The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-26

some strange influence, plunged into a
most dissolute life. The don and donna
were madly in love with each other. The
marriage DAY had been repeatedly set.
But each time al its near approach some
hldeous cOntretemps occurred. This had
at last become a scandal IN Havana
society.
Thereupon the chivalrous Virginian
took the field in the dOnna's behalf He
at once discovered the secret destructive
influence. 1t was the mysterious power
o. Count Basil de Orense. The Virgin
ian had sought his acq ualntance, charged
him with his perfdy. flung 1T him re-
peated insults and challenges. only to see
Don Enrique become more and more help
less and complicated in the calmly re-
morSeless adVentUrers clutches
All this time Count Basil was playing
insidious and persistent court to the
donna herself. Though she surmised his
wretched power, and loathed him, her
tutor, fully in her confidence, cOunseled
her to permit these addresses, through
nope or discovering some means to reScu-
ing the man she loved. But no good
came of it. EmbOldened by his success,
the patient and devlish plans OF Count
Basil were rapidly maturing.
Half way between Havana and Guines,
on the great calzada that trails between,
stood the famous granddaughter of FL
Dique, then conducted in royal fashion
Here Don Enrique was entrapped, piled
with wine, tempted by the most brilliant
lascivias of Spain, and enchanted by the
human hends around him.
Rumors of plays and losses in fabulous
sums over the tables of FL Dique, flew
from lip to lip in the city. But meantime
the count was frequently back in Havana,
the social hero of the hour, his agents
prompting the spreading of tales of Don
Enrique's ruin, and himself pressing his
attentions upon poor Felisa with increas-
ing tervor. The Virginian had become
convinced that the counts determine
tion was to drive his victim to ruin and
from ruin TO suicide
But the love of a noble woman is sub
tier and mightier than all the forces of
darkness.
The brave and heroic Felisa brought to
the Virginian her devoted old Tomasa
and parcel of gipsies from the canons
of Lluyano.
Il will go disguised as one of these,
with them. Santa Maria! He shall re-
turn with mel" the desperate maiden
vowed.
And so this was the adventure. The
Virginian was determined TO share the
fortunes OF the band; and as an Ameri-
can statesman's heart was so soft ana
tender that he, too, could not be pre-
vented from joining in the guise of a
dumb gipsie fiddler, the novel and dan
gerOus mission appointed for that very
night.
Remember the rendezvous - the
cabano of Tomasa. in the Baluarte
quarter" said the Virginian rising; and
the hour of 8; for we shall have two
hours in the saddle upon the Guines cal
zada."
Never fear" responded the states
CnDnilyr tsNpg will / forCrar bA r,ac C
for our gypsy band which Gen. Ia
con sent me, with his compliments at sun
set"
Good! But even without that, no
harm could come to US. / promise you as
leader this night the most dreaded and
powerful man in all Cuba"
And with this the Virginian walked
cheerily away.
V
At the same moment this singular meet
ing was IN progress a the Hotel Almy,
Gov. Gen. Tacon sat alone in the state
department of the palace, over against
the Plaza de Armds, pouring over new
plans to rid the islands from the increas-
ing depredatiOnS of the contra bandists
and pirates, under the leadership of the
all-powerful outlaw Pancho Marti. when
he suddenly discovered a man of COM
handing presence standing silently be-
fore him.
Tacon sprang to his feet in fear, but
cleaning weapon at his head prevented
an outcry.
Resume your seat" quietly remarked
the stranger. If you raise an alarm
will kill you I"
I'm the name of the Virgin, who are
you that can pass my guards unan-
nounced2" gasped Tacon.
mo matter. ! am here with informa-
ton you wish. You have offered a re-
ward of $50, 900 in gold for the capture of
Maru, the contra bandist, and have pro-
claimed guaranty OF pardon and pro
lection to any one of his band who will
betray him.
''Yesn' faltered the terrified Cuban
ruler
That was months ago. No man lives
who dare attempt to earn that reward
Maru has many ships and desperate men.
AlHyour revenue cutters and men-of war
have not suppressed him. He rules the
Caribbean. His chests hold more gold
than your treasury Your admins ira
ton is disgraced. Are the reward and
guaranty of protection meant by you in
good faith"
Certainly Are YOU one of Marti,s
band2"
Have patience, your excellency. Sup
posing | were Marti himself" Tacon
paled viSibly at this. Would this re-
ward and guaranty apply to me3'
The governor general was overcome and
perpleXed. As the intruder had intima-
ted, all Spain was reviling him for his in
ability to cope with a single pirate king
Otherwise, his administration had been
brilliant and successful. Even great and
powerful men sometimes grasp at mean
eXpedients.
"Nes-yes were you Marti himself, the
reward and pardon should be yoursn
Under the queens Seal?''
Yes, under the queens seal" TacOn
looked at his herculean guest for mo-
ment and timidly presumed: "Wil YOU now
reveal your secret2"
"Paciencial! Not yet. We will speak
of another matter" The governor-gen-
eral writhed under the enforced diplo-
macy. Surprising, barely supposing, l
were the infamous outlaw himself would
not peace with still greater concessions
prove triumph to the Tacon govern
ment2-providlng those concessions could
harm no one. and would prove of public
benehtG'
Come straight to the bargain you
would make" almost pleaded the COVER
nor-general
1t is, ~ said the stranger coolly, lad
ditional guaranty of the sole control of
the fishing privileges of Havana while l
liVe!"
Tacon paced the apartment for a time
4