, 1884-08-17
I MEXICAN ROMANCE.

On board. lay before the city Of Vera Cruz.
All the morning the guns Of the fleet had
poured their shot upon he castle OF san
Juan de Ulioa, which commanded the
city, and on the beach where the Mexican
army had gathered TO oppose the landing
of the Americans. Finally. the heavy fire
drove The Mexicans from the beach, and
they retired 10 the castle and tho city.
Then the boats Of the ships were lowered
away and arranged themselves Ia a long
line, parallel with the beach. Soldiers.
sailors and marines filed the boats, and IN
the bows. all along the line. there stood a
sailor. with one foot on the gunwale, who
held a flag furied around the staff in his
hand Not IA sound was heard but the
splashing Of the waves against the boats,
and all eyes were turned Toward the flag.
ship as the sailors lay on their osrs await
ing the signal 10 advance. A little ball Of
bunting sped up to the masthead Of the
flag ship. and then unrolling itself. spread
out into the watched-for signal. -Giye
wayl" The oars fell into the winter from
end 10 end Of the long line, as If moved by
one gigantic impulse, and a race for the
shore was begun. Finally. one Of the
boats grated on the sand, the sailor ia tht
bows leaped to the beach. and amid wild
hurrahs unfurled the American flag on the
hostile shores OF Mexico.
Among the officers In the boat which
FIRST touched the shore that day was "A
young lieutenant OF infantry named Ed
ward Ives.
In person the young lieutenant was OF
medium height, and of slight but firm
build. with light hair and blue eyes. His
face was Drowned by exposure to weather,
and his expression was one OF courage and
decision OF character. lie was recently
graduated from West Point, and as vet
Iowa REraHf That - EfpIwa1 SO D.. H.,
but a name. In fact, though only "a,
Ives was known among the officers Of his
regiment a. the bachelor, " he having
announced 10 each Of them In the strict
est confidence" that he considered all men
who got married slightly insane.
NJ Ives, = said the young lieuteuant's
captain soon after the landing had been
elected. -the colonel wants n scout made
in the direction Of TINT house over yonder.
Take half a dozen men and go see what
there is there and report to me.
The house which Edward Ives mp
preached with his scouting party was
situated In a grove Of palms and giant
ferns, something over a mile from the
shore. At the min enfrnnce Of the house
stood a wagon. in which some Indian sery-
ants were loading the household effects OF
the family. A tall Mexican, Of middle
age. was experimenting the operation,
and gcsticulating violently with his cane,
as he urged the Indians to greater efforts
Near by stood Il young girl Of 10. of sur.
passing beauty. On her olive cheek there
was IA warm flush. and her dark eyes were
hid beneath long. dark lashes. She wore
Il Spanish mantilla over her head and
shoulders. and altogether formed a most
charn ing picture.
The -pproach of Lieut.. Ives andhis men
had been so cautions that he was close to
the house before his presence was per.
ceived. One of the Indians saw him first,
and catching sight Of the blue uniform,
uttered an exclamation and fed precipi-
lately, followed by all his companions.
The Mexican gentleman who had been
experimenting the loading Of the wagon
turned his head. and, seeing that there
full resistance. stood proudly waiting for
the lieutenant to speak. His daughter
gragped her fathers ARM, and n pallor
overspread her face.
Pear nothing. senior. - said Lieut.. Ives,
In Spanish. Il have only come to see If
there are any soldiers concealed here
abouts. +"
Fear" returned the Mexican. We
do not fear northern invaders and robbers.
We hnte and despise them
Before the lieutenant had time TO reply,
u W IA az uAA I4GA1AAAGas
"A party Of Mexican caynlry urc right
On us. sirl'
The words were scarcely out Of his mouth
when. with clanking sabres and jingling
spur. thirty horsemen dashed through the
trees.
The Americans made IA desperate resist
ance. during which four of the Mexicang
were killed. but were soon overpowered.
The young lieutenant fought bnvely.
using his sword, until a sabre cut In his
sword arm forced him 10 desist.
From the wild and picturesque dress of
his captors Lieut.. Ives saw that they were
a party OF Mexican guerillns-ferce and
cruel men. out OF whose hands few escaped
alive.
The night was now falling, and the Mex
leans hurried their prisoners into the house,
The lamps were lighted in a large apart
ment, from which most Of the furniture
had been removed. and the lead of the
band. n i~crce-looking man Of gigantic
stature, whose features showed clearly tho
Indian blood hat was in his veins, seated
himself In a chair. and. lighting u cigar
cite, ordered the prisoners 10 be brought
before him. The Americans who, with
their arms bound behind them, had been
huddled in one corner Of the room, were
led 10 the captain of the gucrillns, who
was spoken OF by his subordinate as "El
Tigere.
SAh. Senior Americana. - said Ell Tigere,
addressing Lieut.. Ives, $50 you thought
TO take Don Francisco and his daughter
captives. did your If l am not mistaken
you were one of the cabelleros who leaped
so CALAMITY from the first boat of the in
vaders that landed to-day. l and my men
were lying behind Il hammock near the
shore at the time and l covered you three
times with my carbino. l am glad now
that | did not kill you then / have you
now where | can shoot you at my leisure. -
Nay. - iuierposcd Don Francisco, who
was standing near. these are prisoners OF
war. captain. and must be treated rs
such.
DO not cross the path OF the tiger in
his fury. " replied the captain, with a dark
scowl. Those are my prisoners. and
shall be dealt with rs / see fit.
1 cut Ives knew that his failure to
return from his scout would by this time
begin 10 excite apprehensions. and n
strong party would be sent out in search
Of him. SO great was his chagrin at hav-
ing been surprised by TIE Mexicans. how.
ever. that he really cared little whether he
was rescued or not.
During the conversation between Dor
Francisco Monteverte and e. Tigere. the
dons daughter, Dolores. had stood close
beside her father She nd been fright
med al first. hut her IN was reused by
the manner In which the guerrilla chief
had replied 10 her father. and she stood up
rs proudly and dehantly Ms the don him.
self. 1
Lieut.. Ives had tied . handkerchief
tightly around his arm after he had been
wounded The wound was now causing
him intense pain. and he was beginning 10
feel faint from loss Of blood
Il fear neither tigers nor banditti. = said
Don Francisco. hotly, In reply 10 FL
Tigere's last remark Al insist That these
\ walking skeleton.