The Mena weekly star., 1919-01-23

bladder Of flesh, and he rode tn,
streets deaf TO the plants OF staryln,
children, blind to the misery OF be
seeching mothers. Rosa shrank int.
a doorway and drew her tattered shaw
closer over her face for fear Don Ma
rio might recognize In this misshaper
body and In these pinched, discoloret
features the beauteous blossom he hat
craved
Nor did she forget Colonel Cobo. IN,
mans memory haunted her, asleep anC
awake; of him she was most desperate
ly afraid. When for the first time she
saw him riding at the head Of his cut
throats she was like to swoon In hel
tracks, and for whole day thereafter
she covered in the hut. trembling al
every sound.
In these dark hours she recalled the
stories OF the old varona treasure and
Esteban's interesting theory of its
whereabouts, but she could not bring
herself to put much faith In either. Oh
course 1t was barely possible that there
was indeed treasure. and even that
Esteban's surmise had been correct
But 1t was little more than a remote
possibility. Distance lends ROSY
color to reality to our most absurd
nnaginings, but, like the haze that tints
far-of landscape, 1t dissolves upon
approach. Now that Rosa was here, In
sight Of the ruined Quinta itself. her
hopes and half-beliefs faded.
More than once she was tempted to
eonnde In Evangelina and Asensio, but
she thought better of 1t. Although she
put implicit faith in Evangelina's dis
creuon, she knew that Asensio was NOT
the sort of fellow to be trusted with a
secret OF great magnitude--he was
noastful, laxative. excitable; he was
lust the sort to bring destruction upon
al OF them. Rosa had sufficient intel
ngenee to realize that even If she found
her fathers riches they would only
eOhsutute another and a greater mem
aee TO the lives Of all of them. Never
neless' she wished TO set her mind at
rest once for all. Taking Evangelina
Win her, she climbed La Cumbre one
uay IN search of roots and vegetables.
turned out to be sad experience
ior both women. The negress wept
nolsily at the destruction wrought by
rancho Cueto, and Rosa was overcome
~ painful memories. Little that was
iaIniliar remained; evidence of Cue
Ws underwriting greed spoke from the
ssprouting burrows his men had dug,
rom the naked trees hey had felled
ehu piled In orderlx LEAPS, from the
'Vones and mortar of the house itself.
Inc well remained, although II had
oeen planked over, but II was partially
n.lea up with rubbish, as Rosa discov-
s,eu "hen she peered into 1t. Only a
NY pool Of scum was in the bottom,
ai'ei a long scrutiny the girl arose,
NonVihced at last of her brothers delu>
s.on' and vaguely ashamed OF her own
s'euullty. No. IL ever there had been
treasure, 1t was hidden elsewhere ;
n VI value that this well contained for
osa was her mtsnory Of happiness
hsparted. OF such memories, the well,
- "hoie place, was brimful. Here,
~. enid, she had romped with Este
~ here as girl. she had dreamed
s ses ,iFst dreams, and here o'Reilly, her
u,allihg knight, had found her. Yonder
ia. as the very spot where he had held
,'er IN his arms and begged her ia
~ ,'@sit the day of his return. Well, she
had waited
n. nut was that Rosa varona who had
n M 50 freely and SO confidently
,r-s pl-lful Rosa whose bones pro
n through her ragsg It could moi
I'M Aappiness. oonnntment, hope
So srse We're fiesions only misery de
NJ 49, and pam were real. But Ii had
de-. slorious dream. at any rates
wsr a.n which Rosa vowed to cherish al