The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-30
III.

But why, though a month had gone since
that night, had the lieutenant not realized
his threat to returnl 81 will come again, ;" he
had told Dolorita, with eyes OF flame. but he
had not reappeared.
To know why we must follow him as he
fed from the pavilion to cafe in the neigh
borhood much frequently by the military,
where he had gone to drown his vexation at
80 unforeseen a check in a cup of Spanish
wine. Always addicted to "abusing his
liquors. he was soon in a state that made
his tongue run at both ends, and from in-
discreet chatteriug the change to indiscreet
details OF his abortive adventure was short
and speedily made.
"All the same, messieurs," said he, con-
Guiding his story, the next time 1 go, as go
| will, and told her would do, one thing
is certain-she shall be minem
but no, pardon me-" said suddenly a
captain Of the company, sitting till now a
silent listener to the careless gossiDing of
these wine-loosened tongues; pardon me,
l say, outIyou are wrong-you will do
nothing of the kind"
Are you speaking to me, monsieurp'
cried the lieutenant, furiously turning upon
the bold meddler in his affairs. "Are you
really speaking to mes'
YES" responded the other-a captain, as
1t happened. in the same battalion-"to you
and none other. You certainly cannot
COAAL1Ab al oCb 81 Ddoc, ~ WOulu upon
us ALL
The rest of the group, following the cap
tain's lead, loudly applauded these honest
words. Enraged by contradiction, the de-
sertion of his friends and two-thirds drunk
besides, the lieutenant responded still mora
holly. To avoid an unseemly alteration,
the captain rose to depart; the others imi~
tated him, declaring tauntingly as they
went, that q drunken man should be left to
inns fn hf0 hAn
sense Of his disgraceful conduct.
II am drunk, am II They dare to tell
me that 1 am drunk9" the lieutenant
shouted; II am an officer in the kings own
army I'll show them how drunk l amp
And, drawing his sword recklessly, he
flung himself forward. But for a hasty
leap backward the captain, who had I'M
Willingly caused the outbreak, would have
been spitted on the spot A general strug~
gle then began; they closed about him and
sought to disarm him-a difficult task, as
he fought like mailman. Conquered,
however, by numbers, he was dragged away
and shut In the guard house.
An offense like this could not be condoned.
for he had attacked q superior officer. Per-
haps his intoxicated condition would have
softened the sentence passed upon him by
court martial, but for the unfortunate
record that the lieutenant had established
for himself He was condemned to death.
Seized with pity for his youth, a relative
at court interceded for clemency, refused at
first, but finally granted-upon conditions
secretly made known by the king himself
to the culprit's colonel BY the kings de-
cision he had still to submit to the appear
ance of punishment and to be really de-
graded to the ranks, but at the moment
when the platoon of execution was to fire
the word was to be held, pardon would
arrive and the prisoner be sent-not to the
other world-but in a disciplinary company
to Africa.
Meanwhile Dolorlta was slowly coming
back to health and memory, and with them
came a profound depression, a thousand
nervous terrors. He had said he would re-
turn, that ruffian who had invaded the
privacy of her peaceful home; but even il
he dared not attempt it again, how conceal
from or how reveal to her flance the vio-
lence to which she had been subjecteda
Lorito. perched on his stick at the window
could not comprehend his mistress SORROW
full face. and TO cheer her up bit squalled
and screeohed from morning till night.
winding up always his display of accom-
plishments with his shrill give! Marcel =
And Marcel was coming, with all the
speed of steam, to the shore of Spain; the
day of execution for the unfortunate lieu
tenant was coming, too. Nay, had come
for one dull gray morning. when Dolorita
reused by the measured tramp of feet on
the stones of the plaza, rose to look from her
window, the platoon of death was drawn
up before her.
Facing the platoon stood the condemned
! livid but calm, for whatever else he might