Middletown transcript., 1869-10-30
popular Talrs.
From Tie Baltimore Saturdy Nght.
HOW | SAVED MY WIFE.
An Adventure in The Tropics.
BY JACKSON.

The sun was fast disappearing, in gol-
den burst OF transparent beauty, over the
"Iron Hills" far away in the direction o!
that gay little watering place, $50 we'll
known to many Amcricans,' nesting IL
mongst the hills in the interior of Cuba as
seated i'll the front Of my quarters, II rick
ETY. and dilapidated oil concern, which
seemed to have stood the combined torna-
does of a century. enjoying my Havana, i
gazed in admiration on the animated seen
going on in the rich valley, in my imme-
diatc front; the negroes in their quaint
and varied costumes singing merrily, as
the tall and luscious sugar cane fell quick
ly before their sweeping and busy matt.
chetts, the echoes reyerberatiug through
the green and golden orange groves which
skirted the hills. forming the boundaries
of the most beautiful "lngenio" of which
the Queen of the Antilles can boast.
"What IL study for an artist, | remark
ed to the engineer. a tail raw-boned Scott,
carried away by the overpowcring beauties
around.
"Ah, yes, man." he replied, smilingly,
''and here comes something for the fore
ground" pointing as he spoke to break
in the cane not more than fifty yards from
us, through which negro mounted on a
mule was coming like mad, throwing his
arms wildly about and shouting furiously
at his charger Not halting until within
few feet of where we sat, he threw him
self carelessly from the animal, and caper-
ing toward me, shouted, "a letter for you,
sir" 1t was not until he had spoken
twice or thrice that was aroused from my
reverie, and turning good naturedly to the
poor fellow, inquired the trouble.
"a letter for you, SIR" he said, at the
same time unfolding banana leaf into
which he had carefully placed it, he han
ded me the document about which he
seemed to be SO proud.
"Thank you, Antonio" said, tossing
him bit of money, ''thank you"
The boy looked grateful, scratched his
wool. and replacing his Sombrero, re-
mounted, and was gone.
If the old adage, ''coming events cast
their shadows BEFORE" was ever verified,
it was in this case, for Immediately took
the missiye from the negro, presentment
of something wrong took possession of me
and though boasting of no ordinary amount
of pluck, could not master sufficient to
open it.
What if my wife, whom I had left a.
mopgst strangers, one word from whom she
could not understand, and Uisa rersa, had
been stricken with fever what if she were
dead; aye, and buried, for one follows the
other quickly here. My thoughts were
anything but happy, as quietly breaking
the seal, read the following;
, .s. fa MATANZAs, Dec. 18.
"SIR: On receipt of this you will come
quickly here; make no delay, as matters
look serious. ELIZA -"
The probably some sympathiz-
ing foreigner who had called to see her,
had been requested to write, had listened
to her last words, had closed her eyes in
death-to me was unknown. The thought
was maddening What was to be done
''No train till pine to morrow" said my
friend, the Scotch engineer, in answer to
my question, "and as for going tonight,
you must not think Of it; you would new
er reach there"
Il will go to Matanzas tonight" re-
Piled. calmly, ''should all the ladrones on
the island be on the road"
Ha. hop shouted, ''bring horse,
and be quick"