The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1888-06-08


red mouth Of tue canine monster that
had been - quick 70 resent an intrusion
On bis masters private grounds.
Leo. for once. babe dignity q hasty
fareEel and Vauitcd the fence in the
very face Of his savage foe lie just
ia5eiy made HE escape. and that was ali.
BE congratulated himself. as he hastily
enfe1ed the Hins Of the hacienda, that
lhe Mexican 2ress be wore mad no super
fuIfy 4 0oaf-iails 20 have suffered an in
e.arious diminution IN length
safe Nlihiu the quarters which had
been assigned 10 him aud his companions,
Leo broke the seal # the dainty little
note. and perused with eager eyes the
f9loHing ineiy written lines:
SEH1Es AEERic Axos- This Is penned you
by a. unfortunate maiden. who, believing in
sour noli-isess o. s1ul iInplores your help %
sate Der frQfn 3 cruel fate.
ny father. the ranchero. who reluctantly
Iernilis you - pass the night here intends %
force mf q we'd this night an officer in the
Army u MAXIM llan q man whom ! most
feilsulauriY d-test. but b. holds some great
power user my father and am 10 b. the vic
tn o. anuul that power
z To- ulau Truly love Is y Captain EEnaldo,
. oue n the hravest ia the army Of our chief.
auareE desire 10 hy - the protection of
my lover, and implore your aid that may
d. -
' The ceremony j. 10 be- beld At ten O'Clock
tonight. Nh-n that dsiestei man, Colonel
hrnrigue Fernandez. Eiil ie here 20 claim
He dare not venture within the lines Of
auarez exoupi under cover q deep night
Tie LITTLE chapel. which you may easily see
from Ia sing which you occupy, is the place
where the marriage rites are 70 he per
formed
+ IN ~riting this. good, brave senors Ameri-
caiiQd, appeal % your goodness Of heart, 70
save ne from this living death, and IN 80 do
luE you vii ever receive the sincere prayers
~ Issor, unhappy TCLA AkIAsQUEL
= h.-AY trusty maid, Zela viii have
harses ready N the grove beyond the garden,
ald Ne beg 70 hy under your protection 20
rhat a my E1ble Eznasdo TULA v
Leo read the letter through several
times, then he aid 20 himself.
''Tuia NelasQuez. And this girl who
appeals 10 us for assistance. is the very
same Of whom have heard my friend
EsnaidO speak so often in such lofty
praise. efiiy, It Is all 80 strange, But
] am willing 10 take any risk 10 protect
q lldy from such an unWeicole fate as a
forced marriage This is promise Of
adventure. and be aroused his sleeping
o0mndes and read Tnla's letter TO them.
The party aas composed Of young men
II adventurous spirits. and most Of them
knew the handsome Ezuald0 in .Iuarez's
army aud were ready 10 engage in any
combat " undertaking. however daring,
Z IN 50 doing they eouidse that young
officer or the girl be loved.
A .Ir- L.
ready and waited for the hour often to 1
roll round
Leo was OF watch at the window, and Z
Eheu. At last. he heheld the bridal-party
m1s.ug swiftly aud as silently as spectres !
foHa d ihe chapel. be gave the signal TO .
his companions 10 follow him. They filed I
orderly out Of the wing, aud very soon I
the wedding party was joined by six IN
invited guests
The ranehero, 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 slmos; noiselessly.
Al the same time. tail. niddle-aged,
grizzly bearded Mexican officer. Henrique
Fernandez. the would-be bridegroom,
s h0 MAS 3 little in advance Of the bride,
l.ecame aware Of the Americans presence.
Fernandez Wa attended by two younger
officers, and all were dressed in the most
gorgeous uniforms The party stopped.
Fernandez, IN an imperious voice, de-
manded
sion geiasqueZ, particularly re-
quested that this ceremony should be
Tree from all intrusion. Who are the
strangersi''
1T Is the Seniors Americanos, replied
EeiasqBez; why are you here, senorsf'
be demanded.
Don Nelasquez," replied Leo, step
ping boldly before the TancherO, you
are cruelty forcing your child 10 marry,
this night, one whom her soul detests,
while her heart is in the keeping Of the
brave Eznaldo Of Juafez's army. II is 10
ave Tula Nelasquez from the evil fate you
have selected for her, that we are here"
With a glad cry. 1ula Nelasquez tore
herself aEsy from her fathers side, and
rushed up 70 Leo. Just as be struck the
revolver. which the Mexican officer had
icreled a. him, from his hand
Quickly leyciing his Own revolver in
the face Of Henrique Fernandez, he said
You are my prisoner, Colonel Fernan-
dcL STIR from your tracks at your
peril
The Mexican officer knew that he was
no match for the young American, and
one gianoe was sufficient 10 show him
that the least resistance would invite his
death. But be- had not been forbidden
10 Use his voice, SO he called TO Nelas-
quez. who. AZ first. was TOO dazed at the
very unexpected attack TO move
.-Don yeiasquez, call upon your ser
wants for help; inform my men with
out -
The young officers who had accom-
panied Fernandez, had all they could do
10 a hand-to-hsnd struggle with two
robust Americans. However, the sirug-
gle was Of short duration, and the Mexi-
cans soon surrendered
The raBchero gave call for help,
which some Of the men servants quickly
answered.
A melee commenced. There was a
scene Of confusion by the little chapel
door. Pistol shots rang out on the still
night air The women in attendance
shTieked and fed through the garden.
In the height Of it al, 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 Nelasquez and
Lcla her maid, we're near him, and the
other Americans came soon after. bring
iag the two officers that had been capt
urcd.
Here, through the garden to yon
grover whispered Tula to Leo. We
shall find horses there for our escape.
so not by the front entrance, as soldiers
left on the plaza by Colonel Fernandez
viii sgaiB oppose ~"
L required little time to reach the
grove pointed ont by Tula velasquez
A. she had promised, they found their
horses ready for them. Zela, with the
assistance Of her lover, one Of the ran
chero's servants, had attended to that
part They soOa mounted and started
briskly away through the grove, the
shouts Of the Mexican soldiers, who were
trying 70 find their route Of escape, ring
ing in their ears.
when al last their trail was discov-
cred the Nexicans gave them hot chase