The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-19


He spoke rapidly for moment,
when the faces of the Spaniards re-
Taxed, and one of them smiled broad
ly. Both joined in the words: Isl,
senor,'' lifted their hats with Castilian
politeness, and again fixed their eyes
upon the platform.
II know little Of that gibberish
myself;o said the sailor to his compan-
ion. II heard you say 'old man, and
foolish fellow Now, my lad, who
told you to apologize to those stuck-up
dons for me? I'll bet you another sill
yer dollar that can whip both of them
together
ri shouldn't wonder, uncle; but l
was afraid, from the way you have
been going on here, that you would
never get beck to the ship safely unless
you could whip the whole OF Captain
General Concha's army, too--which l
hardly think you'd like to undertake
For my part. 1 don't want to spend
even one night in Moro Castle: and I'm
pretty certain that after do get back
to the ship, I'll not appear in Havana
again with you.
"You won't be urged to, the sailor
retorted.
YOU'D said quite enough to put you
where the American Government would
have trouble to find you," continued
Louis. II believe that if I hadn't
stepped in and smoothed out affairs
with those dons, we should each of us
be in charge of file of soldiers now"
The sailor had an angry rejoinder
on his lips, when his attention. as we'll
as that of his companion, was directed
again to the platform. The occurrences
which this chapter has described were
of but few minutes duration, and
while they had been Transporting, Gen
eral Lopez had made his frrlitless APP
peal to be allowed to speak to the peo-
pie, and had taken his seat in the
garrote-chair. When the sailors eyes
were again turned toward him, one of
the guards was clasping the fatal col
lar about his neck.
"Do you see,' whispered the sailor
(for what had just occurred had really
made him cautious), 'that he s looking
this way?''
''He couldn't well look anywhere but
straight to the front, with that iron
collar on"
mo, no-don't you see that his eyes
are looking straight toward us? He
don't appear to see the crowd at all;
he sees somebody that he knows"
81 believe have not the honor of the
illustrious Liberator's acquaintance.
Have you?"
eff you were not called my nephew,
Louis Hunter, I'd knock you down for
that ecmark. Mo- don't know that
ever ssw General Lopez before; but
should consider it an honor to have
such man look at me. Just look at
him how'll be swallowed by sea-
serpents if he amt smiling! o, the
brave man!-may Heaven receive him.
wish dared to take off my hat to
him. l really believe he's looking
right at me-"
The bluff and impulsive sailors mis-
take was perfectly natural. In that
awful moment, upon the verge of
death, with his tleeting thoughts turned
upon fair Cuba for which he was to
die, the eyes of General Lopez, as they
surveyed the vast concourse, were az
rested by a familiar and friendly face.
His own expressive. face lighted up at
the sight; something like smile Wis
tied it; one last affectionate look he
gave to him he had recognized, before
the black curtain of death descended be-
tween him and that glorious Septem-
Der day.
The man who had arrested his atten-
ton was not the sailor. 1t was the
man in the som brero and white duck
suit, who stood just in front of the
sailor.