.
II was only natural under such con-
ditions that Dona Isabel should learn
to dislike her stepchildren-Esteba bar
had told her frankly that they would
inherit whatever fortune he Possessed.
The thought that after all, she might
never share in the treasure for which
she had sacrificed her youth and beau
ty was like TO drive the woman mad.
and. as may be imagined. she found
ways to vent her spite upon the twins.
She widened her hatred so as TO in
clude old Sebastian and his daughter.
and even went so far as TO prosecute
Evangelina's sweetheart, a slave
named Asensio.
II had taken Dona Isabel long "a
guess the reason for Sebastian's many
privileges, and one of her FIRST efforts
had been to win the old mans conn
dence. II was in vain, however. that
she flattered and cajoled. or stormed
and threatened: Sebastian withstooc
her as a towering ceiba withstandI
the summer heat and the winter hur-
ricane.
His frmness made her vindictivs
and so in time she laid a scheme "a
estrange him from his master.
Dona Isabel was crafty. She begar
10 complain about Evangelina. but II
was only after many months that she
ventured 10 suggest 10 her husband
that he sell the girl. Esteban. oi
course. refused point-blank: he wa,
too tond OF Sebastian's daughter. he
declared, TO think OF such a thing"
so. that is It," sneered Dona Isabel
Well. she is young and shapely and
handsome, as wenches go. ] rather
suspected you were fond OF her
With difficulty Esteban restrained
an oath. You mistake my meaning, -
he said. stiffly. Sebastian has served
me faithfully. and Evangelina plays
with my children. She Is good 70
them: she is more OF q mother 20 them
than you have ever been"
rs that why you dress her like a
lady? Bah! A likely story" Isabel
tossed her fine. dark head. I'm not
blind; / see what goes on about me.
This will make a pretty scandal
among your FRIENDSHIP as black as
the pit. and you
Woman" shouted the planter.
you have a sting like a scorpion"
Il won't have that wench in nv
house" Isabel flared out at him.
Goaded TO fury by his wife's sense
less accusation. Esteban cried: Your