Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-05-24

| SOicluHity III the .slicifCc ludI gave no
indication of the Spaniards being plung-
ed in the intoxicatien of a festival.
With the impet Eity of youth he was
about to sprinl Through an opening
down upon the rocks, in order to de-
scend more rapidly than by the ordina-
ry road to post stationed at the en-
trance of the village near the chateau,
when slight sound arrested him. 1t
seemed as though the gravel of the path
way was rustling under the light tread of
woman. Turning his head he saw no
one, but his attention twas arrested by
the extraordinary splendor of the ocean,
and there, like flash, he beheld such a
paleful spectacle tn he stood motion
less, scarcely able to credit his senses.
There, on the horizon, bathed in the
silvery moonlight, shofie feet of gilt
tering sails. A chill struck MIN as he
tried to convince himself it was an op-
tical delusion wrought by the vagaries
of the waves and the moonlight.
At this moment a hoarse voice pro-
nounced his name, and turning, he saw
the head of the soldier who had accom-
panied him to the chateau slowly rising
through the breach. -
"Is it you, commander" %
"Yes, what is it?" he said in a low
voice, warned to secrecy by some pre-
sentiment of evil.
"Those beggars there are wriggling
about like so many worms, and l have
hastened to communicate my observa-
tions to you, if you will permit me-"
"By all means" said the major.
81 have just been following one of the
men from the chateau who proceeded in
this direction with a lantern in his
hand. Now lantern looks devilishly
suspicious! This is no time of night for
a Christian to light up his tapers. They
want to make meal of u.s. said to my
self, and followed at his heels. So, ma
jor, that is how l discovered a certain
pile of faggots on block not three yards
from here"
A terrible cry which rang through the
village here interrupted him, and, as a
lurid glow suddenly illuminated the
form of his commander. the poor grena-
dier fell with bullet in his head.
Not ten feet away, pile of straw and
dry wood was flaming like con6agration.
A deathly silence broken only by low
groans had replaced the laughter and
music of the fete. AS the thunder of
cannon echoed over the oceans plain, a
cold sweat started on the young officers
brow. Standing there. swordless, he
knew that his soldiers had perished, and
that the English were about to land.
He saw himself dishonored if ne lived ;
arraigned before council of war then,
measuring with his eye the depth of the
rocky valley at his feet, he drew back
for the spring when Clara de Leganes
seized his hand breathlessly.
"Flyw she cried, "My brothers are
nllowing me to kill you'll At the foot of
the rockl Therel You will find Juani-
to's horsel Go quicklyw
As her slight hands pushed him, the
young man stood looking at her for
moment stupefed; then, yielding to the
instinct Of selfpreservation which never
forsakes even the strongest, he sprang
into the park toward the direction indi-
Gated, and bounded over rocks only
tracked by wild goats heretofore. He
heard Clara cry to her brothers to pur-
sue him heard the steps of the assas-
sins he heard their bullets whistle past
his ears, but he reached the valley, found
the horse, mounted, and disappeared
with the rapidity of lightning.
A.few hours afterward he arrived at
the quarters of General Granville, whom
he found dining with his staff.
81 bring you my head" he cried, ap-
pearing in their midst, pale and unnerv-
ed. Then seating himself, he recounted
the terrible adventure. A silence fol-
lowed his recital.
Il find you more unfortunate than
criminal" at last said the stern general.
-Yeu are not responsible for the Span
iard's crlme land, unless the marshal
decides otherwise, absolve YOU"
These words gave but feeble cOnsOla-
tion to the unhappy officer.
"When the emperor knows it." he MUIR
INJURED.
"He will probably wish to have you
shot," said the general, "but we shall see.
Now, let us speak no more Of this" he
added in a tone of severity, Except to
plan a vengeance that will give saluta-
ry lesson to this country where they make
their war like savages."
An hour later an entire regiment, q
detachment of cavalry, and a convoy of
artillery were on the road. General
Granville and Major Marchand marched
at the head of the column. The whole
army, when they knew of the dreadful
massacre, were seized with an uncontrol-
liable fury. The distance which separat-
ed Menda from the general quarters was
covered with marvellous rapidity. On
the route the general found whole vii
lagos under arms Each of these miser-
able hamlets was surrounded and ITS in
babitants destroyed. .
By some inexplicable fatality the En-
glish vessels lay to without advancing,
but it was known later that these ships
carried only artillery, and had out-sailed
the rest ofthe feet. Soft was that Use,
fouu of Monda denrivad or the dafnmii