The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-09-26

platform do you not Ike tl-5
flashing armor, these spirited horses, /,
these waving banners, these bright suits /
of steel? Oh, yes. guardian, you must /
like it. / should think that the ecEOinS |
notes of these trumpets would make |
your blood surge through your veins like !
4 maelstrom."
Yes, indeed. have decided 20 join |
this expedition If De Soto viii accept my
poor sword"
'.What!' exclaimed Donna Inez, with
a look of uneasiness, ''you go to the wars
again! Oh, for the sake Of the Blessed
Virgin do not CO."
NAY, nay, my fair ward, were you
not just admiring the scene?'
"Aye, but this is not the picture pre-
sented at the close Of q hard fought bat
tie, when brave knights lie suffering in
agony or die in despair" Then after
short pause and an evident struggle II
order to keep from bursting into tears
she added, 1T was there my father
breathed his last"
True, but this expedition Is not SINH
lar TO n European campaign. These HI
dalgos 90 in quest OF adventure, admit,
but they expect to find great wealth and
little if any opposition"
But is the gold there, guardian? VIII
it not be like Ponce de Icons voyage IL
quest Of the Fountain OF Youth:
Il should like to find that fountain
And what good would il do YOU"
asked Inez, the color mounting TO her
cheeks.
"Ah," replied the knight. with deep
sigh, cit might not avail me aught.
Seriously, though, my fair ward, feel
that honor calls me 90 join the expedi-
fion. The lady OF the brave De Soto
will remain here, and 1 feel confident
that she will far eclipse my poor serv-
ices. So | now kiss your hand, as
must make the necessary arrangements
! for the management of my estates dur
ing my absence, and should I fall, Inez.
remember that everything / possess VIII
be your dover. Adios."
'sMy DOVER" exclaimed IneZ, turning
from the window and speaking hurried
ly to herself. 81 shall be bride of the
church, then, or earth Will have no Cd.
iect that 1 can love" When she reached
her chamber, she bolted the door; then,
throwing herself upon her couch, wept
long and bitterly.
For several weeks the city of Santiago
was Z scene of jubilee. In the daytime
the cavaliers INDUCED III that nation
al yet cruel amusement-bullhgAti
Mounted OH the choicest ateedf~s,,ih. o,'. ~
III brilliant armor, the. 80
| o,,.oe4,a e~--f,---->,r1-Ui gold or Tor chOice
Co,lit.tS11fuery presented by the fair ones,
whose bright eyes graced their lists. At
night there were balls and masquerades.
where the future invaders of Florida
mingled in the mazes of the dance.
De Soto, while he encouraged their di-
versions, which served to train his young
cavaliers in the use of arms and horse
manship, was not a participant III the
sports. Anxiously 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 more efficient
ally than Don Vasco, whose martial
spirit appeared reidndled with fiery zeal.
Equipping 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 bat ID Salst find them victori-
GUS or slain.
But, to the great sorrow of Don Vasco
Donna 1nez was never on the plaza to
witness his troops at their daily guard
mounting, their floating plunes, polish
ed armor and glossy chargers now ex-
tending into line, then at the sound of
the trumpet closing into square. Their
| pennon was n scarf worked by the fair
lady for her guardian, but she had re-
tired to a convent in pursuance, she
said, of a VOW. Nay, she even refused to
see Don Vasco when the expedition was
ready to sail, although she sent through
her confessor most pathetic entreaty.
This conduct, considering that she was
in truth the cause of her guardians re-
turn to military life, was rather sadden-
| ing, but he consoled himself with the
thought that perhaps she was praying
for his safety.
The fact was, Don Vasco had fallen
desperately in love with his ward, al
though he dared not urge his suit, lest
she should think that he had attempted
to take advantage of his position, and
her high spirit should rebel She per-
sisted in refusing to see him, but on the
eve of his departure his page brought in
package, from the Donna Inez. "
Tearing it open, the delighted cavalier
found silken pennon, on which was
deliberately embroidered his armorial
bearings, with the Italian motto, "Che
sara, sara" which may be interpreted,
Whatever will be. will be"
|
Florida! 1t was on the last day of
May, 1889, that De Soto and his chivalric
band landed at what is now called Tam
pa bay and hoisted the Spanish flag as
they took possession of the country in
the name of Charles V. The scene was
one of surprising loneliness. a luxuri-
Gus mass of laurels covered the ground
beyond the narrow sandy beach, while
beyond them lowered the mastlike palm,
the stately live oak and the gorgeous
magnolia. y long distance from the sea
groves Of lemon and orange trees gave to
the landscape the appearance of flow
cry wilderness, here and there divided
by quiet lagoons. Huge vines clarnbered
from tree to tree, and a profusion of wild
flowers bloomed on every hand.
| But the aboriginal inhabitants of this
terrestrial paradise were not disposed to
yield it without a struggle, and at length
| a horde of them with deafeninG wells set