The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1920-01-03
RAIfIBOW'S END
speiier.- -Heart
Ccopyrisht by Harper & Bsethers. PubIishers)
by
A Novel By REX BEACH

cross Beware that you are not mis-
taken for him.
DO you mean that we may so?'
Branch eagerly inquired.
The general hesitated. whereupon
o'Reilly spoke up; For my part. III
agree to come back II you so desire"
Gomez shook his white head. No!
You came to hnd and to save your
fiancee, and you volunteered to serve
us while you were doing so. We have
no desire to keep any man against
his Will. Some one must escort Miss
Evans. who is our guest Why not
YOU two? She has every confidence
in you, and II she chooses to risk this
enterprise rather than wait until we
cap guarantee her an easier trip we
shall not restain her. l shall see that
you reach the coast safe and sound;
beyond that YOU must trust in God"
Branch was immensely relieved: he
Joined volubiy in o'Reilly's thanks
and became careless of his arm. which
no longer appeared to pain him Peace
with honor, IL seemed, was an that
he desired
Il was looking forward to an inter
NSShe ceremony AnlS dlNCEn Oous
Gomez went on. Has your arrival
changed the plans?'
''Oh no. sir" O'ReiIly said. quickly.
I'D like to make II doubly interest
ing, IL Miss Varona will consent to
such short notice"
Bravo! You have a way of doing
the unexpected. Twin births. .
double wedding, Why not The sight
OF a little happiness will be good
for all Of US: we're apt to forget that
life and the big world are going on as
usual. / don't think Miss Varona
will have il in her heart TO refuse
you anything"
The old soldier was right Rosa
did not gainssy her lover. and toward
shutdown the city among the leaves
witnessed an unsccustomed scene.
The women Of the camp. delighted
at an opportunity Of serving Norine.
had TRANSFORMED Esteban's poor quar-
tiers into a tiny bower Of wild bios
SONS and green leaves: they likewise
gathered flowers for the two brides
to-be. then Joined with nimble fingers
in adjoining their costumes. When the
girls came down the street. hand in
hand, they received an ovation from
! men and women alike. Norine was
pleased: she smiled and blushed and
ian the gantlet bravely enough. But
/ Rosa. sadly overweight by the days
excitement. was upon the verge Of a
collapse. Nevertheless she was happy;
her eyes were shining. her face was
TRANSPORTED, her hand. when she took
O'heilly's, was cold and tremuIous,
but il warmed and grew steady under
his grasp.
Many peop,e-alI Cubitas.. in fact
had assembled to witness the romantic
| double wedding. but few actually sue
| ceeded. for Esteban's hut was too
small to accommodate more than the
4 highest officials of the Provisional
government, so the others were forced
to wait outside lin the gathering dusk.
! And those Ministers. those secretaries
/ OF departments, those generals and
| colonies, what a motley crowd they
formed! There was scarcely who're
garment among them. They were
sunburnt. wind-browned. earnest men.
/ the old ones srsyed and grizzled from
Worry. the younger ones wasted from
hardships in the field. But out OF
their rags and poverty shone a state
ly courtesy and consideration. They
were gentlemen, men OF culture and
F! refinement. and the best and oldest
blood Of Cuba. Both Norine and John
, ME had earned their gratitude, aud
the story Of the NArona twizs was
typical Of the island. nowadays. so
they unbent and there were warm
congratulations. well-turned Latin
pleasantries. elaborate compliments
upon the beauty of the brides.
Then. afterward. there was a sur
| prise-a genuine surprise-in the form
| Of a banquet at the big mess shelter.
/ with an orchestra concealed behind
I screen Of fresh-cut palm leaves
/ stuck into the soft earth. This was
! the mems part Of the celebration.
the official compliment to Cuba's
/ guest. II was a poorly furnished ban
, quet, with service Of tin and granite
ware and Clipped china. and there
was little to eat. but the true spirit
of festivity was present. The Lone
Star emblem Of the new Republic was
draped with the Stars and Stripes. and
there were many speeches.
Ito BE Continued \ ..