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

BY EDGAR L. wAKEMAN.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.l

pleasant "Adios!'' from the pillared portico
half hidden behind surprising wealth Of
tropical luxurianee, at the end OF an avenue
OF lofty palms. Before turning into the
mountain calle we seated ourselves beside a
restful fountain, whose tremulous descend
ing showers glittered like beads of gold
through the saffrony Cuban air. There lay
the quaint old city of Havana beneath us,
like shining nest within its frowning bat
Elements. Beyond, the sea, white with
plumes of surf at the shore, wondrous
green beyond, and a bed of glowing purple
beneath the northern horizon.
Old and venerable Don Miguel, my friend
and companion, in a ruminative mood,
first broke the silence with "Ah, strange
are the unwritten romances OF life! who
would credit our serene and happy Senor
aud Sonora of Eel Pariso, this lovely
Paradise villa with any life chapter that
had not passed as sweetly as the murmuring
of this gentle fountain?"
And SO it came about that, still sitting
beneath the lofty palms by the songful
fountain in the languorous Cuban air, this
true love tale of Donna Frolia was told.
At the conclusion of the convention of
1889 between the victorious Esparatero, com
mander-in-chief of the forces of Maria
Christina, and Moroto, the defeated Carlist
eommander-in-chiet, which gave distracted
Spain few years of feverish peace, there
were returned to private life great numbers
of the Younger members of the Spanish no
bility who had adhered to the cause of their
queen, as well as many of aristocratic blood
who had cast their fortunes with the de-
feated Carlist leader. The romantic expert
ences of war had illftted the former class
for a resumption of drowsy life at lonesome
mountain palacios the threadbare expert
enees IN students gowns at the University,
or even for the dull intrigues OF waning
court at Madrid. OF the titled Carlist
lieuteDants there was scarcely a score who
were not ruined. Some, following their
chief. fled to France. Others, in sheer de-
spair, iojned the banditti of Aadalusia.
And others, more desperate soldiers OF for
time still, swarmed about the trente-et-
ouarante tables of Monaco, Monte Carlo
and Homburg.
One evening in December of the year
named, the rooms of the great Casino at
Monte Carlo were crowded with the habitues
of the place. Among these was a young
Spaniard, Don Enrique, a brave officer in
the recent mobilized forces of Queen Chris
tins, heir to vast estates in Arragon, whose
father the aged Duke of Teruel, being at
deadly enmity with the Queen, had practi-
cally disowned his son for engaging in her
service. Nor was this the only cause for
silence and estrangement between noble
father and son. The latter had been destined
for the priesthood. The ambition of the old
duke even fondly fed itself in a dream to
sometime see the purple mantle and scarlet
hat of a cardinal take the place of the black
Students cloak, and the black hat which all
too iauntilv sat upon Don Enrique's fair
pd r;rlirb baad Rut the hoI'S nafure Nros
warm, poetic, adventurous. He fed from
The irksome University. Joining band of
strolling musicians, he wandered for several
years through the provinces, much in CGta-
ionia, greatly beloved by the peasantry, and
especially by the Gitani, or Gipsies, who
never forgive an enemy nor forget gener-
Gus friend.
Don Enrique had been that friend to many
of them, and one Francisco, falsely accused
of petty crime, he had saved from the great
est disgrace which can ever befall Gipsy,
imprisonment as be was being dragged
through the streets to the carcel of Ierida.
This Gipsy, Francisco, called for good fel-
lowship "Pancho" among his companions
was a stocky, brawny fellow, with a huge,
shocky head, and a neck nearly as big, on
which, above his open shirt, the cords and
veins lay like ropes halt hidden beneath
black and matted hair. Sleepy and sluggish |
of appearance, he was keen, agile and strong |
as an OK.
Pancho's home was at Barcelona, He fol- |
lowed sea-faring life; was the best of sail |
ors; knew all the secrets of the ocean; and |
as a fisherman possessed wonderful knowl- |
edge and craft.
Shortly after the rescue of Francisco at |
Lerida, came the CarIist's victorious ad- |
vance beyond the Ebro in 1887. Don |
Enrique hastened to Madrid to serve his |
L.
he had been advanced, on merit, to the rank |
of Colonel; but at the conclusion of hostiIi- |
ties had left the army, and, still unrecon-
ciled to the Duke of TerueI, in a wild and |
vagarious mood of adventurous unrest, i
found himself, like hundreds of others, |
abandoning true courage and his few re- |
manning pesetas at the gaming tables of |
Monte Carlo.
Don Enrique was ldeathly pale as he sat |
there, playing with feverish hesitance, now
winning and now losing, until at last, with |
a quick, impetuous motion, he laid coin to
the value of 200 pesetas upon the red. He |
was directly opposite the croupier, upon
whose dark, almost oriental and ordinarily
impassive, faee,the faintest shadow of inter
est might have been visible.
Rouge! perd ct couleur," called the crou-
pier.
t'Jesu-Marial Black, and it is allp'
Don Enrique, half fainting, rose from his
seat. His hands, resting on the tables
edge, were trembling and bloodIess. If
these had not, all unconsciously to himself,
him, he would have fallen upon
the stone floor. The stir of departure seemed
to arose him. With startled look of pite-
Gus apology, and yet courtly gesture of
depreciation, he murmured:
"Ah, yes. Your pardon, gentlemen.
and-Adiosi Que talle otroI''
In an instant he had drawn a pistolete.
In an instant more Its barrel was against his
splendid head. But the same instant the
agile croupier had vaulted the wide table
and struck the weapon from the desperate
mans hand.
"Come with me- said the croupier
gently, but in a tone OF kindly command
They left the Casino; walked silently for
a time in the cooling outer air; and finally
passed beneath quaint old arch through an
open patio or court, in which were a tiny |
fountain and many periume-laden flowers,
to an upper gallery, where the croupier
graciously bade the Don enter his apart
nents. Some simple food and wine were
brought.
Now, Don Enrique" said the croupier,
with gentle .shrug and winning smile. |
I'll never talk to a mans empty stomach. |
Eat drink; then you will become a reason
lble being"
The would-be suicide complied mechan- |
cally enough. But the diplomatic cloupier
vas right. He touched a bell. A Young
woman with dark, restless eyes and sweet, j
put hunted, haunted face, whom he called
brought more wine and a few !
cigars. The place soon took on the glow of