Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-23
EVENING STAR,
THE ACE OFFS AIDES.
BY FRANCIS A. DURIvAGE.

| ace of spades, pinned to the trunk of palm
tree, at twenty PAGES distant, iu the capacious
| garden of a country seat in the neighborhood
| Of Havana.
"Draw it rather milder, for Heavens sake,
| Frank" whispered his friend, Will Waters, a
| New Yorker, long a resident Of Cuba.
Twenty to one centre the ace !" repeated
Traverse, looking round him.
You are jesting, amigo" said q dashing
young Spanish officer, Captain Antonio Alva-
| rez. Of the Lanoeros. "You are jesting, or
you want to throw away your money"
That's my lookout, captain will you take
me up?"
Certainly"
| "WelI, then, I'll make the offer fairer. 1
| will turn my back to the mark-wheel at the
| word fire and discharge my pistol at one
| two-three. You shall give the word, if you
| like"
"Done ~
Traverse turned his back to the card The
| captain gave the word. Traverse wheeled and
| fred at % two" Captain Alvarez ran up and
| examined the card. He returned streking his
| black mOustache.
"You did it certainly" said he; g but it
| was a chance shot,
| "a chance shot - repeated Traverse. "a
| hundred to one I'll do it again four times run
| ming"
| "Done ~ said the captain.
II
| the first. The circumference of the third cut
| the circle of the second-the fourth and fifth
shots widened the aperture. The card was
| handed round amidst the admiration of th e
| company.
Traverse smiled as he put the card in his
vest pocket.
"fhis is nothing" said he; "I have made
better shots. There is nothing wonderful in
| it have lived with the pistol in my hand -
no Il or1 thn no1 ri oil
| senior, asked the lancero, carelessly.
Indiferently we'll, replied Traverse
What do you say to a bout ~ asked the
captain.
With all my heart"
Alvarez smiled, and signed to an attendant
70 bring the foils He offered the America n
| his choice The young men laid aside their
| coats. Traverse bent the blade of his foil to
| try its temper and spring it proved to be Of
| the best German steel. Alvarez tossed his
high in the air, caught it with the right and
| left hands, threw it over his arms, and played
| with it in a thousand dexterous fashions. At
last they saluted gracefully and interchangei
the preliminary passes to ascertain their dis
tance.
"On guard !" cried the Spaniard, stamping
his foot; and the glitte-ing blades were en-
gagged
Traverse was accounted good swordsman.
He made pass, and his antagonist sent his
blade whirling thirty feet in the air. ,
Take mine. L beg YOU" said ALVAREZ
with polite bow
Picking up the Americans sword, he re-
newed the encounter, and touched his antag-
onist lightly on the breast. Traverse lunged
in return, and was disarmed instantly.
Il give it up" said he, gaily ST.
George was not more g master Of the sword "
I" It is nothing" answered the Spaniard,
indifferen.ly, yet well pleased at the compli-
ment My feeling is like your shooting L
have lived with the sword in my hand. 1t is
my favorite weapon.
q He is an iDveterate duelist," whispered
Walters to his friend. He has killed four
men to my certain knowledge, and each one
was drilled in a different place. His success
makes him something Of a bully"
"Come, gentlemen, to horse 10 said Captain
Alvarez. 1.-THE sun has almost touched the
horizon-the sea-breeze has sprung up-we
shall be in time to pay our respects to the la
dies on the Pasco"
The gay party lighted their cigars, mounted
their little Andalusian horses and cantered to-
wards the city at an easy pace.
1t was holiday time in Havana, and Ira
verse and his friend, both masked, were chat
ting with couple of lovely senoritas on whom
they were making an evening call, when n
group of maskers entered the room. One OF
a
touched skilfulIy, while he sang with voice
whose richness was not entirely suppressed
by the mask he wore, the words of Spanish
ditty. When he ceased, he approached the
senOrita Melendez, and said:
Manuela, do you know me? ?"
L" know you not, slgnor.
"Can you not guess ?"
"It flashes on my mind, said the senorita,
90 that you are Sebastian Nevarro."
Wrong. replied the stranger, with a
light laugh. " Try again p"
" [ will be sure this time" said the gay
girl, and she sprang from her seat and snatch
ed at bis mask. The stranger defended him
self, and as he was much taller than his as
sailant, bafied her efforts completely
Traverse, laughing, sprang to her aid, and
had already seized the stranger mask, when
a shrek uttered simultaneously by the two
ladies arrested bis hand. He turned away in
astoniShment. Manuela, pale as death, sank
into chair, and covering her face with her
hands, sobbed convulsively.
what the devil have / done now 2" asked
Traverse Of his friend.
"Don't you know" replied Walters, i" that
it is deadly insult to lay your hand on a
none 1t is like pulling an Oriental by the
beard. You've got yourself into precious
scrape."
you'll stand by me, WILL"
"Ye-es," replied Waters, with some hes
itation.
At this juncture, the stranger approached
Traverse, and said in low, deliberate voice
"You desired to see my face. Behold it,
then !" He raised his mask.
Captain Antonio Alverez" exclaimed
Traverse.
The same, sir, at your service" replied
the captain alt appears you know me: May
ask you to favor me, In return, by dlsclos'
ing your face? L am very anxious to know
to whom L shall pay my respects for the honor
you did me just now in the presence OF three
ladies Remove your mask if you please"
mot here, Captain, but you shall soon
learn who am. / never conceal myself from
a friend or foe. will send you my card, and
then you will know to whom to address your
cartei-for presume you consider yourself
affronted."
az am to be found at my quarters in the
cavalry barracks, whittier am going direct
Iy. Until we meet again sir, farewell"
The stranger offered his hand first to Ira
verse, then to his friend. Then with low
- and op an Ios de'usf1des SeuoFifas