The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1888-04-07
bush where the note of mystery lay hid


when his digniied steps were vastly ac-
suddenly materializing among the bushes
at the other end of the garden, and
plunging headlong after him.
Leo felt that, perhaps, the eyes of the
Mexican beauty might be following him,
and would have fain preserved his dig
nifty during the retreat. But he found
it expedient to change his will after one
sweeping glance into the capacious
red mouth of the canine monster that
had been SO quick to resent an intrusion
on his masters private grounds.
Leo, for once. bade dignity a hasty
farewell and vaulted the fence in the
very face of his savage foe. He just
barely made his eseape, and that was all.
He congratulated himself, as he hastily
entered the wing of the hacienda, that
the Mexican dress he wore had no super
fluffy of coat-tals to have suffered an in
glorious dim mutton in length.
Safe within the quarters which had
been assigned to him and his companions,
Leo broke the seal of the dainty little
note, and perused with eager eyes the
following tinelywritten lines:
SENIORS AMERIcANos-Thi is penned you
by an unfortunate maiden. who, believing in
your nobleness OF soul, implores your help to
save her from cruel fate.
My father, the ranchero, who reluctantly
permits you TO pass the night here intends to
force me to wed this night an officer in the
Army of Macmillan, a man whom l most
vehemently detest: but he holds some great
power over my father, and am to be the vic
tim to annul that power
u ~. l1O
one of the bravest in tn, army of our CHIEF,
Juarez. desire to fly to the protection of
my lover, and l implore your aid that may
do SO.
The ceremony is to be held at ten o'clock
tonight, when that deteste1 man, Colonel
Henrique Fernandez, will be here to claim
me.
He dare not venture within the lines of
Juarez except under cover of deep night
The little chapel, which you may easily see
from the wing which you occupy, is the place
where the marriage r.tes are to te per-
formed.
In writing this, good, brave Seniors Ameri-
canos, appeal to your goodness of heart, to
save me from this living death, and in so do
ing you will ever receive the sincere prayers
of poor, unhappy TULA NELASQUEZ.
P. S.-My trusty maid, Zela, will lave
horses ready in the grove beyond the garden,
and we beg to fly under your protection to
VI iill lOOio EAHdiuO. lObA v
Leo read the letter through several
times, then he said to himself.
''Tua Velasquez! And this girl who
appeals to us for assistance. is the very
same of whom l have heard my friend
E4naldo speak so often in such lofty
praise Y erily, it is all so strange But
lam willing to take any risk to protect
. lady from such an unwelcome fate as
forced marriage. This is promise of
adventure" and he aroused his sleeping
comrades and read Tula's letter to them.
The party was composed of young men
of adventurous spirits, and most of them
knew the handsome Eznaldo in Juarel's
army and were ready to engage in any
combat or undertaking, however daring,
if in so doing they could serve that young
officer or the girl he loved.
Accordingly, they made all things
ready and waited for the hour often to
roll round.
Leo was on watch at the window, and
when, at List, he beheld the bridal party
moving swiftly and as silently as spectres
iowa ds the chapel, he gave the signal to
his companions to follow him. They filed
orderly out of the wing, and very soon
the wedding party was joined by six un-
invited guests.
The ranchero, who was leading the
lovely but unwilling Tula, halted near
the door of the chapel and looked over
his shoulder. Perhaps he detected the
tread of the Americans, though they had
arrived almost noiselessly.
At the same time, tall, middle-aged,
grizzly bearded Mexican officer, Henrique
Fernandez, the would-be bridegroom,
who was little in advance of the bride,
became aware of the Americans presence.
Fernandez was attended by two younger
officers, and all were dressed in the most
gorgeous uniforms. The party stopped.
Fernandez, in an imperious voice, de-
manded
''Don Nelasquez, particularly re-
questcd that this ceremony should be
free from all intrusion. Who are the
strangers"
cit is the Seniors Americanos, replied
Velasquez: "Why are you here, senorsW
he demanded.
"Don Nelasquez," replied Leo, step
ping boldly before the ranchero, ''you
are cruelty forcing your child to marry,
this ght, one whom her soul detests,
while her heart is in the keeping of the
brave Eznaldo of Juarez's army 1t is to
save TulaNclasquez from the evil fate you
have selected for her, that we are here"
With glad cry, Tull Velasquez tore
herself away from her fathers side, and
rushed up to Leo, just as he struck the
revolver, which the Mexican officer had
leveled at him. from his hand.
Quickly leveling his own revolver in
the face of Henrique Fernandez, he said:
'You are my prisoner, Colonel Fernan
dez. Stir from your tracks at your
peril"
The Mexican officer knew that he was
no match for the yo ng American, and
one glance was su cient to show him
that the least resista zee would invite his
death. Buthe had not been forbidden
to use his voice, SO he called to Velas-
quez, who, at first, was too dazed at the
very unexpected attack to move.
'Don Velasquez, call upon your SER
wants for help; inform my men with
outp'
The young officers who had accom-
panied Fernandez, had all they could do
in hand d-to-hand struggle with two
robust Americans. However, the strug-
gle was of short duration, and the Mexi-
cans soon surrendered.
The ranchero gave call for help,
which some of the men servants quickly
answered.
A melee commenced. There was o
scene of confusion by the little chapel
door. Pistol shots rang out on the still
night air. The women in attendance
shrieked and fled through the garden.
In the height of it all, Leo, with
severe wound in his left arm, received he
scarcely knew how cut his way out,
dragging Colonel Fernandez, a prisoner,
still with him. Tula Velasquez and
Zela. her maid, were near him, and the
other Americans came soon after, bring
ing the two officers that had been capt
ured.
''Here, through the garden to yon
grovel" whispered Tula to Leo. 1--WE
shall find horses there for our escape.
Go not by the front entrance, as soldiers
left on the plaza by Colonel Fernandez
will again oppose us"
1t required little time to reach the
<.royo ,1oiptoI 0nt hu T,1I, Noloeonoz