San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-09
ncVa or mystery lay hidden.

nCvs or mystery lay hidden.
Feigning to admire the roses, be stopped,
and, with dexterous grab, soon possessed
himself of the mysterious epistle. He was
walking leisurely back to bis room with the
delicately scented note thrust in his breast,
when his dignifed steps were vastly accel-
Grated by huge Mexican bloodhound sud-
denly 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 Next
can beauty might be following Kim and
would have fain preserved his dignity dur
ing the retreat But he found it expedient
to change his will after one sweeping glancel
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, babe 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,
as he hastily entered the wing OF the la
cienda, tEat the Mexican dress he wore had
no superiority OF coat tails to have suffered
an inglorious d.minutiou i'll length.
Safe within the quarters which had been
reluctantly assigned to him and his compan-
ions, Leo broke the seal of the dainty little
note, and perused with eager eyes the follow
ing finely written lines:
SENIORS AMERIcASos-This is penned you by AMI
unfortunate maiden, who. believing in your noble
ness of soul, implores your help to save her from
a cruel fate.
My father the ranchero, who reluctantly per-
uits you TO pass the night here, intends TO forcel
me to wed, this night, an officer in the army of
Maximilian man whom / most vehemently de
test; but he holds some great power over my
father, and am to be the victim 70 annul that
power.
The man I love Is FL Captain Eznaldo one Of
the braveSt In the army Of our chief Juarez I
desire to fee to the protection Of my lover, and
impiore your aid that may do 50.
The ceremony is to be held at 10 O'Clock to-
night when that detested man. Col Henrique
Fernandez will be here to claim me.
He dare not venture into the lines Of Juarez ex-
cept 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 rites
are to be performed.
In writing this, good brave Seniors Americanos,
appeal to yong goodness Of heart to save me
from this living death, and In so dong you will
ever receive the sincere prayers Of poor, unhappy
TULA VELAsQuEz.
P. S.-My trlsty maid, Zela, will have horses
ready in the grove beyond the garden, and we
beg TO fly under your protection to that of nay
noble Eznaldo. TULA Y.
Leo read the letter through several times,
then he said to himself:
''Tula Velasquezl And this girl who APP
peals 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 ali
so strangel But | am willing to take any
risk to protect 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
were ready to engage in any combat or I'M
dertaking, however dGrinC. if iIs so doing
tie b Continusd