Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-10-17

|
time. and vaulted the fence in the face
of his savage foe. He just made his
escape and no more. He congratulated
himself, as he hastily entered their
part of the hacienda, that the Mexican
! dress he wore had no supertiuous coat
tails to have suffered an inglor1ous
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. believ-
ing in your nobleness OF soul lmpiores you
| to save her from cruel fate.
NV father. the ranohero, who reluctantly
permits you to pass the night under his
roof. is forcing me this night to wed an
| officer of Maximilian's army whom nate
most vehemently; but he holds some great
power over my father. and l am to be the
The one truly love is Ell Captain Ezual-
do, one OF the brayest in our chief lJuarez 81
army, and am very desirous OF hying to
his protection.
The ceremony is to be held at 10 o'clock
tonight. when that detested man, Col.
Henrique Fernandez. will be here to claim
unwilling neufJ anu manu-. lle uuGe not
venture within the lines OF Juarez, except
under the cover of deep night.
The little chapel, which Is opposite the
wing you now occupy ls where the mar
riage rites will be performed.
In writing this, good, brave Senors
Americanos, | appeal to you TO save me
from this living death, and in doing so you
will ever receive the sincere prayers of
poor. unhappy lula NELAsQUEZ.
p. s.-My trusty maid. Zela. will have
4 ;,,+ ~ hnu nd tla,
den, and We beg to fly under your protec-
ton to that of my noble Ezualdo. T.N.
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 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 a long time. We may
as we'll get ourselves ready, suppose,
and consult each other in the matter"
So saying, he aroused his sleeping
comrades and told them of Tula
Yelasquez'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 rarty 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 uninvitet
guests.
The ranchero, who was leading tn,
lovely but unwilling lula, halted
near the door of the chapel and looked
back. Perhaps he had detected th,
tread of the Americans, although the,
had arrived almost noiselessly. A
the same time tall, middle-aged Mex
lean officer. Henrique Fernandez, tn
would-be bridegroom, who was It'll
in advance of the bride and her father
and who was attended by two younge
officers, all dressed in very gorgeou
uniforms, became aware of the attend
ance of the American soldiers. TIL,
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 th,
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.
at is the Senors Americanos," re
piled the savage voice of Velasquez.
"Why are you here, senors?" he de-
manded.
Leo boldly stepped before the ranch
ero as he replied:
"Don Velasquez, you ale cruelty
forcing your child to marry one whom