Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-30


dover garden"
He stepped softly TO the door. which
stood ajar. and passed out. He looked
about him crcumspectively. Not a
soul was in sight. The night was love-
ly and everything seemed to favor his
plans.
With an elastic spring. Leo's strong.
well-trained 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.
Foigning to admire tho roses, he
stopped. and. with dexterous grab
soon possessed himself of the mysteri-
Gus ep site. He was walking laisurely
back to his room with the delicately-
scented note thrust in his breast, when
his dignilied steps were vastly acccler-
ated by II huge Mexican bloodhound
suddenly Undertaking. among the
bushes Mt the other end of the garden.
and plunging head long after him.
Leo felt Tint perhaps, the eyes OF
the Mexican beauty m ght be follow
ing him. and would have fain presery-
ed his dignity during the retreat But
he found it exped ent to change his
will after one sweeping Glance into the
capaciOus red mouth of tho 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 fonoe in the
very face OF his savage foe. He just
barely made his escape, and that was
all. He congratulated himself. ms he
hastily entered tho wing of the hacien-
d., that the Mexican dress he wore
had no superflui'y OF coat-tails to have
suffered an inglorious diminution in
length.
Safe within the quarteas which had
been reluctantly assigned TO him and
his companions, Leo broke the seal OF
the dainty little note, and perusod with
eager eyes the following iinely-wrtten
lines:
SENIORS AMERICANos-This is pcnued you
by IN unfortunate maiden, who, believing In
your nobleness of soul. implores your help to
save her from n cruel fate.
Nv father the ranchero, who reluctantly
permits you 20 pass the night here, intends
to force me to wed, this night an officer In
tue ArinN OF MaNlmllan, q man WnOU
most vehemently detest; but ha holds some
great power over nv father, and | am to DO
the Wet m to annul that power.
The man ] truly love Is FL Captain Email
do, one of the bravest In the army OF our
chief, Juarcz / desire to A. to the protec-
tiou of nv lover, and l implore your aid that
Imay do so
The ceremony is 10 be held at ten o'clock
tonight, when that detested man, Col Hen
rique Fernandez will b. here to claim me.
lie dare not enture within the lines OF
JuareZ except under the cover OF deep night
The little chapel, which you NAV easily see
from he wing which YOU occupy,i the place
here the marriage rites are to beperformed.
In writing this, good brave Seniors Amerl-
canos, appeal 10 your goodness OF heart to
save ;oe from this living death, aud In so do
ing YOU will ever receive the sincere prayers
OF poor unhappy lula VELAsQUEZ
T. S-Ms trusty mad Zela, will have
horses ready In the grove beyond the garden,
aud We beg TO H. under your protection to
that OF my noble Ezualdo. lula V,
Leo read the letter through several
times. then he said to himself:
"Tula Velasquez! And this girl who
appeals TO us for assistance is the very
same of whom have heard my friend
Eznaldo 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 unwe l.
come fate rs forced marriage. This
is promise OF adventure. and he
rouseI his sleep ne comrades and
read Tula's letter to them.
The party was composed of young
men of adventurous SIP rits. and most
of them knew the handsome Eznaldo
in Juarez' army and were read to
engage in any combat or undertak ng,
however daring. if in SO doing thew
could serve that young officer or the
girl he loved.
Accordingly, they made all thin gs
ready and waited for the hour of ten
to roll round.
Leo was on his watch at the window.
and when. at last, he beheld the bridal
part moving swiftly and as silently rs
spectres towards the chapple. he gave
the signal to his compan ions to follow
him. Thay filed orderly out of the
wing, and very soon the wedding
party was joined by six uniuvited
guests.
The ranchero. what was leading the
lovely but unwilling lula. halted near
the door of the chaple and looked over
his shoulder. Perhaps he had detected
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 little in advance of
the bride, became aware OF the Ameri-
cans presence. The officer. Fernan =
dcz. 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 this ceremony should be
free from all intrusion. Who are the
strangersP"
The moon. ere this. had lowered
herself behind bold range OF noun
tains in the west. hence the dim out.
lines only OF the intruders could be
made out, but nothing of faces nor
dress could be distinctly seen.
ut is the Seniors Amercanos re.
piled the savage voice of Velasquez.
"Why are YOU here. senors?" he de-