The Portland daily press., 1893-06-16

WiuuOW plttlOfIU. OO you nOD ike CtllS
flashing armor, these spirited horses,
these waving banners, these bright suits
Of steel? Oh, yes. guardian, you must
like it. / should think that the echoing
notes Of these trumpets would make
your blood surge through your veins like
a maelstrom"
eyes, indeed. have decided to join
this expedition If De Soto will accept my
poor sword" aH~ ".
"Whati" exclaimed Donna Inez, with
a look of unaasiness, "you go to the wars
again! oh, for the sake of the Blessed
Virgin do not 60" -.,...-~
May, nay, my fair ward, were you
not just admiring the sceneY'
"Aye, but this is not the picture pre-
sented at the close Of hard fought bat
tie, when brave knights lie suffering in
agony or die in despair" Then after a
short pause and an evident struggle in
order to keep from bursting into tears
she added, 'It was there my father
breathed his last"
.True, but this expedition is not SINH
lar to a European campaign. These hi
dalgos go in quest Of adventure, admit,
but they expect to find great wealth and
little if any opposition"
"But is the gold there, guardian Will
it not be like Pence de Icons voyage in
quest Of the fountain Of YOUTH"
II should Ike to find that fountain"
"And what good would it do your"
asked Inez, the color mounting to her
cheeks.
"Ah," replied the knight, with deep
sigh, sit might not avail me aught.
Seriously, though, my fair ward, 1 feel
that honor calls me 10 join the expedi-
ton. The lady Of the brave De Soto
will remain here, and feel confident
that she viii fur eclipse my poor serv-
ices. So I now Kiss your hand, as I
must make tho necessary arrangements
for the management Of my estates dur
ing my absenoA and should I fall, Inez.
remember that everything possess viii
be your dover. Addoe."
"My DOVER" exclaimed Inez, turning
from the window and speaking hurried
" to herself. II shall Be bride of the
church, then, or earth viii hsye no OBJ
ject that can love" When she reached
her chamber, she bolbeA tho door; then,
throwing herself upon her couch, wept
long and bitterly.
For several weeks the city Of Santiaxo
was scene Of jubilee. In the daytime
the cavaliers INDUCED in thak nation
al yet cruel amusement bullaRhting,
Mounted ON the choicest steeds and clad
IN brilliant armor. the raIlaut knights
contested for prizes Of gold or for choice
embroidery presented by the fair ones,
whose bright eyes graced their lists. At
night there were balls and masuuerades
where tho future invaders of Florida
mingled IN the msses Of the dance.
De Soto, while he encouraged their d.
versions, which served to train hisyoung
cavaliers in the use Of arms and horse
manship, was not q participant in the
sports. Anx:ously awaiting the return
Of pilot whom he had sent to discover
safe harbor for Decentralization, he oc-
cupied himself in perfecting every ar
rangement. nor had he a more efficient
ally than Don vasco, whose martial
spirit appeared rekindled with fiery zeal.
Equipping q well armed retinue Of men
from the vicinity Of his estate, he soon
had them the pride of the whole expedi-
ton. The excellence Of their armature
and equipments, the superiority Of breed
and good grooming Of their horses, and
the confidence which they evidently pos
sessed in their veteran leader, showed
that every battle must find them viotori-
o11a or sIa;n
But, to the great sorrow of Don vasco
Donna Inez was never on. the plaza to
witness his troops at their daily guard
mounting, their floating plumes, polish
ed arnor and glossy chargers now ex-
tending into line, then at the sound Of
the trumpet closing into square. Their
pennon was scarf worked blythe fair
lady for her Guardian Init she had re-
tired to convent in pursuance, she
said, of VOW. Nay, she even refused to
see Don Vasco when the expedition was
dxrt <>c coil III