, 1863-04-09
The Owls Tower.

Friends, answered, :" have really nothing
to relate. Hitherto; my life has been calm and
tranquil, and were TO relate any one common.
place incident Of my life, YOU would fall asleep"
disclaimers, and after Q little urging, ] told them
the one incident of my life worth relating:
Toward the end Of the year 1918, important
affairs called me to Spain, and obliged me TO re-
main nearly year In Andalusia. ] was then
scarcely twenty three years DID, for 1t was twenty
years ago. l was then scarcely twenty-three
years old, for it was twenty years ago. ] took
up my residence in Porto Real, and two or three
times week mounted my horse and galloped
to Cadiz, where l had many friends. Many
times in my visits heard Jose Maria spoken
Of For long time be, with 2 picked band Of
salteadors or brigands, had infested the great
highway Of Spain, but after few years be had
resigned his command, made peace with the
Spanish government, and was now passing his
days in tranquility and ease in beautiful eOun-
| try villa. Instances Of unheard audacity were
related Of him, and being young and gay, had
great curiosity to see him |Eua.f
One morning received letter from friend,
Don Torribio Quesada, inviting me TO come the
next evening and take glass Of wine with him
at Cadiz, and meet Jose Maria, the former chief
Of the sa,teadOrs Bounding with JOY, ! set out,
and 10 good time reached my friends house:
dose Maria was punctual to the minute. He
came TIP to my expectations, for he was hand
some, and gay, and kept the COMPANY in one.
countiLual roar Of laughter. The hnur Of sepa-
ration came, and after drinking Q last glass Of
VGI de Penas and giving friendly shake Of the
hand, Jose Maria left -srfg y.rsqN,Fs-.sa
TorFibio Quesada requested me to remain with
him over night, but refused obstinately, for l
was but two hours ride from my home. Don
Torribio, seeing remonstrances were useless, ad-
dressed me no more. Together we drank part
ing glass, embraced, and sprang upon my horse,
who paved impatiently at the gate. -Etg.
The night was dark, great black clouds charged
with electricity rolled up from the west, and the
niutterings Of distant thunder were heard at In
tervals; the atmosph,fs was oppressive, and
had gone out little distance when large drops
Of rain began to Gall. ! put spur to my horse,
and we cantered along briskly for q few miles.
Ny head was heated with the wine bad drank
and filled with the gloomy reeitals I had heard
that day, for Jose Maria had related many Of his
former deeds am not generally timid, as you
can testify, comrades; but this night felt O.
strange dread, and a. / continued On my lonely
rosd tHsPs 'my 'eass and'syss open ~ every-
thing. ,-at.
Soon the darkness grew fmpenetrable, and the
storm burst with oil lis fury. Ny horse reared
and plunged, as fash after flash Of lightning III
up the gloom, and had to concentrate ell my
thoughts upon keeping my seat firm. Slowly,
and In constant danger Of being flung from my
saddle, went onward, till . fash Of lightning,
brighter and more prolonged than the resi-,
showed me that was close to fortress known
throughout the country as the Owls Towet1 q
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