Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-09

times more than the greatest will do, Senor.
But 1 am only another one ruined by the
fortunes of war. That is all. Since you,
Don Enrique, unhorsed me at the head OF
my own command at Ebro, and rode over
my wounded body, and since my leader,
Don Carlos,is a,fugitive in France, LIE crou-
pier de Monte Carlo is title which, at
least, gives me my bread. The other, and
here he turned his face away for a moment,
cannot do even so much as that!'
And that title was?-"
Count Basil de Orense, at your servieel
Don Enrique flew to the man and clasped
him in his arms. A thousand recollectlons
of brave tales of the house Of Orense, told
him at his own fathers knee, flooded upon
him. The sense OF his great obligation to
one so reduced; indeed every high, chlvalrous
thought which would prompt trust, admlra-
tion and gratitude. swept over him; and 1T
was no mean thing that he wept.
Count, we are brothers forevermoreF
cried Don Enrique.
"With all NV heart-amenH responded
Count Basil with great solemnity; but with
a sudden start, for something like sigh
came from behind the swaying cortina, fol-
lowed by the rustic as of woman's gown.
Count Basil with sudden excuses stepped
hastily to the gallery. Had not his guests
overwhelming bewilderment at his own
changing fortunes rendered him oblivious,
he would have heard the sound of a sharp
scuffie and blow, and a low voice full of
deadly menace Missing at some detected lis
tening culprit:
"Begone, you Gipsy witehl or I'll grill
your itching ears and babbling tongue for
breakfast. Cursed was l when took you
from the roads of CataIonia!'
As the man who spoke these words re-en-
tered, his face was all blandness and COM
passion.
"Don Enrique" he resumed with serious
ness, there is good fortune for You, but
nevermore for me, beneath this very roof
But yesterday, courier with escort arrived
at Monte Carlo. Being related to the serv-
ing-woman of this place, they lodge below.
The idle garrulousness of these folk made it
easy, and, as events have proven, wise, for
me TO know that this very courier was in
search of vavward son of noble house.
That son was rushing headlong to total ruin
at the Casino. 1 determined to save him if
in nv power, and make what 1 easily found
by this wine-drinking courier to be a new
lease of life's possibilities, serviceable to
him. saw by his play tonight that he
was near his reckoning. He played his last
peseta and-lost. Do you understand me?"
maria Purissima! Do you mean?-"
"That your father has let tiny stream of
his rivers of gold flow your way; but tiny
stream, Don Enrique. Yet that and what
it may furnish, are better than the flash of
the pistolette and the last sleep"
Don Enrique still sat in stupefed silence
at the turn affairs were taking. The girl,
Griselda, entered in response to the bell of
Count Basil, who, Indifferent to her flashing
ewes and crimsoned forehead, which dis
closed that a recent brutal blow had been
coarsely ordered her to bring the
courier and escort from below to the apart
ment, IL not too drowsy from the fumes of
wine to make their appearance. They
came, and ranged themselves against a wall
stupidity. Don Enrique with difficulty re-
pressed his emotion on seeing before him
his fathers old servitors. But he answered
their low bows OF recognition with selt-pos-
session and reserve.
Notwithstanding your drunken riotous-
ness about the place, began the Count with
a frown;-''your swilling of wine and your
brawls with the cocheros;" and each guilty
courier bowed humbly as his individual
sins were recited; ''you will see 1 have
brought you to your young master, as I
pledged. Dispatch your business and be-
gone; or will have each of you shot from
the Casino plaza at sunrise "
With much ado and trembling, begot of
great mission and greater dereliction, the
simple souls from Arragon delivered a
sealed package into Don Enrique's hands;
received with great thankfulness his receipt
for the same; and with many bows and sup
plications for "Peace upon this house!' jan
gled and clattered down into the court, with
q hearty "Diablo lie companel' from the
Count, who stepped out upon the moonlit
gallery to make sure of their departure.
he found his guest in possession
Of cheques for 80, 600 pesetas; a command
that he should continue TO remain away
from Spain; and brief postscript expressing
the hope that the writer, his father, might
never be permitted to look upon his face
again. The letter. which contained no
superfuous words was signed, "Geofredo,
Duke of Teruel."
Perhaps three months had passed without
special incident to the sworn friends. The
young noblemen, with ample means, YIELD |
ing to Don Enrique's spirit of unrest, were
now the honored guests of the aristocracy of |!
Havana. For Don Enrique there had been |
but joy in leaving hated Spain, and in the |
new life and beauty of the Cuban metropo- |
lis. If there were clouds behind the placid |
features of Count Basil no one could know
t. Two trifes to such as he, might have |
d
olack-eyed serving-woman, or querida. or
called Griselda, of Monte Carlo,
1ad been found dead at the house of an ab-
ent croupier with stiletto in her breast;
yhereupon some Catalonian Gipsies had
tolen the body awav, and buried it over the
,order in Spain after their own barbaric
ashton. Again, as the vessel upon which
he young noblemen embarked sailed from
he harbor of Barcelona, shaggy fisherman,
Thom the sailors knew as "Pancho," was
ound secreted on board. In his possession
Tas noticed blood-stained stiletto, whose
make and ornamentation showed it to have
cen the possession of a different man than
e; for such as Pancho are never fastidious
bout knife. He was put in chains. Then
storm arose. He was liberated, for his
liant strength was serviceable. But his
reedom was of short duration. Count
BASIL, restlessly walking the deck late one
loorlit night, had seen his face and eyes
ull OF Gipsy vengeance, as the stowaway
ad crept stealthily toward his cabin. A
ord to Ell Capitano from Count was
nough. The rest of the way to Cuba Pancho
1T in the hold, with mighty iron links riv-
ted to huge grillos upon his legs. But
ancho, in the hold, forgot nothing. Nor
ould the Count forget some things. But
he difference in the temporary relations of
lese two men to society, at debarkation in
[avana sent the man from the hold for a
rief period to the chain gang of Cubana,
nd the other, with Don Enrique, his gem !
rous banker and loyal friend, to the spIen- {
id homes of the Spanish nobility in Cuba. !
The Island of Cuba is the odor-laden gar I
en- of the American continent. Havana is
lie concentrated Spain of Cuba. You are :
ithin the influence and charm of 100000 I
'uls given up wholly to delicious dalliance, !
elodious words and sounds, to the half +
mes of coduettish pleasure, to the elo- !