New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-21


tyannized over the cowed submission of the o,ner
Like q man in dream Felipe walked t0wafu 'he
house, moving mechanically but moving 10 an
unseen end 90
The night was already far fallen when Teresa
rode down through the monte. accompanied ny
a pcOn leading another horse. II had been no easy
matter 10 leave the estancu without exciting sus-
picion and she had been compelled 10 TAKE mo
her confidence not only the man who was nov
following her, but also her cousin Elena, VINO was
10 account for her absence that night ana paciiy
Dona ApOlinarla the next morning. once su'ru"
leresas spirits rose with the occasion. 'lily
few hundred yards separated her from hef i9Ner
ii few hundred yards more anu they Mouu V.
together, never TO part again. The mu1leu oe't
Of their horses hOOts in the deep white dusl oi
the track spelt out Subdued song OF loylu
thanksgiving and triumph; the myriad sW"IinS
of tire. flies that flashed and went out ana hdSneu
again across her path lighted her on her way 10
her love and happiness, while the dark. warm arr
of the summer night hung like n soft veil arOuhd
her, csreSsng and hiding her burning cheeks
And now il was the leOn who rode in front, ana
there were two who rode behind him. side by
side out from under The shelter of the woods lhio
the open plain, where the Sar-lit splendor OF the
sky showed them each others faces only TOO
clearly. In silence they rode, only row ana theh
exchanging soft Whisper. or stopping sun 10
listen with bated breath 10 some FAINT, distant
sound which might uggeSt the tramp OF mounted
horses or the clash of Announcements Inc patroi>
that watched the road to the river were not Hkcly
to wander so far from it,, and the boat WAS 10
meet them at point some miles distant from the
usual landing-place. Nevertheless. TO their I'M
easy senses every movement seemed iiaught WIN
danger. Sometimes strHycd cow or solitary
horse would start into motion, disturbed by ther
approach and disappear Mostly into the darl>heSS
An such moments Teresa grew sick Win the
violent beating of her heart. The shoft linie
required for cutting the wires and passing through
the fences that crossed their path seemed 10 htr
whole hours of suspense. Still they ira ,elled on
safely, and already there was but one snort hilie
between them ana the river. suddenly Their Salde
refined up his horse.
There are some men riding there before MS on
the left Without another word he turned ms
horse sharp to the right followed closely by ms
Presently their horses broke into quicker
gallOp, and still silently their riders urged them
on.
All, God, we are followed cried Teresa.
Another long silence. The suddenness OF the
catastrophe seemed to have deprived them OF any
other idea save that of urgent speed
There is gate in tins direction, SAID the
peon presently. II only 1t is unlocked we may
escape them yet. II moi.
Courage, Teresita We shall soon leave them
behind. Steady your horse that is right Ih0u
art brave giFl!7 and LUZ turned in his saddle
to look back at the pursueIs
Again they rode on in silence. Only breath
less sob broke from Teresa, of fear and painting
disnay. Suddenly a shot echoed behind them.
Quick! quic<!" She cried. Ride 0n-iaster,
faster"
The ground was broken and full of holes. More
than once their horses stumbled and barely re-
covered themselves; it absolutely necessary
TO slacken speed and 90 more carefully. APP
parently the pursuit must have dropped consld-
erably behind them, for, looking back, they could
longer catch the sound of the horses gallOp, or
see the dim outline of their riders against the
sky LuiZ checked his horse and listened.
They have stopped he said.
Oh, do not let US stop cried Teresa. Rde
on, Luizl ride on"
Shouts were heard-but far behind them. The
shouting ceased The flash of gun tore the
baclnesS of the night like lightning followed by
a distant report, and then all was still again The
three fugltves joined together and rode on INTO
the darkness.
Teresa was not the only person absent from the
evening meal AT the estancla. FehpeS place was
also vacant. Elena, who accounted for her cousin
with the harmless fiction of bad headache.
was at pains to account for the priest, whose
absence. moreover. did not concern anybody very
much Had She known where he WAS al that
moment and how employed, she would have found
it even more difficult than she did
Felipe '' was also seated at table. but
at a table in the hut occupied by Captain Crespo.
the officer in command OF the detachment OF
troops that had been despatched in pursuit OF
reVOlutiOna fugitlVes, whose presence on Don
GeroDimo's estanca had caused the owner no
little uneasness Captain Crespo had been writ
ing lie rolled cigarette, cast careless glance
at the white face and burning eyes that confronted
him from The other side of the table. and leisureB
proceeded to read what he had written.
That is al? he SAID, when he had hnlshed
You can give no further Information Senior
You are not aware then that the companions
of Captain Valdez, from whom he separated two
days ago, have already succeeded IN eludng
my men and crossing the river?
81 know nothing of his companions. | saw
no one but this VALDEZ
"Ah. Well, it almost seems pity. does it
NOT Had he only remained with them he would
be safe now As it is, have strict orders, and
shall be under the painful necessity Of shooting
him within an hour of his capture. Let us see,
it is now 9 o'clock; the boat you say is 70
meet him at the PlSO del muert0 AT >. We shall
have plenty of time then TO intercept him. No
chance of missing him this time. What do you
think. Senior PadreT
feet and examined with curious scrutiny the
priests face He lit his cigarette, and leaning
against the wall continued, with slightly lrOnlcal
tCnc---
capture of this Captain Valdez is of vast import;
r 16s he ss'Fy WAS sheltered by Don Gefo
nimo Usabarrena. Ills death, too VIII DE a
congratulate you, Senior, on having performed
SO truly patriotic and painful duty. The Senior
Padre IL good cltleh.
Il am not of Uruguay. | am an Argentine
retained Felipe in low voice
All The officer turned round and spat upon
the floor Apparently there was noin-
ing, Intentional in the action never,
Fclipes Sallow cheeks, only to fade away again.
leaving them more ghastly than before. The
officer said more, but busted himself with
various preparations Tor Il START lheh turning
to his guest, he said in brief tone Of command;
AS YOU will have 10 accompany me, Senior, yon
had better understand what my Intentions are.
have been obliged to dispatch my men OF another
service and there is no time TO recall them As,
however there is no need of any force, shall
only take one man with me besides yourself
YES Senor | must insist upon your accompanying
me- he continued. Felipe made Il gesture of
dissent land | must warn you that II nave
the slightest reason to think that you play me
false-you understand me | make no threats. And
now let us be on
SO it had happened that even before Teresa ana
her two COMPANIONS had left the estancia another
marty of three had already travelled by the road
straight To the river. and We're waiting their
arrival Captain Crespos first idea Oi >elIing
the boat frustrated by his inablnty to ma IL.
Vone of them knew the exact spot where the path
Eay that led to the Paso the river fringed by
narrow belt of dense wood, and they soon gave
up the hopeless task Of forcing their way through
"p horseback and following the bank until they
f1.unL Ihe nnlN 10 remAln OmiSde