The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-05-24

IN, attenQeu ny scfeIdi youhS oAiSeio, Sii'
tering in gold and plumes. There was nc
vacant table, and as the officer was looking
around TO see where he could find seat fol
himself and party, his eye fell on me
whose complexion and blue eyes land ma.
tional air, doubtless), stamped me as an
American.
"Here is a table, gentlemen " he said
striking his hand on my table, by way Of
taking possession of it. "This is an Ameri,
can, and ought to be in prison instead Of
being permitted to 60 at large here!'
Tbs was all spoken in Spanish, and SO
grossly, that 1 felt my eye fash, and my
blood boil. I had half risen, previously, in
order to leave with Carlos, but now re.
sumed my seat, quietly resolved that /
would not resign to rudeness what might
have yielded to courtesy, and had he prop
erly approached me.
at is the General -! beg of you
do not resent, for he is capable of doing you
mischief. Yield quietly, my friend. Ha,
vana is not Boston.
This was said to me very rapidly, in an
undertone, by Carlos, whose naturally brave
soul was intimidated by the tyrannical
power which crushes everything noble in
Cuba.
ais the Yankee going to move?" de-
manded the officer, fercely.
Several Spaniards, who were seated at the
little tables about, sprang to their feet and
servilely offered him. the places they had
occupied. But he bowed negatively to
their obsequious profers, and fixed his
glance upon me, as if expecting that /
would cringe before him, like the Cubans.
I quietly sat smoking, and tried to induce
Carlos to reseat himself. But he was dis
posed to conceal his acquaintance with me,
and withdrew from the table, losing him
self in the crowd that was gathering around.
Finding that 1 remained seated, the gen.
eral ordered one of his aides to remove me.
AS he extended his hand to fasten his grasp
upon my collar, l drew revolver and de-
liberately aimed at his heart. There was a
general retrograde motion of the party.
Some one behind me wounded me with the
point of a sword. turned and fired, and
then making circular sweep with my pis-
tol around me- I took advantage Of the
space which had cleared to walk through
it and quit the coffee house, leaving behind
me the iercest uproar.
/ had no sooner reached the street than
Don Carlos hurried past me, saying, as he
did so, in my ear:
"Fly! Conceal yourself! He has sent
for file of soldiers to arrest you. Follow
Lie. and / will show you place of safety.
| placed myself under the protection of
nv friend Carlos, who led the way across
the plaza to narrow street, which we en-
tered and traversed for some distance
through the darkness. At length we came
to a small shop, over the low door OF which
was a cigar box for sign. The shutters
were closed, but faint thread of light
streamed through the crevices OF the
window.
aHere is the shop of Pedro Alva,' said
NV friend: che is cigar roller, whom
have befriended when sick, and who is at
tached to me. You will be save here, as he
may be trusted" ,
He knocked on the shutter, and repeated
the name of the occupant Of the humble
tenement.
"Quiea hs Quien esa9' responded a
hoarse voice within.
We heard an exclamation of satisfaction,
and the half leaf of door was pushed eau
tiouslv outward. The light from within
showed him the face of De Armas, and he
quickly threw the door wide and admitted
Us. ,
"Now, shut, bar and lock, good Pedro,
said De Armas, aiding him.
Pedro, who was a short, dark visaged
Spaniard, with an enormous gray mustache,
iron spectacles, and a bald head, soon
secured the door. ;.
81 am glad to see your honor" he said
respectfully, sand your lordshif's friend,
bowling to me; "but hope thefr ia moth
ing wrong, senpres.'