Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-24
IL the old duenna herself rules the

fower-garden."
He stepped softly 10 the door. which
stood ajar. and passed out. lie looked
about him circumspectively. Not a
soul was in sight. The night was love.
ly and every thing seemed to favor his
plans.
With an elastic spring. Leo's strong.
well-trancd limbs carried him over the
fence which shut out the garden from
their quarters. Once over the fence
Leo sauntered nonchalantly towards
the bush where tho note OF mystery
lay hidden.
Feigning to admire the roses. he
stopped. and, with dexterous grab.
soon possessed himself Of the mystcri-
Gus ep'stle He was walking laisurely
back TO his room with the delicately-
scented note thrust in his breast, when
his digniied steps were vastly acceler-
ated BY huge Mexican bloodhound
suddenly undertaking among the
bushes at the other end Of the garden.
and plunging head long after him.
Leo felt that perhaps, the eyes OF
the Mexican beauty IN ght be follow
ing him. and would have fain preserv-
ed his dignity 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 re-
sent an intrusion on his master pri-
vate grounds.
Leo, for once. bado dignity hasty
farewell and vaulted the fence in the
very face of his savage foe. He just
barely made his escape. and that was
all. lie congratulated himself. rs he
hastily entered the wing of the hacien-
dI. that the Mexican dress he wore
had no superiority of coat-tails to have
suffered an inglorious diminution in
length.
Safe within the quarters which had
been reluctantly ass gned TO him and
his companions. Leo broke the seal of
the dainty little note. and perused with
eager eyes the following finely wr item
lines:
SENIORS AMERICANOs-This is penncd you
10y an unfortunate maiden. who, believing In
your nobleness OF soul, nplores your help to
save her from a cruel fate.
NV father, the ranchero, who reluctantly
permits you 10 pass the night here, intends
10 force me to wed, this night an officer in
the Army OF Macmillan, a man whom
great power over nv father, and ! am 10 be
the victim 10 annul that power
The man truly love Is Fl Captain Eznal-
do, one Of the bravest in the army OF our
chief, JuarcZ | desire 10 fy to the protec-
ton OF my lover, and ] implore your aid that
Imsy do 50
The ceremony is to be held at ten O'Clock
tonight, when that detested man, Col Hen
rique Fernandez will be here TO cl aim me.
lie dare not venture within The lines OF
.IuareZ nu1ar the ~ lppn fplt
The little chapel, which you NAV easily see
from the wing which you Occupy, Is the place
where the marriage rites ars TO beperforned.
Ia 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 lula NELAsQUEZ
p. s.-My trusty mad, Zela, Will have
horses ready In the grove beg ond the garden,
and We beg TO ~ under your protection to
that OF my noble Eznaldo. TCLAV
Leo read the letter through several
times then he said to himself:
"Tula Velasquez! And this girl who
appeals TO rs for assistance is the very
same of whom have heard my friend
Ezhaldo speak so often in such lofty
praise. Verify. it is all so strange!
But l am willing to take any risk to
protect lad from such an unwel-
come fate as a forced marriage This
is promise of adventure" and he
reused his sleeping comrades and
read Tula's letter to them.
Tho party was composed of young
men of adventurous SIP rits, and most
Of them knew the handsome Eznaldo
in Juarez's army and were ready to
engage in any combat or undertake NC.
however daring. if in so doing they
could serve that young officer or the
girl he loved
Accordingly, they made all thin Is
ready and wa ted for the hour of ten
to roll round.
Leo was on his watch at the window.
and when. at last he beheld the bridal
party moving swiftly and as silently rs
spectres towards the chapple he gave
the signal to his companions 10 follow
him. Thay filed orderly out of the
wing. and very soon the wedding
party was joined by six unlimited
guests.
The ranchero. what was leading the
lovelr but unwilling lula, halted near
the door Of the chaple and looked over
his shoulder. Perhaps he had dete cted
the tread of the Americans, though
they had arrived almost noislessly.
AT the same time, tall. middle aged,
grizzly bearded Mexican officer, Henri
que Fernandez. the would be bride.
groom. who was a little in advance of
the bride, became aware OF the Ameri-
cans presence. The officer, Fernan.
DEE, was attended by two Younger Of
ficers, and all were dressed in the most
gorgeous uniforms. The party stopped.
Fernandez. in an imperious voice, de-
manded:
don Velasquez l particularly re-
quested that tn ceremony should be
free from all intrusion. Who are the
strangers
The moon. ere this. bad lowered
herself behind bold range of noun.
tains in the west. hence the dim out
lines only of the intruders could be
made ont. but nothing of faces nor
dress could be distinctly seen.
1T is the Seniors Americana" re-
piled the savage voice of Nelasquez.
why are You here, senors?' he de-