Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-11-09

| with the 0el1C8te1y bC0uScO AsOs0
in his breast, when his steps were vast
" accelerated by a huge Me1lca'
Bloodhound suddenly materializlna
among the bushes at the other end o
the garden, and plunging after him:
Leo felt that the dark orbs OF tn.
fair lady might be following HIM, AM
he would fain have been dlgnified II
his retreat. But he found it very e1
pedient to change his will in the case
after one sweeping glance into the ca
pacious red mouth of the canine mon
ster in hot pursuit, who had been 81
speedy to resent an intrusion on hi
masters private and beautiful grounds
Leo said farewell to dignity for tina
time. and vaulted the fence in the face
of his savage foe. he just made M.
escape and no more. He congratulate
himself, as he hastily entered thell
mart of the hacienda, that the Mexican
dress he wore had no superfuous coat
tails to have suffered an inglorious
diminution in length, as it no doubt
would have done.
Safe within the quarters that had
been assigned to him and his compan
ions Leo broke the seal of the dainty
little note, and with eager eyes perused
the following lines:
SENIORS AMERICANoS: This is written
you By an unfortunate maiden who. beilev-
ing in YOUR nobleness of soul, implores you
to save her from a cruel fate.
MY father. the ranchero, VINO reluctantly
permits you to pass the night under bis
roof, is forcing me this night to wed an
officer of Maximilian's army whom hate
most vehemently; but he holds some great
power over my father. and am to be the
victim.
The one truly love is Ell Captain Ezual-
do. one OF the bravest in our chief Juarez 81
army. and am very DESTROYS OF flying to
The ceremony is to be held at 10 o'clock
Tonight, when that detested man. Col.
Henrique Fernandez. will be here to claim
nv unwilling heart and hand. He dare not
under the cover of deep night
The little chapel. which is opposite the
wing you now occupy. IS where the mar
rage rites will be performed.
In writing this. good. brave Seniors
Americanos, I appeal to you to save me
will ever receive the sincere prayers Of
poor, unhappy lula VELAsQUEZ.
P. s.WMy trusty maid. Zeia. viii have
horses ready in the grove beyond the gar
den. and We beg to fly under your protec-
ton to that of my noble Ezualdo. T.V.
Leo read the note over several times
and then said to himself:
"Of course I'll do all she asks and
more, too, for my friend, Ezualdo.
This is the girl I have heard the young
officer mention with such deep esteem
SO often when we were together in
camp. This promises more romance
than anything it has been my lot to be
mixed up in for long time. We may
as we'll get ourselves ready, I suppose,
and consult each other in the matter"
So saying, he aroused his sleeping
comrades and told them of lula
Velasquez's appeal to them for help
from the cruel union her father was
forcing upon her.
The party happened to be composed
of young men of adventurous spirits,
and most of them knew the handsome,
noble Ezualdo in Juarez's army, and
were willing to engage in any combat
or undertake any enterprise, no matter
how daring, if, in SO doing, they served
him or his chief, Juarez.
They accordingly made themselves
ready and waited for the hour of ten to
roll round.
Leo was on watch at the narrow
window, and when, at last, he saw the
bridal party moving swiftly and as
silently as specters towards the little
chapel, he gave the signal to his COM
panions to follow him. Very soon the
little party was joined by six unlimited
guests.
The ranchero, who was leading the
lovely but unwilling lula, halted
near the door of the chapel and looked
back. Perhaps he had detected the
tread of the Americans, although they
had arrived almost noiselessly. At
the same time tall, middle-aged Mex
lean officer. Henrique Fernandez, the
would-be bridegroom, who was little
in advance of the bride and her father,
and who was attended by two younger
officers, all dressed in very gorgeous
uniforms, became aware of the attend
ance of the American soldiers. The
party stopped. Henrique Fernandez,
in an imperious voice, demanded:
Don Velasquez, why this intrusion,
and who are the strangers
The moon had lowered herself be-
hind bold range of mountains in the
west ere this, hence only the dim out
lines of the intruders could be made
out. and nothing of faces and dress
could be distinctly seen.
1T is the Seniors Americanos, re-
Piled the savage voice of Velasquez.
Why are you here, senors?" he de-
Leo boldly stepped before the ranch
ero as he replied:
Don Velasquez, you are cruelty |
forcing your child to marry one whom |