The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-09-06

horseman rldlnS at Or!sk pace TO-
wards Havana, from which city he
was still distant several miles.
Suddenly at q bend of the road. a
figure sprang from the bushes which
fringed the woods edge; pistol bar
rel glittered in the soft moonlight, and
a stern voice babe him halt.
He did so.
care you seignor valrsqnesq'' in
qnired the stranger, shading his face
with the brim of hit broad hat.
Eyes,"
''Do not fear robbery, scignor. Are
you armedq"
"No," answered Valasques, "but
why DO you stop me9 If you want gold
here it is. Take it, and let me pro-
ceed."
The stranger made an impatient
ward of the hand, as lie replied or ra
Their qnustioned:
Tomorrow you we'd Miss Alice
Snede."
"Sir," exclaimed Valasques, "by
what right do You dare to question me
Stand aside"
"Never! dismount Seignor, and take.
this weapon" offering another, "if you
1 = -gr
wish chance for your life, aud face
me-" '''''
~ have no cause Of enmity against
you--," began the Cuban.
"Dismount,s and do not measure
words with me, or by that heaven
above us will shoot you off your
horse as you sit there"
THUS urged Valasques decendcl
from his horse, and taking the weapon
stepped back five PAGES, facing his
opponent.
"Give the word, soignor" said the
stranger" =
| OuO-VWO-LulCo-ul ;.
Two reports rang out on the still
night air, at the same instant, and the.
unfortunate Cuban 1eelett add fell
PROSTATE. IL.
The stranger who had fired the fatal
shot fastened to him and examined
the dead man closely. The ball had
pierced his brain, 80, that he died in
[stantly. The stranger ,kneeled, and
pinned on the breast Of the dead man
a slip of paper on which was. written
the words: 4,
I 81 have fulfilled my OATH"
Then hastily rising he mounted a
horse hitherto concealed in tile bushes
and urging him into a rapid galop was
soon out of sight.
Poor Alice under tho shock of this
terrible affair nearly succumbed, and
her life for a long time hung in the bal
auce. Though, satisfied ihet Leon
Hnptly was the destroyer of valas-
lues, she kept The suspicion to her.
sell and begged her father to carry her
home. He complied with the request
as soon as her health permitted her to
be moved.
Three years had elapsed since Alice
Snede had discarded Leon Huntly,
and for second time since that event
she was betrothed. This time to a
young Englishman by name Gerald
Percy.
Since the death of Valasques, she
had at intervals been reminded that
Leon Huntley still lived, by finding q
slip Of paper inclosed in an envelope
always bearing the words. "Remem-,
ber." !.
The reception of these warnings had
always been followed by spell of So
we're nervous prostrasion, yet she never
divulged the secret of her illness.
She did not doubt that Leon had al
lowed his wrong to prey upon bis mind
until his reason had become derangcd,
and in this state he was more danger
GUS than ever. She stipulated, there
fore, that her engagement must be
kept secret, and above all that the
date Of the day set for their nuptials
must be diyulged to none. Gerald
thought livery strange, but agreed.
| These two were sitting together dis
cussing the plans for their: future hap
piness, when footman. brought to
Alice letter, left by letter carrier
for her, and bearing the post mark of
Rome. She opened it carelessly, chat
ting gayly the while with her atfapced,
but screamed with fear, as the paper
within the envelope showed to her
frightened gaze the words, "Remem-
Der, once more ~ 81
/ Gerald caught the paper from the
floor and read what vas written there
on. "What does this mean T.. cried
he, striking it with his hand. "Tell
me, Alice" 49,. 80