Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-05-25
THE nESERTER.

vista. In the rugged mountains ana ON
the rough uplands twenty Thousand Mexl.
cans slept on Their arms, confident OF VIC
tory on The morrow, Day after day they
had struggled through arid deserts aud
rocky passes, toward their present position,
certain that the northern ntIudtrs would
at last be annihiated before their overs
whelming numbers And besides, those
twenty thousand men knew well the talent
OF their chlei-Santa Anna-a man be-
yond question an accomplished military
commander, Gnd who, had he but com
manded Ang lo-Saxon, Gaelic or Celtic
troops, would have made his name re-
nowned to the end of time.
Santa Anna sat in the door Of his pavil,
lion, looking out over the land to where
the watch fires of Taylor and his five lhsu
sand burned in the dim distance.
"To morrow" thought Santa Anna, Eve
will destroy these Yankee invaders, root
and branch. Oue single blow shall finish
the campaign far@
just then his thoughts were Interrupted
Guardsmen brought in to his presence
man with hands bound behind, and blood
flowing from a sabre.cut in the forehead.
This is the deserter. Pinon ell Rod--
eo," said they. 1--WE discovered him in
the mountain, at an ancient rancho. What
shall be his fate p .....
Santa Anna glanced at the prisoner
The light of the torches fell upon face
OF singular gentleness and benevolence of
expression, blended with fctnuess-one of
those beautiful faces that we sometimes
see in portraits OF the Spanish gentry.
Is there any doubt? quried the gen.
eral.
He does not deny it, was the reply.
Speak, Rodrigo-have yJu anything to
say?'
The prisoner shook his head-sadly,
hopelessiy. lie knew that there was no
mercy Tor him. 10 plead was useless
Santa Anna pointed 20 ravine near at
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
d" i caLnot pardon desertion in presence
Of an enemy. Let him die at md light
No other word was spoken, save that
the prisoner threw up his hands as he was
led away, and calculated aloud
80. Inez! lnez Lest fore tver!"
That agonizing exclamation struck
chill to the heart of the most hardened
that heard it, and Santa Anna himself the
victor OF Il hundred baedy fights, gazed
regretfulIy after tie prisoner till the latter
vanished into the darkness.
4
1t was midnight. Santa Anna had lust
dismissed a council of officers, and wac
alone in his tent. Only at the entrance
stood the armed guards. Suddenly there
was a noise. The guardsmen were heavy
challenging some new conner. There was
the sound Of a struggle. A sweet toned
voice-the voice of woman-criad: /
will pass | will see him y and the next
minute there burst into the presence Of
the chief female, and threw herself ia
a suppEcating attitude at his feet.
" Pardon. pardon y she cried pardon
for him lie meant no wrong 1t was
for me be incurred the penahy. Save
him-oh, save him T.
Santa Anna looked upon the woman
and saw that she was young and surpass-
ingiy beautiful. Large and dark were her
Spanish eyes, aud as he gazed into their
jetty, sparkling, mournful depths, feeling
came upon him liks memory Of some.
thing half forgotten. half realized 1t was
with surprise that the sentinel who had
followed the lady into the tent found him.
self motoned back
% have yet TO learn for whom it is you
plead, remarked Santa Anna
"tor Rodrigo for nav husband eiacu-
lated the lacy. He is a traitor His
colonel offered me insult. Rodigo struck
him. The lash-the lash was ordered for
his noble back Bat I cut his bonds, and
We fled to the mountains. For me lie did
it-unworthy me. Pardon him or kill
me =
Santa Anna essayed 10 raise the lovely
woman She slipped from his grasp and
clasped his knees.
mo, no T. she exclaimed, mot till you
pardon him. Let me die Tor him, if need
be. Only set him free. lie is brave-he
is true. 1ou must not kill him -
Santa Anna felt distressed But his
voice and look we're cold as the SHOWS Of
popocatapdti. He shook his head, and
said
Though you plead till the break of the
last dawn it will not save him. His fault
is too great for pardon. 1t is midnight
now-tla hour of his doom. While you
wait here the bullets that are to take his
life may be driven home in the deadly
tubes. You may see him if you hasten"
The lady sprang to her feet with
shrek Of despair. She looked into the
unchanging and relentless eyes of Santa
Anna, and became hopeless
Let me go to him! My husband-O,
take me to my husband =
Santa Anna spoke to the guardsmen.
. 1t ID well. Let her see him. Half an
hour, more or less is small account. But
see TO it that the man is dead when the
clock strikes one.''
The lady wrung her hands The Gen.
erals mercless 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 bos-
ON there was left the memory Of her
agony like haunting spirit