Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-08

Valladolid, could have eout-distanced eltneI
the shots from their rusty trabucos or tnelr
much more dangerous legs. But 1 SIMPLY
raised my hands, walked squarely up TO
them with smile, and said:
'Most Excellent. Senores Of de TorezoS,
you are less poor than I, but still welcome
to all possess.''
They had it all-about 81 in Spanish coin,
for my luggage and credit letters had gone
from Astorga to Valladolid by rail-in
moment. / then claimed the privilege OF
resting little time with them, and eues'
tioning them about their manner of getting
on in the world. One old rheumatic villain,
distorted, misshapen, almost; physically
helpless, was the only genuine banditamong
| them.
All the others, save one, were the most
slmple-hearted souls that live. That one
was brave, fine fellow, going wrong under
a heart-heavy load of indignity and grief.
His vile had been nv unwilling hostess OF
the previous night. She had sent me across
the mountains with a particularly of di-
rection that made my acquaintance with
her husband compulsory. To him ap-
pealed for the reasons why he should leave
an honest PEASANTS life, and, under the in
fuence of the unhanged old wretch of his lit
tie band, start straight in this sort of life for
the guarda's bullet or death at the garrote.
His story was a long one, but, briefly told,
he was becoming an incipient outlaw be-
cause his youngest brother, whom he had
loved better than his own life, who had been
sent to Cuba as a conscript, had been shot
like dog at Moro castle, for attempted de-
sertion after suffering untold indignities.
Shot at Moro?-And in 1886?-And had
1foh hal Gno foIr
face?" Yes, yes, yes, and yes again. Then
there in the mountain way, where I had
been robbed of so mean a sum that was
ashamed of it. I told this man as best l
could fact of my own experience, which
will be pardoned for telling to you readers
in slightly different way:
Gel desertar!" Gel desertarr' were the
low toned CALCULATIONS heard all about me
one April morning, in 1886, in the cabin of
the ferryboat, "Edouard Fesser," as it left
the Regla side for the two-mile trip across
Havana Bay to the city. The cabin was
well filled, and in a moment there came
fussing and fuming through the narrow pas
sage to the forward cabin Spanish Ser
geant and guard having in charge man
OF most pitiful appearance.
THAT IMPRISONED BROTHER.
I Imade room quickly go that two seats
were vacant near me, in which the guard
and his prisoner sat, the latter next to me,
while the sergeant, bearing a paper with q
dangling seal, strobe forward bit, pompous
with the Importance of his mission and
charge. These ferries carry the gayest of
crowds between Havana and the beautiful
suburbs to the east, but the entrance of the
party hushed the laughteraan pleasant sal
lies of men and women instantly. All pres
ent seemed painfully exerting themselves to
ignore the presence of the little group, but
every one from time to time stole secret CLAN
ces at the deserter, and, we'll for humanity,
not hard look fell upon him. Some old
priests near seemed to be moving their lips
as if in prayer for him, and behind many a
fan 1 could see the face of some beautiful
sonora or senorita in tears. / knew we'll
enough what it all meant, having once been
soldier myself, but did not catch the full
import ofthe brutal celebrity of Spanish mil
itary revenge until the guard-on closing q
hippant recital to a passenger next him to
the effect that the man had deserted from
the forces at Moro castle some weeks before,
after tremendous fogging for some slight
infraction of discipline, had got so far as the
Jaruco Mountains, where he baf1ed pursuit
for some time, until finally run down by
od-hounds-remarked airily: "Ah, yes;
he will really not even need break fast again.
The consejo de guerra 6couFt martiafl - A.
ready awaiting his ARRIVAL"
This deserter was but boy. He had a
fair face too, round, almost boyish, even
through the hunted look that had made him
an old man in terror and desperate effort
during those few weeks in the chaparral.
His clothing was in rags, and his bare flesh,
SCARED and bloody, showed through. His
feet were partly bound with rags and bark
and thongs of the ribbon tree. He was
bare-headed, his hair tangled and knotty,
and in one place saber cut was still open
and bleeding. But he sat there with his
hands clinched and his face like a piece of
marble begrimed with mud.
PICTURESQUE YET PATHETIC.
Through the windows of the ferry the
spars, rigging, and flags of thousand ships
upon the peaceful bay cleaned and glowed
as We passed. The sun that lighted the
whole earth with such splender kissed the
mountain and made old Moro castle even
beautiful. The deserter looked at Moro as
with an awful fascination. Then, as if be-
yond it and what he knew was waiting for
him there, the poor fellows eyes seemed
strained to some point far, far away. All,
his frantic soul vaulted the hated walls to
old CASTLE, mayhap to his own peasant
home, to the mother, the sisters, to a peas
ant girls thatched-roof home by the vine.
yards, and brave as he was trying to be, his
whole frame writhed, his breast heaved and
surged, and, though be clenched his hands
tighter and looked old Moro squarely in the
face, his blue eyes filed and filled again
with tears that scalded their way through
the chaparral filth on his face like torrents.
A dozen schemes for rescue shot through my
brain. The sight and thoughts sickened
me. I could scarcely remain in that cabin
for the pity this man reused in me.
Having recently graduated from the ed
itorship of high-grade literary periodical
of middle America" my sole helpful pos
sessions in Cuba at that moment were a
small piece of plug tobaccoo and 81 Bank
of Havana bill. Iquickly had these made
in a compact wad. l got my knee against
his leg. He started and looked me full in
the face. Ny hand was on the low iron
division rail between the seats, and it touched
his. God knows a soldiers human sympa
thy tn soldier in some subtle way swept
from my heart to his in that touch. His
clenched hand relaxed and turned. The
palm was next mine. Our hands clasped,
and there was quick pressure. We were
born thousands of miles apart, had never
met until that instant. would never again
meet unless in eternity, but we knew more
OF each other in that one moment than some
life acquaintances; and somehow believe
will find the face that was then the second
time turned on me somewhere in the undis-
covered country when / am set to travel
there But the ferry boat had bumped
against the Havana wharves.
THEN THE LAST SEPARATION.
Through the clatGer and clamor and
crowds, the deserter was showed and saber-
prodded to the Plaza de la San Carlos; hur-
rinh intn q victoria alnnpside which were tun