Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-07
NO. a..
Gales aud xketehes.
THE ROSES MISSION.
BY JAMES MARTIN.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

Dudley saw that his captors were not
to be trifled with. They threatened death
if he resisted. When they had eluded
pursuit, Pedro threw OF his mask and
subjected Dudley to the most humiliat-
ing insolence. When he left him he said
derisively:
"Have you any message TO send to Inez,
for shall be most happy to convey IT,"
The renegades confined Dudley In their
stronghold on hill overlooking Seville.
A pot of estofar, savory. but insufficient,
made its appearance twice . day through
an opening in the wall. He only saw the
hand of the bearer, which was 20 delIcat.
ly proportioned that he thought it y wo-
mans. She never uttered . word, scarce.
ly sound betrayed her coming. Often
the odor of the dish alone indicated It's
presence
The Senior and Pedro devised manv
plans for Dudley's rescue, but eaca was
abandoned. Pedro urged to discard him,
"He was foreigner almost unknown to
them, and probably this was only 4 ruse
to enlist their sympathy and extort ran
sOm.n
4lnez could not forget Dudley. She was
almost distracted by the separation, vet
outwardly manifested no concern.
There was restraint which never be-
fore existed between Pedro and herself.
In measure. she sought to remove the
barriers which he had raised.
The Sonora famed the sparks Of affsc.
ton which lived In Inez's breast, hoping
at length to reconcile her to Pedro. Bot
her guarded department and quiet reserve
betrayed none Of the desired symptoms.
Dudley repined. A window high up.
gave him a glimpse only of the outer
world. He sat eyeing the aperture
through which his meals were passed. He
heard light footsteps approaching, and
then the hand deposited his accustomed
nourishment.
MADAM 1i.
The hand trembled. a.i
"Girlw will you aid me to sscape?.'
IL dare not. Senior, for they would take
my llfen ~
"Do not fear; you shall be protected;
have strong friends in the CITY," She
dropped upon one knee and said In low
voice:
II know the guard well. Have you
any goldP' He drew from his belt hand
ful of coin and thrust them toward her.
saying:
''lf escape you shall have the rest"
The girls retreating steps awoke echoe
along the dim galleries, and stirre
within him the gloomiest forebodings. He
regretted his impolitic course. He Doubt
ed her sincerity and feared betrayal.
Then the precious gold. which had so far
escaped his captors, would it be taken
from him!
But" he sighed. 'Trl leave it all to
Fate" y"
From his window he looked wistfully
out on the world. A cloud obscured thU
sun, and the landscape Law In shadow.
The stiffness was broken only by the dis
tantss shout of a muleteer as he drove his
beast along the road, or the bleatiug Of
sheep, or the notes of birds. ''How strange
it is,' he murmured, that l should be
here. o! how / long for home Could I
but be there to- night would give thou
sand worlds But no. could not leave
lnez Rather would l stay within these
walls, for even here the same sky bends
over us both! o +! that had the strength
of Sampson, and would not leave one
stone upon another in this vast pile I" He
grasped the rusted gratings and shook
them fiercely. But il only exhausted him.
Then he cried aloud; his answers were
hoarse reverberations from the depths Of
his dungeon!
The sunlight shone again through his
window and crept slowly up the wall. At
length it touched the blackened ceiling In
to golden unts, and these faded away. A
flood of memories came surging across his
mind. The days Of his youth and young
manhood with all their attendant train,
passed before his vision. Gradually his
Impressions grew less and less vivid. He
gaped, drew his tattered coverlit about him
and sank into a quiet sleep.
One day his repast was augmented BY
small brown loaf. As he broke the bread
in fragments, suddenly he came upon q
hard substance. A moment afterward he
held small Toledo file In his trembling
hand!
.lf ever get out of this place, Il will
only be by immediate action" he unused,
com ne suddenly to stand. having walked
for long time the confines of his cell.
He hastily divested himself of his coat, and
together with portions of his wretched
bed, ne arranged an etiigy-sugges.ed by
an old college trick. Then steppiDg back
he surveyed the admirable deception. say
ing facetiOusly:
AioW niC you, 'Ouu tniDk YOU can
stay there till tomorrow ?" Half an hour
later he had severed the iron bars at his
window, and once more he was free! The
damp night wind famed his fevered face
as he ran down the declivity. lie WAS
weak and he tottered and fell.
lie was awakened by dog licking his
face. He wearily bent his steps toward
the city. whose lights now CLEANED in the
clear night. The dews fell upon his un-
covered head. His clothing became soiled
and rent. Still he staggered onward
through field and forest. many times fall
ing from sheer exhaustion.
AT last he reached the city. The must
cal cry, "all hail, Marym sounded sadly
in his ears as he entered Seville. He
reached the Lotosa residencia just before
the hour of retirement. The dog which
ministered to him when he tainted on
the hillside, followed him, and Row
brushed past him into the curt. Inez
earessed the animal. Pedro looked eager