Excerpt from God Returns to the Vuelta Abajo: A Tale of the Cuban Vega

IT was the latter part of Augus planters of Old Horseshoe, in Vuelta Abajo, were making seed beds. At the Sumidero, old Bernardo's vega, the men were down in the tumba, or clearing, some of them turn ing up long' narrow beds in the mellow soil, and others burning off more land in preparation. The girl, Paula, coming: out of the palm-thatched cottage on the'hill above'witha a tin of coffee for the workers, inhaled the pungent odor of smoke with delight. It meant planting time, and that is always the Spring of hope to far, m dwell ers. One forgets that it frequently pleases Heaven to send failure, and one remembers the happy years, the years of full harvest. Paula's father; Bernardo, was the wisest man in the world; so, if any money were made, he was sure to have his share. If the crop 'went well, he had promised her a trip to Consolacion in the ox - cart, and her chorce of all the beautiful hats in town. How wonderful it would be to own a hat! She would be very proud, of course, butat least she would not put on all the airs Rosita did with her bridal hat. Rosita was absurd - and married to such a homely man! Eandres was gaunt' and hook-nosed, with stooped shoulders that made even his wedding suit look queer. And Felicia engaged to poor cross-eyed Juanito! How could they do it?of cou'rse Mamita had told Paula that love is blind to such imperfections, that love beau tifies. But Paula did not care to experiment with these miracles. She paused for a moment under, the ceiba tree and whispered a prayer to San Antonio to send her a handsome husband. Forgetful Of the tin of cooling coffee, she looked out over the scene of tr0pic loveliness, dream ing. Beyond were the blue-green mountains Wlth their deep purple shadows; the foothills already dotted with brown newly-plowed fields; the winding road; and then, directly below'her, the lagoon, repeating the Whole pic tureupside down, As she gazed into] this crystal mirror a horseman, a stranger to her, rounded'the turn in the road and ap peared reflected in the tranquil water. He was riding at a logglng gait that covered the ground rapidly, but on see ing the girl under the ceiba tree he reined in his horse sharply and stared up at her aftef the frank fashio'n of the Cubans. There was something'about this stranger that made Paula's breath come quickly. She looked up, from the reflection and gazed into his amber - colored eyes. She felt a strange excitement; and then it was as'if a part of herself, her soul maybe, left her body and rushed acrossthe space called by the same part of him The feeling was so strange that. She shivered, so new to her that she was afraid, as if the whole fabric of her simple life were threat ened. And her innermost being seemed to call out to her, telling her there was something she must say to this man. She wanted to call out to him, St0p! Wait till I under stand! Wait till I find out what it is I must say to you! One 'does not Speak in that way to strangers, and Paula turned red under her tan. She started' guiltily, remember ing her'errand, and hurried down to the tumba'.

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