The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-08-24

FSPPSN oOAtiJ w ~ NNNls "HlSh
stood ajar, and passed out. ne looked
about him circumspeotigely. Not a
soul was in sight. The night was love-
ly and everything seemed to favor his
plans.
With at Elastic spring, Leo's strong,
well-trainej limbs carried him over the
fence which shut out the garden from
their quarters. Once Over the fence
Leo saunCered nOnchalantlY towards
the bush where the note Of mystery
lay hidden.
Feigning to admire the roses, he
stopped, and, with a 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 dignifed steps were vastly acceler-
atn: by a 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 night be follow
ing him, and would have fain preserV-
ed his dignity during the retreat. But
he found it expedrent to change his
will after one sweeping Glance into the
CapaciOus rcd mouth of the canine
monster hat had been so quick to re-
sent an intrusion on his master pri-
Vate grounds.
Leo. for once. babe dignity a hasty
farewell and vaulted the fence in the
very face of his savage foe. He Just
barely made his escape, and that was
al. He congratulated himself, as he
hastily entered the wing of the hGcien-
az, 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 assigned to him and
his companions, Leo broke the seal of
the dainty little note, and perused with
eager eyes the following fnely-wr,tten
lines:
SENIORS AMERICANOs-This is penned you
by an unfortunate maiden, who, believing in
your nObleness of soul, implOres your help to
save her from a cruel fate.
Ny father, the TanCherO, who reluctantly
permits you TO pa, the night here, intends
to force me to wed, this night, an officer in
the Army Of Macmillan, a man whom l
most yehemently detest; but he holds some
I AANNN p~"NA WV NV oNhA 1HN 4 NA w W
the victim to annul that power.
The mar ! truly love is Ell Captain EZnal-
do, one Of the bravest in the army Of our
chief, Juarez / desire to fly to the protec-
ton Of my lover, &nd implore your aid that
Imay do so.
The ceremony is to be held at ten O'Clock
tonight, when that detested man, Col Hen
rique Fernandez. will be here TO claim me.
He dare not venture within the lines Of
JuareZ except under the cover OF deep night.
| Tho Ifffln ahaNal uhfnh non mas aaet1w q
from the wing which you occupy, is the place
where the marriage rites are to beperfOrmed.
In writing this, good, brave Seniors AEeri-
caDOs, | appeal to your goodness of heart, to
save me from this living death, aud In so do
ing you will ever receive the sincere prayers
of poor, unhappy TULA VELAsoUEz.
r. S.-My trusty mad, Zela, will have
horses ready in the grove beyond the garden,
and we beg to fv under your protection to
that Of my noble Eznaldo. TULA V.
Leo read the letter through several
times. then he said to himself:
'STula VelaSquez! And this girl who
appeals to us for assistance. is the very
same of whom / aave heard my friend
Eznaldo speak so often in such lofty
praise. Verify, it is all so strangei
But | am willing to take any risk to
protect a LADY 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.
The party was composed of young
men of adventurous spirits, and most
of them knew the handsome Eznaldo
in Juarez's army and we're 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 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 be beheld the bridal-
party moving swiftly and as silently as
spectres towards the chapDle. he gave
the signal to his companions to 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
lovely but unwilling Tula 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, q 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-
dez was attended by two younger of
fcers, and all were dressed Ia the most
Gorgeous uniforms The party stopped.
Fernandez. IN an imperi0us voice, de-
maudads
don Velasquez. / particularly re-
quested that this ceremony should be
free from ali intrusion. Who are the
strangerspn
The moon. ere this. had lowered
herself behind q bold range Of noun
tains in the west hence the dim out
lines only of the intruders could be
made out bnt nothing Of faces nor
dress could be distinctly seen.
III is the Seniors Amsricanos" re-
piled the savage voice Of yelasgnez
why are you here. senorsp'f he de-
n anded.
sDon Yelasquez replied Leo, step
ping bodily before the ranchero. you