Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-09-18

1
Donna Rosa. grieved as you grieve.
once upon time, for my woman died
in childbirth. too. You remember7 But
my daughter lives. and she LAS brought
sunshine into my OLD age. That Is the
purpose Of children" He paused and
shifted his weight uncertainty, digging
his stiff black toes into the dirt. After
time he said. slowly: 1Excellencyi
Now, about the-well-T
"Yes. What about 1T"
ibid the Donna Rosa confide her
share of the secret to anyone? Those
priests and those doctors. you know
"She died without speaking"
sThen IL rests between you and mef'
! at does, unless you have bnbbled."
: "Afaster I" Sebastian drew himself
up and there was real dignity in his
black face.
Understand. my whole fortune is
there--cverythIng, even to the deeds of
patent for the plantations. If thought
there was danger OF you betraying me
would have your tongue pulled out
and your eyes torn from their sockets"
The black man spoke with a sim,
! plicity that carried conviction: 'Times
are unsettled. Don Esteban, and death
comes without warning. You are
| known to be the richest man In this
! province and these government officials
| are robbers. SUPPOSE should be left
alone? What them
+ The planter considered for a mo-
ment. "Well, 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 noiselessly as he
had come. On his way back to his quar-.
tiers he took the path to the well-the
| place where most OF his time was ordi-
/ nariiy spent. Sebastian had dug this
] well, and with his own hands he had
| beauhfied its surroundings until they
| were the loveliest on the Varona
!! grounds. 1t was Sebastian's task TO
keep this place green, and thither he
/! took his way, from force Of habit.
Through the twilight came Pancho
/. Cueto, the managess youngish man,
/ wifi. n narrow face and bold. close-set
eyes. Spying Sebastian. he began:
! $50 Don Esteban has an heir at
last?"
The slave rubbed his eyes with the
heel of his huge yellow palm and an
I, swered. respectfully:
"Yes, Don Pancho. Two'little angels,
/, a boy and girl" His gray brows
drew together In a painful frown.
/ Donna Rosa was saint. No doubt
there is great rejoicing in heaven at
| her coming. Eli? What do you think?'
"Um-m. Possibly. Don Esteban viii
+: miss her for time and then, ] dare
say. he will remarry.s AT the negro's
| exclamation Cueto said: "Soi And
| why not? Everybody knows how rici
/ he Is. From Oriente to Pinar del Rio
] the women have heard about his treas
!! ure."
| "What treasurer asked Sebastian.
after an instant's pause.
| Cueto's dark eyes cleaned resent
fully at this show of ignorance, but he
| laughed.
Hot There's a careful fellow for
you No wonder he trusts you. Bm
do you think i have neither eyes nor
ears? Ny good Sebastian. you know
all about that treasure; in fact, you
know far more about many things than
Don Estebgn' would care to have you
tell. Come now, don't your"
Sehastian's face was like a mask
carved from ebony. "Of what does this
treasure consista" he inquired. Il have
never heard about It"
sOf gold. of jewels. OF silver bars
and precious ornaments" Cueto's head
was thrust forward, his nostriIs were
| ililated, his teeth cleaned. 'sOh. 1t Is
somewhere about. as you very well
knovs Bah! Don't deny 1t. I'm no
fool. What becomes OF the money
from the slave girls. Ell? And the
surar crops, too? Does IL go to buy
arr and ammunition for the rebelsg
| No Don Esteban hides 1t, and you
help him. Come" he cried, disregard
ing Sebastian's murmurs of protest,
did you ever think how fabulous that
fortune must be by this time? Did you
ever think that one little gem. one
bag of gold. would buy your ireedomYr
ADon Esteban has promised to buy
my freedom and the freedom OF my
girl
sop The manager was plainly
surprised. 81 didn't know that" After
a moment he began to laugh. "And
yet you pretend to know nothing about
that treasure? Hal You're good
boy. Sebastian, and so ara. I admire
you. We're both loyal to our master.
Ell? But now about Eyangelina.n
Cueto's face took on a craftier express
sion. -She Is likely girl. and when
she grows up she win be worth more
than you. her father. Don't forget that
Don Esteban is before MI else q bust
ness man. Be careful that some one
| doesn't make him so good an offer Tor
your girl that ne will forget his prom
Use andsell her"
Sebastian uttered q hparse. animal
| cry ana the whites of his eyes showed