The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-23
CHAPTER VIII.
DIED FOR CUBA

With painful anxiety our friends at
Key Francis watched the sun pursue its
diurnal course, and never had the great
luminary seemed to traverse its path
across the heavens so slowly. All day
long sharp lookout was kept from the
branches of lofty mango tree, but no
signs of the dreaded enemy were des-
cried.
The afternoon was waning as the
large sugar lighter had received its val
liable load and at the very moment
when the martyred Cuban fell liteless
to the ground, his blood dyeing the
greensward of his native land, the sail
was hoisted and the craft bore away for
the mainland, taking an easterly direc-
ton
The night that followed was all that
the Cubans could have desired, for it
was very dark and the sky overcast,
but they had good pilot who guided
his boat skillfully and safely to the
place of landing, which was good
thirty miles from where the baffled
Spanish soldiers were fuming with rage.
II would give half my fortune to be
assured of the fate of Jose Calvo," re-
marked Francisco. eyes, and the other
half if it could save him from our ene-
my, but I fear that ere this he has
fallen victim to our cruel and merci-
less foe."
''I will 60 to Caibarien, Francisco"
said Valdcs, 'and perchance I may
learn something Of the noble fellow"
"Do so, my friend" was the reply;
"and here is an address where you will
find my father and, possibly, Isabel.
Ah. see how it is" quickly laughed
the young patriot, as he observed tbs
crimson tinge overspreading the cheeks
of his companion.
"And, Valdes, you are worthy Of her,
and when these stirring times are
passed neither the don or myself Will
throw any obstacle in your path. Now
60, and by all means be cautious.
While you are absent will endeavor
to have these munitions of war trans
ported to our friends in the interior"
1t was with light heart that the
young man mounted a horse and rode
toward the city. He, however, did not
deem it prudent to enter it's precincts
before morning, so he checked his ami
mails pace that he might arrive at the
break of day.
Hazas rode slowly through the mar
row streets and proceeded at once to
the address which Francisco had fur
nished him, where he received hearty
welcome from the gray-haired Cuban
and his lovely daughter who was with
him.
AS the young man was relating the
incidents which had befa,len his party
during the last twenty-tou- hours, loud
cries were heard in the streets, and
looking from the window they saw
dense crowd Of people surrounding a
little band of soldiers who were bearing
upon their shoulders the body of a man.
WHO can it be?" faltered the maiden.
s'Alas! l can too readily foretell"
sadly replied Haas. "Ton1d that blood
stained covering be removed, am as
sured it would disclose the features OF
the bravest patriot Cuba ever knew,
Jose Calvo"'
Yes, it was the remains Of the noble
hero which the soldiers were bearing in
triumph to their general.
As the crowd passed on and disap-
peared tears filed the eyes of the three
watchers, and the venerable don was
heard to hiss between his clenched
teeth:
Ibis death shall be terribly avenged.
It was, indeed. The arms and am
munition which the patriot was the
| means of keeping from the Spaniards
went far to equip the brave army which
swept down from the hills few weeks
later and struck terror and consterna-
ton to the hearts of the Spanish sol
diers.
But as history has shown US, the in
surrection proved futile. The insur-
gents were overwhelmed in numbers
and forced to disband and scatter hither
and thither to save their lives.
Don Manuel Ceballos with his brave
son and beautiful daughter, accom-
panied by Valdes Haas, fled to Jamailla
! and thence to the United States, where
in the land of liberty the Cuban father
placed the hand of his child in that OF
her lover and blessed their union.
The fate of Felipe Coras, the spy,
the recreant Cuban, is ershrouded in
| mystery. but it is safe to say that he
{ did not live to work further harm to his