The Washington herald., 1919-10-22
CONTINUED FRONTAGE ONE.

were worth five Thousand pesos al
least. he told himself they repre-
scented the price of five slaves-five OF
his finest girls. schooled in housekeep-
ing and of an age suitable for breed
ing. An extravaganza. truly. Dor
Esteban knew the value of money as
wei as anybody, and he swore now
that he would give no more to the
Church.
He looked up from his unhappy
musings to find gigantic, barefooted
negro standing before him. The slave
was middle-aged; his kinky hair was
growing gray; but he was of superb
proportions and the muscles which
showed through the rents in his cot
ton garments were as smooth and sup
pie as those OF a STRIPPING. His black
face was puckered with grief as he
began:
Master, is it true that Dona
Rosa" The fellow choked.
Yes" Esteban nodded. wearlly
"she is dead. Sebastian"
Tears came to Sebastian's eyes and
overfiowed his cheeks; he stood mo-
" WIZ AAo 80
pathy. At length he said:
She was too good for this world
God was Jealous and took her TO par,
adise"
The widowed man cried out. -angEiy
Paradise. What is this but para
disc" He stared with resentful eyes
at the beauty round about him. See.
The Yumuri" Don Esteban Hung a
long arm outward. DO you think
there rs a sight like that in heaven
And yonder-' He turned to the
harbor far below. with its fleet OF
sailing ships resting like a flock oil
gulls upon a sea of quicksilver. Be
yond the bay, twenty miles distant. a
range of hazy mountains hid the hori-
zon. Facing to the south, Esteban
looked up the full length of the valley
of the San Juan. clear to the majestic
Pan de Matanzas, a wonderful sight
indeed: then his eyes returned, as
they always did. to the Yumuri. Val
ley of Delight. Paradise indeed"
he muttered. II gave her everything.
She gained nothing by dying"
With grave thoughtfulness which
proved him superior to the ordinary
slave. Sebastian replied:
True! She had all that any wom-
ans heart could desire. but in return
for your goodness she gave you chill
dren. You have lost her. but yor
have gained an heir, and a beautiful
girl baby who will grow to be another
Dona Rosa. / grieved as you grieve
once upon a time, for my woman died
in childbirth, too. You remember
But my daughter lives. and she has
brought sunshine into my old age
That is the purpose of children" He
paused and shifted his weight uncer-
tainly, digging his stiff black toes into
the dirt. After a time he said, slowly
"Excellency. Now, about the
we'll"
Yes. What about it," Esteban lift
ed smouldering eyes.
did the Dona> Rosa confide heI
share of the secret to any one? Those
priests and those doctors, yor
know-?'
"She died without speaking"
Then 1t rests between you ant
me?'
''It does, unless you have babbled.' -
MASTER" Sebastian drew himself
up and there was real dignity in his
black face.
Understand. my whole fortune i.
there-everything. even to the deeds
of patent for the plantations. II 1
thought there was danger of your be-
traying me would have your tongue
pulled out\and your eyes torn from
their sockets"
The black man spoke with a simple
dignity that carried conviction. "You
have seen me tested. You know 1 am
faithful. But, master, this secret is a
great burden for my old shoulders
and I have been thinning Times
are unsettled, Don Esteban, and death
comes without warning. You are
known to be the richest man in this
province and these government Off.
cials are robbers. suppose-I should
be left alone? What then?"
The planter considered for a mo.
ment- They are my countrymen, but
a curse on them" he said, finally
We'll when my children are old
enough to hold their tongues they will
have to be told. II I'm gone, you shall
be the one to tell them. Now leave
me; this is no time to speak Of such
things"
Sebastian> went as noiselessIy as ns
had come. On his way back to his
quarters he took the path to the well
the place where most of his time
was ordinarily spent Sebastian had
dig this well, and with his own hands
he had beautified its surroundings usi-
til they were loyeliest on the varona
grounds. The rock for the buildins
Of the quinta had be quarried here.
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