Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-10-09


Ny Dear Beloved: n Is with difiiaence
and hesitation that take my pen II,
hand. FOR I fear you may consf4er me
unduly forward in writing to you with
out solicitation.
Alas. We are <efugecs. Extaban and I
-fuEitixes. cutcaEts. living In the mani
qua with Asensso and Evangelical. former
slaves OF cur father. Such poverty. such
Understandable circumstances But they
we're cur only friends ard they took us
in when We were homeless. so we love
them.
II this letter reaches yoti-and I send
IL with prayer~-what then? dare not
think too long OF that. for the hearts of
men are not like the heaEts OF women.
What will you say when you learn that
the Rosa Varona whom you favored with
your admiration is not the Rosa OF to-
cay?' I hear you naurmur. 1.-THE girl for
gets herselfe" But. oh. the standards of
yesterday are gone and my reserve 10
gone. too. I am hunted creature.
Rosa had compelled herself to start
with the death of Donna Isabel and to
give him a succinct account of all that
had followed. 0'Reilly read the story.
fascinated.
That is how we came to live with AsensIo
and his wife. Imagine I'll "A bohio. hid
den away far up the. Yumuri. and so In
significant as TO escape attention. We are
no longer people Of consequence or au-
ihorfty; our safety depends upon our IN
conspicuousness-
The whole country is In chaos There
Is no work-nothing but suspicion, hatred,
and violence. Oh. what desolation this
become a guerriileru. He has stolen a
cow. and so we have. milk for our coffeey
but there Is only handful of coffee left,
and little hope of more. Marauding bands
OF Spaniards are everywhere. and the
country people tell atrocious tales about
them. How will ii end? How long be-
fore they will discover US and the worst
will happen?
II only you were here oh. my dear
est Juan! If only you were hereto take
me in yoIir arms and Danish this ever
constant terror at my heart. II only you
were here to tell me that you love me
still in spite OF my misfortune See! The
tears are falling as I write. You win re-
turn. viii you not? / could not write like
this If l were sure that you would read
these lines. My nightly prayer But
will not tell you OF my prayers, for fate
may guide this letter to you. after all.
and the hearts OF men do change In
those dark hours when my doubts arise
7 try to tell myself that You will surely
come and search r.e out
When you return to Cuba-see. my faith
Is strong again-avoid Matanzas. for your
own sake and mine. Don Mario wanted
TO marry me to save me this exile But
I refused: told him I was pledged to
you, and he was furious. He is power
full: he would ballS you, and there is al
ways room for one more in San Severino.
II I could come 20 you. ! would, but
am marked. So If you still desire me you
must searchAme out. You will? pin my
faith to that as to the Cross. To doubt
would be to perish. If we should have to
find another hiding-place. and that is al
ways likely. you can learn of our where.
abouts from Colonel Lopez.
Alasi If you had asked me to go with
you that day! / would have followed you,
for my heart beat then as 1t beats today,
for you alone.
The candle Is burning low and It will
soon be daylight, and then this letter must
begin its long, uncertain journey. / trust
the many-blots upon the paper will not
give you a wrong impression of my writ
Ing for / am neat. and / write nicely:
only now the ink is poor and there As very
little of 1t. There is little of any hing
here at Asensos house. except tears. OF
those fear there are too many TO please
you, my Juan, for men do not like tears
Therefore try to smile as I sign myself
Your loving and your faithful
ROSA
o God! Come quickly. IL you love me.