Rita

gland touch in cookery, and Se?or Delmonte declared that it was worth a whole campaign twice over to taste her doughnuts. They drank "Cuba Libre" in raspberry vin

back through the forest. At first Rita was silent; but as distance in

a detestable, an unworthy word! Why should a son of Cuba be in hiding, she wished to know! She had worked herself into a fine

ntralto note that she was fond of. "Tell me, Marm Prude

eard of Jack Delmonty; Captain Jack, as they call him. Since his last raid the Gringos have offered a big reward for him, alive or dead. He was wounded in

her pet heroes; only-only she had fancied him so utterly different. The Captain Jack of her fancy was a gigantic person, with blue-black curls, with eyes like wells of black light (she had been fond of this bit of description, and often repeated it to herself), a superb moustache, and

ology to be "in hiding." To be sure, he had not seemed to feel the rebuke as she had expected he would. Once or twice she had caught that look of Uncle John in his eyes; the laughing, critical, yet kindly scrutiny that always made her feel like a little girl, and a silly girl at that. Was th

, who stood as before, smoking his long black cigar, and scrutinising the road and the surrounding country. A wave of hi

indifference; but once seated in his great chair, he

sterday. At their head, that pestiferous Col. Diego Moreno. He dismounts, demands coffee, bananas, what there is. I go to get them; and, the saints aiding me, I meet in the face the pretty Manuela. Another instant, and she would have been on the verandah, would have been s

s without a word. She is an admirable

edly, "and never mind about beauty now. Land k

he verandah. This man is striding up and down, cutting at my poor vines with

strangers here,

e?or Co

tranger of you, so friendly, so gr

es, he regar

way to the convent of the White Sisters, ten days ago. A man of my command was taken by these hill-cats of Mambis, and carried to a camp

Civility may be used even to the devil

ey had been gone but a few hours, for the fires were still burning, but no trace of them was to be fo

I wondered where I had lost i

house? but assuredly, I can, and do swear it, with all earnestness. He whistles, and swears also-in a different manner. He says, 'I mus

,' I reply; 'but first take your co

handle of the bedroom door. 'Spotted fever!' I cry through the crack; and am back at my post before the colonel could see round Antonia's broad back. Good! he drinks

n? what s

ictions. I profess myself ready to conduct him through my poor premises; I lead him through the parlour, which he had not sense to admire, to the kitchen, to our own apartment,

must pass the door. I stop bef

say, 'that there is a dangerous c

k. He pulls his moustache,

'You may be lying! all Cubans are

OOR AND STEP BACK, M

m the pit! A horrible smell is in our nostrils-we hear groans-enough! The colonel staggers back, cursing. I close the door and follow him out to the verandah. My own nerves are shaken, I admit it; i

rmity allows, to the chamber.

the toilet-table, washing her face and laughing till the tears flow. Al

d, she has a laughter of silver bells, this maiden. 'The red lip-salve,' she says, 'and

must be something bad here, som

-shell,' she says. 'Saint Ursula forgive me, it was one of t

se and ourselves. Hasten to embrace her! I have already permitted myself the

ssary to kiss her, but she shook her warmly by the hand, telling her that she was a good girl, and fit to be a Yankee, a compliment which

ou are a heroine; you have had the opportunity, and you kne

orse, Miss Margaritty, there's a dear; and help me to see to things. Here's Captain Delmonty coming to-nig