Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-03-29
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE

Some years ago, important business
summoned me TO Spain, and forced me
to live nearly a year in Andalusia.
At that time l was hardly twenty
three years old. Instead of combining
myself to Cadiz, the streets Of which
are narrow and dirty, went to Puerto
Real, a pretty town with white houses
pierced by an infinite number of win
dows, behind the blinds of which, at
every hour of the day, you see black
eyes sparkling and red lips smiling.
So my time passed in the most pleas
ant manner in the world. Neglecting
my business more than | should have
done, / made many pleasant acquaint-
ances, and only sought to amuse my
self.
Still, three or four times a week, l
plucked up my courage, tore myself
away from delicious retreat, and,
mounted on n magnificent %jennct, gal
loped the three leagues between Puerto
Real and Cadiz, and looked into my
business, much more to discover how
much longer | could enjoy the delicious
life / had organized, than for the Sc
rious interests which had been intrust-
ed to me.
At this time much was said about a
certain highwayman, Jose Maria, who
had for a long time secured the high
ways of Spain, and who, having made
peace with the government, had retired
to Cadiz, his native place, there TO en-
Joy quietly and honorably the fruits of
his career of robbery.
The ex-bandit had awakened in me a
keen curiosity and a great desire to
meet him.
One morning / received a letter from
one of my companions, named Don
Torribio Quesada, announcing that the
famous Jose Maria was to dine with
him that evening at Cadiz, and urging
me not to lose the opportunity of see
ing and conversing with the old BAN
dit.
Bounding with Joy at this unexpected
news, / had my horse saddled Mt once,
and rode toward Cadiz at full speed,
Two hours later l was comfortably in
stalled in Don Torribio's drawing
room.
Jose Maria was punctual. He was
the sort OF man | expected 10 see. lie
was such as my imagination had repre-
sented him, and the few hours l spent
in his company were very enjoyable,
and seemed to pass with the speed of q
dream, so strongly was i impressed OH
hearing him relate, with his grave and
voice, and with the expansion
and frankness of a superior man. the
stirring incidents his adventurous
life.
Finally we had to separate. Jose
Maria left US. after a parting glass Of
wine, and after having shaken hands
with US in a friendly way.
When l found myself alone with Don
Torribio, he invited me to pass the
night with him, for il was getting dark,
and | was three leagues from Puerto
Real. But l persisted in setting out.
Wrapping myself in u cloak, i set spurs
to my horses sides, and gallopcd oil.
The night was dark, and the atnos-
phere was hot and heavy. Big drops
OF rain were beginning TO fall, and at
intervals deep growls of thunder were
heard in the distance. preceded by
flashes of lightning, the vivid splendor
OF which blinded my horse and made
him real with terror.
advanced fearfully along the soli-
tary road, my head full of the gloomy
stories which Jose Maria had been tell
ing all the evening without stopping,
and my eyes wandering about me
anxiously, seeking to pierce the OBJ
security and fortify me against the
snares that might be set for me by the
CdbaHeros de Ia Noche Cavaliers of the
Night, who at that period swarmed
on all the highways of Andalusia.
l was armed. and, Notwithstanding
my apprehensions, / had too often rid
den from Cadiz to Puerto-Real not to
know what to think about b subject
of my fear; but this night, with my
head stuffed with a number of lamenta-
BILE stories. l was prey to unaccustomed
terror. OF what was / afraidg 1 know
motor, rather. to tell the truth, | was
afraid Of everything.
Meanwhile the weather had become
detestable. The sky had changed to
an immense sheet of fire; incessant
flashes of lightning spread a livid fan
tastic light. the rain was falling in tor
rents; and finally the tempest. which
had been threatening long time, burst
forth in fury.
Nv horse SHE'D and stumbled at every
step in the midst of this %convulsion OF
nature. and / was obliged to watch
him with the greatest care to avoid be-
ing dropped in the mud.
was literally drenched by the rain.
and / cursed my obstinacy in refusing
Don Torribio's obliging offer, and
choosing thus to pillow along blind
roads in the middle of the night.
came near breaking my neck twen-
ty times, and l was nearly at my wits
end, when / remembered an old build
ing that could not be far of, and which
might afford temporary shelter from
the tempest.
/ laid my course as well as l could
In the pitchy darkness, and succeeded.
at the end OF a few moments. In reach
ing the hospitable roof. 1t was an old
tower, the relic Of some feudal manor
which time had undermined and wreck
ed; 1t was abandoned. almost falling
to Heces, and served as a retreat for
night-birds. The country people called
it THE Night-Owls' Tower" a name
that fitted it in every way.
dismounted. aud passing the bride
over my arm. entered. followed by my
horse.
Strange stories werc told about this
place, which / know not by what
fatality, came back to my morbid
imagination with a vividncss and force
which sent q shuddrr through my
limbs, and it was only with . certain
anxiety that ] looked around on o place
which must serve me for shelter fol
some hours at least.
As I said. ! found myself in a vast
hall. occupying the entire breadth Of
the tower. 1t was pierced by narrow
windows, long since deprived OF their
shutters, through which the rain. driven
by the wind, was whirled into the In
terror. At the end n dilapidated stair
case assembled spirally to the upper
stories; In one orner q heap OF rub
bish Of ell kinds - 10 tho archec
ceiling, and did not seem to have beer
disturbed for q century at least. But
what really terrified mo was TO see I
heap OF brush and dead wood blazing
IN the middle OF the hall.
Where were the occupants OF Thu
stranna placop Not wishing 10 blum