The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-10-01

Hid IIaU 1 1QeC HouFO JdIcZ. IL WdS
one night when had been out rather
later than was good for me at one of
the Bodegas, where the sparkling
champagne of Cuba-which is not
champagne at all-was drunk by the
bowlful. 1 had no idea what time it
was, and / asked the first man met
"a young Cuban III picturesque garb
what hour it was. He turned to-
ward the magnificent constellation OF
stars unknown to northern la5itudes
and said politely in very fair English:
1T is my great pleasure to inform
the senior that the southern cross be-
gins to unbend it's many lights. Mid
night is past, senor.'
In that tropical cline it is light all
night when the sky was clear. Icould
discern the features of the. fellow, and
saw that he was OF the Andalusian
type. He wore a red jacket, and a
stri ped shirt, and around his waist a
loose sash of red silk, in true matador
style. His hat was sombrero and
hung jauntily on his head. His full
round throatwa muscular and hand
some as a girls. He was smoking a
big thick cigar. as.......
He walked with me to the home of
my host and told me where l would
find him next day. was interested
in him as product of am interesting
country and called the next day at
the number he gave me. and found it
was a cigarette shop ON the Gale de
Mercadores. r.
There was no man in the shop, but
a very pretty Castilian girl waited on
me, and | at once began to discuss the
merits of her wares in order to pro-
long the interview before I asked for
my new acquaintance, whom l pre-
sumed to be her husband.
But I had scarcely given her an
admirlng look before a party of uni
formed soldiers dashed into the place
and commanded the young lady to go
with them.
"By whose order?" she asked, white
and trembling. .....I j..
by order of Excelenzia the Cover
nor-General Of Cuba" '' y
They read a paper in which the or
der was given i'm official language and
the young girl said calmly: II will go
with you to the palace, since Excelen-
Zia commands it,
Then she went to the door of rear
apartment and calledloudly: Pedro!
PedroW
At your feet, sonora, ''called a gay
voice, and Pedro, dressed now as a
workman, appeared from the back
shop and looked greatly surprised at
the sight of the soldiers.
The two whispered together and
Pedro accompanied her to q carriage
which stood IN waiting, the soldiers
mounted guard, and it rolled away in
the direction of the palace.
Pedro began to take off his work
mans blouse, which he replaced with
his nobby jacket n
"Senor," he asked, will you stay
here while I run to the palace to see
that all is right? Miralada is my be
trothed. We are to 90 to the priest
next month Her mother has gone to
the chapel. She will come in soon.
Bueno Dios, protect us all"
He was gone and wondered what
I would do If any customer dropped
in, but he was back raving like a mad
man, before one came.
@.She is not there! Santa Maria! It
is the count-the count has carried
her off,"
1t was true. The prettiest girl in
Havana, and one whom everybody
loved and respected, had been carried
Off by q titled reprobate who had
tried in vain to corrupt her innocent
heart, and now sent his creatures dis
guised as soldiers Of the Cuban army
to abduct her.
That very night servant told me
that a priest wished to see me on bus
mess OF Importance. went into the
room where he was waiting and saw a
dignified father of the church a strang-
er to ME.
II have seen her." he said. and
then | knew it was Pedro; stshe is in
the castle Of Count Almonte, but he
has treated her like q queen. Hjhehad