Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-05
aHE DESERTER.

1t was the eve of the battle of Buena
Vista. In the rugged mountains and on
the rough uplands twenty thousand Mexi-
cans slept on their arms, confident of victory
on the morrow. Day after day they had
struggled through arid deserts AMI rocky
passes, toward their present position, GER
tain that the Northern invaders would at
last be annihilated before their overwhelm-
ing numbers And besides, those twenty
thousand men knew well the talent of their
chiei-Santa Anna man beyond question
an accomplished military commander, and
who, had he but commanded Anglo Saxon
Or Gallic or Celtic troops, would have made
his name renowned to the end Of time.
Santa Anna sat in the door of his ravil-
ion, looking cut over the land where the
watch fires Of Taylor and his five thousand
burned in the dim distance.
Tomorrow" thought Santa Anna, eve
will destroy these Yankee invaders, roo,
and brar ch Ore single blow shall finish
the campaign"
just then his thoughts were interrupted
Guardsmen brought into his presence a
man, with hands bound behind, and blood
flowing from sabre cut in the forehead.
This Is the deserter, PinOn ell ROdigO. -
said they. ave discovered him in the
mountain, at an ancient ranch. What shall
be his fate?"
Santa Anna glanced at the prisoner
The light Of the torches fell upon face OF
singular gentleness and benevolence OF
expression, blended with firm ress-one of
those beautiful faces that we sometimes see
III portraits of the old Spanish gentry.
. Is there any doubt ?" queried the gen,
eral.
lie does not deny it." was the reply
Speak, Rodrigo, have you anything tt
sayW
The prisoner shook his head-sadly
h1!elessly. He knew there was no mercy
for him. To plead was useless.
Santa Anna pointed to a ravine near al
hand. The soldiers appreciated his mean,
ing. A private had that day been shot
there for the same offence. All that Santa
Anna said, was:
4" l cannot pardon desertion in presence
Of an enemy. Let him die at midnight"
No other word was spoken, save that the
prisoner threw W his hands as he was led
away, and calculated aloud:
80, lnez, Irez Lost, lost, forever Z"
That agoEizing exclamation struck :hi!
to the heart Of the most hardened that
heard it, and Santa Anna himself the vic
tor Of hundred bloody fights, gazed re
gretfully after the prisoner till the latter
vanished into the darkness.
1t was midnight. Santa Anna had Just
dismissed a council of officers, and was
alone in his tent. Only at the entrance
stood the armed guards Suddenly there
was noise. The guardsmen were heard
challenging some new conner There was
the sound of struggle. A sweet toned
roice-the voice Of wOman--cried: 81
will pass; | will see him !" and the mex
| minute there burst into the presence of tht
! chief a female, and threw herself in sup,
pllcating attitude at his feet
Pardon. pardon !" she cried, pardon
for him lie meant no wrong. 1t was fol
me be Incurred the penalty. Save him-O
save him.
Santa Anna looked upon the woman anC
saw that she was young and surprisingly
beautiful. Large and dark were he. Spanist
eyes, and as he gazed into their ietty, shark
ling, mourniul depths, a feeling came upor
him like memory Of something half for
gOtier, half realized. 1t was with surprise
that the sentinel who had followed the lad
into the tent found himself mot;oned back
have yet to learn for whom it is yuI
| plead" remarked General Santa Anna.
"FOr ROdri gO-fOr my 5usbaDd!" eiacu
lated the lady. - lie is no traitor. Hi
culOnel offered me insult. Rodrigo strucl
him. The lash-the lash was ordered fo
his noble back. But cut his bonds, ant
we fled to the mountains. For me he die
it-unworthy me. Pardon him or XII
me %
Santa Anna essayed to raise the Lowell,
woman. She slipped from his grasp ant
clasped his knees.
No, no." she exclaimed, "not till yo,
pardon him. Let me die for him if nee,
be. Only set him free. He is brave-h
is true. You must not kill him %
Santa Anna felt distressed. But hi
voice and look were cold as the SHOWS O
PopOcatapeti. lie shook his head an,
said:
Though You plead till the break of tn
last dawn it will not save him. His faul
is too great for pardon. 1t is midnigh
nOw-the hour of his doom. While 70,
wait here the bullets that are to take hi.
life may be driven home in the deadI-
tubes. You may see him if you hasten :"
The lady sprang to her feet with shriel
of despair. She looked into the unchang.
ing and RELENTLESS eye Of Santa Anna, anC
became hopeless.
Let me go to himw she cried in agony
Take me to him. My husband-0, take
me to my husbandp'
Santa Anna spoke to the guardsmen.
Is Is well. Let her see him. Half an
nour' more or less, is of small account
bus see to itthat the man is dead when the
clock strikes one."
The lady wrung her hands. The GEN.
erafs merclless words had hardly died
away, when he was again alone. The
guard, eager and earnest, had departed
With the LADY, and in Santa Anna's bosom