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

man, II Wish 70 tram aim 10 tue p'1S0i
Of arm -.
augrily inquired the cavalier.
Little now, l admit. But he knows |
how TO dress n wound and take care OF Q |
sick comrade, and he is as true as steel
We'll, well, replied Don Vasco, who !
was pleased with the youths appearance.
you are a worthy fellow, Pedro, and J
will take the boy as my page"
The delighted youth uttered an e1
clamation Of JOY, and that day he occu
pied a tent used for baggage and neal
that of his master. Il was noticed py
some that Pedro accompanied his son &c
his new. quarters and relieved him from
all mental duties, but indulgent parents
are too common TO excite much atten-
ton. Never was such page seen az
Jose, and soon, for want Of better con-
fdant, Don Vasco told him Of his love,
almost hopeless as it was, for his ward
Meanwhile De Soto found himself OPP
posed by cacique, who remained I'M
placably hostile, and he was about &c
send a captain with troop to conquer
! him when the honor was claimed by
! Don Yasco. Mastering his band, he Sc
! Iected a picked detachment, and at the
| earnest entreaty Of his page the youth
/ was of the party. They left IN great
! pomp. with trumpets sounding and the
/ cherished banner waving in the breeze.
/ while Don Vasco vauntingly declared
| that he would bring Hirlhiqua back
either as 4 friend or as a captive. 'Che
sara, sara?"
As the Spaniards advanced messenger
after messenger came from Hlr1h1qua,
warning him not to proceed, but the hot
headed Don Vasco judged that this was
| evidence of the cowardice of his foe.
Squirting on he at last came to tangled
hammock, in which was dismal look
ing morass shaded by expresses. This
his men knew it would be impossible to
cross, laden as they were with heavy ar
NOR, but Don Vasco was not so easily
daunted. Putting spurs TO his morse ne
entered the morass, but his steed soon
fioundered and fell. 1t was impossible
for him to extricate himself, and he was
in danger of sinking into the quagmlre.
But his page managed to go to the res
cue by throwing pieces of bark before
him that supported his light weight and
thus enabled him to carry q rope to Don
Vasco. Pulled out, all besmeared with
mud. the crestfallen cavalier felt that
the martial fire so suddenly-rekndled
was as suddenly S1tinct, and he ordered
: a retreat -t.-the camp, humbled by the
noteIc Hirihiqua, who had encountered
- MIN with friendly warnings and had i'm.
prisoned him in a mudhole to be rescued
by page.
Just as the troop was preparing tC
retire, vicious horse reared, and strill.
ing out with his fore feet kicked the
page with such force that he fell from
the saddle. Then it was that Pedro dis
closed his secret, and Don Vasco dis
covered that the page was his devoted
ward, Donna IneZ. Clasping her to his
bosom, he vowed that henceforth nc
earthly power should separate them.
"Not even Hirihiqua? ?" inquired the
senorita, with a smile despite her suffer
ing.
Hang Hirihiqua and all the other
quas! If you will be mine, I will leave
all this soldering to younger hands, and
we will return to Cuba. What say you,
my ward?'
''Must 1 not follow my guardians adj
vice? Nay, if had not loved you as a
civilian, what would have made me fol
low you here when you put on your ar
mor?' A kiss sealed the contract.
The next day as De Soto sat before his
tent chatting with his confessor, caval-
cade approached. 1t was Don Vasco,
with soiled attire, walking by the side
of litter, upon which lay his page,
while his troop followed in picturesque
disorder.
81 have boon to ask, said the knight.
LET my lieutenant, Gomez, take COM
mand of my troops and retain all my
munitions of war, but only ask the
blessing of this holy father upon my fair
ward here in masquerade and leave to
go home"
''You shall have all you ask" replied
De Soto, although regret to lose you.
But as love made you enlist love shall
procure your discharge"
Theirs was a long and happy life, and
among the ornaments of their palatial
residence, yet standing i'll Havana, is q
painting procured by q Spaniard, who,
more fortunate than Don Vasco, was
not enticed into swamp.-Ben: Perley
Poore.