The Washington herald., 1920-01-04
Rainbow End
A Novel by REX BEACH
Author of srhe Iron Traii.y sThe
Spoflers,v HHenrt Of the Sunset
Etc.
Copyright by Harper & Broth
ers. Publishers)
CHAPTER a.-continued.

S4A<@A = - -~s-|C0aNAAA1S1s
Norine's protests at leaving Esteban
went UNDECIDED. and Leslie Branch es-
corted her In place Of the bridegroom.
who lay blissfuliy dreaming in his
Her amazement passed all
bounds when. from the hidden recess
behind the palm leaves. came not the
music of nnandolins and guitars. but
the strains of q balanced orchestra
under the leadership Of Cuba's most
eminent bandmaster. Whence the
players had come. where they had
found their Instruments, was q
mystery, but they played well. divine
ly, 30 II seemed to the music-hungry
diners.
Such a banquet as that was! Some
one had contributed to demijohn of
wine, and there was coffee. too. at
the last. made from the berries Of
some Jungle plant. The chef. once
famous at the Inglaterra, was forced
to appear and take homage for this
final triumph.
Rosa. very dainty in her borrowed
nurses uniform. was round-eyed.
timid: she evoked much admiration,
but when she was addressed as Sonora
O'Reilly she blushed to the roots OF
her hair and shrank close TO her hus-
bands side. To feel herself secure,
to see on all sides friendly faces, to
know that these fine men and women
they were numerous good Cuban ma
irons present-were her own people
and meant her well. was almost I'M
believable. She had so long been hid
den, she had so long feared every
strangers glance. IL was not strange
that she felt I'll at ease, and that
the banquet was a grave ordeal for
her.
Branch proved to be a happy choice
as Esteban's proxy. for he relieved
Norine's anxiety and smothered her
apprehensions. When called upon TO
speak he made a hit by honestly ex-
pressing his relief at escaping the
further hazards Of this war. Prompted
by some freakish perversity. and per
haps uDduly stimulated by the wine
he had drunk. he made open confess
sion OF his amazing cowardice.
O'Reilly interpreted for him and well
nigh every sentence evoked laughter,
FL Demonio's heroic reputation had
preceded him. therefore his unsmiling
effort TO ridicule himself struck the
audience as a new and overwhelmingly
funny phase of his eccentricity. En-
countering this blank wall of disbe-
lief, Branch waxed more earnest. more
convincing; in melancholy Letail he
described his arrant timidity, his
Bringing fear OF pain, his adherence
Of blood and steel. His elongated face
was genuinely solemn, his voice trem-
bled. his brow grew damp with IN
pleasant memories; he seemed bent
upon clearing his conscience once for
all. But he succeeded only in con-
vulsing his hearers. Women giggled.
men wiped tears from their eyes and
declared he was a consummate actor
and the rarest, the most fantastic
humorist they had ever listened to.
They swore that Cuba had lost. in
him, q peerless champion. When he
had finished they cheered him loudly
and the orchestra broke into a rousing
military march.
Leslie turned to voice his irritation
and surprise to Norine, but she had
slipped away. SO he glared at O'Reilly.
wondering how the latter had so art
fully managed to mistranslate his re-
marks.
When Rosa and o'Reilly returned to
Esteban's cabin they found Norine
ahead of them She was kneeling be-
side the sick mans hammock. and
through the doorway came the low,
intimate murnur Of their voices. Rosa
drew her husband away. whispering.
happily:
He will get well. God and that
wonderful girl won't let him die"