The record-union., 1894-06-16

I'm the name of the Virgin, on what
condition? | will serve you with my
last living breath for the ransom OF La
Delicia and my peoplep'
"Buena! That is enough. MlguePs S
shall not be menial service. Cangalito
and his queen will require a counselor;
one versed in the language OF other ma
tions; one who can know what the world
is saying of the Black Kingdom OF the
Antilles; one who can meet the cunning
of the whites with the cunning Of their
own tongues; one VINO can at all times
tell Cangalito where are his enemies and
| his friends. Will you be that one tor
what 1 can give to you and yours,
| Miguel? You shall stand next the throne.
so long as you are true"
| A thousand fears and hopes flashed
! over MiguePS heart as these words were
uttered. Horritied as he was at what had
| been disclosed, like any other who loves
his own, he would have given his immor-
tai soul for merely the lives of his people;
and he threw himself at the black giants
feet, sobbing out his inexpressible graft
| tude as best he could.
Cangalito raised him up tenderly, and
with his strong arm supporting the
| youth, the two returned TO the hut. Here
several of the chieftain's more trusted
adnerents were called and the new rela-
tions of Miguel explained.
| From that moment the youth seemed
invested with almost the respect and au-
| thority of his master. Despite the hOrri-
| BILE consciousness of his enforced partlci-
| patton in the revolving preparations
which were in progress; despite his more
revolving association with the murderous
and ignorant blacks; despite his constant
| consciousness Of the horrors soon to be
precipitated, be gradually found himself
entering into the details of the plot for the
uprising in condition of feverish fasci-
nation almost bordering upon eager en-
thusiasm.
Much of this was due to his impatience
for the safety of his family; some meas
ure of this condition of mind came from
the extraordinary influence of Cangalito,
whose mental domination over all with
whom he came in contact seemed COM
plete and supreme; and, though quite
unable to analyze his emotions in this
particular, he felt himself strangely i'm
PEELED to participation and action through
Cangalito's constant references to mys-
terious parsonage. destined to be queen
OF the Black Kingdom.
On the second day before Holy Thurs
day all had been hustle and and activity
during the morning hours in the camp of
the lnSurrectionists. Its mum bers had
been greatly increased, and hundreds of
the blacks had been dispatched as lead
erS of the slaves in different districts.
Cangalito and Miguel together had deter
mined the signal for instant and uuiver-
sal action to be the display of their stan
dard, black flag with a huge central
white star above the rendezvous on the
mountain and at the very same time the
same standards, of lesser size, were to be
shown at various points throughout the
Aguacate district.
The plan was simple as it was terrible.
The moment the standards were seen the
blacks of each plantation and raspauero
were TO overpOWer their masters and
overseers, kill outright all white males of
every age and, if resistance were offered,
burn their homes above their heads, and
then, leaving IA small guard over the
white women, the surplus forces to be
quickly maSsed in the vicinity of the
mountain rendezvous, from which point
the entire force of insurrectionists should
descend upon Trinidad where the blacks
within the city were to join in the final
and complete destruction of their mas
ters.
In six hours time the revolution, the
wholesale murder of thousands of Cubans
and the establishment % government
were to be accomplished.
The plot was masterly in its perfec-
ton of detail: and the interposition of
divine providence, through so strange
thing as instantly begotten human
love of a most extraordinary charac-
ter, alone prevented its consummation.
The morning and afternoon had worn
away in Cangalito's camp, and the even
ing shadows were gathering. Cangalito
and Miguel were resting from their
labors before their hut, when a slight
movement at the camp entrance arrested
their attention.
"Ah, Miguel, you shall now look upon
your queen! In all Cuba there is not so
Iair a woman; in ali the world not one so
brave. Tonight and tomorrow she is
still slave; slave because of the one drop
of African blood in her veins. She will
win her crown tomorrow night, Miguel,
by driving this bit of steel-'' here Canga-
Ito held aloft long bladed stiletto-
through tyrant Copinge's heart"
Scarcely had the spoken when the fair
est maiden MiguePs eyes had ever be-
held stood before them. Her raiment
was Of some black, fi!my, flowing stuff,
and mantilla partly covered her head.
Slight, graceful as the breeze blown river
reeds, her lustrous eyes, her
delicate, qulverlng nOstrils, her
parted crimson lips and teeth of dazzling
froSt-rime whiteneSS, with one dainty
hand clasping her mantilla across her
breast and the other reaching to Canga-
Ito written message, all formed Dict-
ure of unconscious beauty impossible for
art to fittingly portray.
Human or spirit, African or Cauca-
sian, woman or devil" reflected Miguel,
this creature is divinen'
''All is we'll at Trinidad. This message
is from brave Marin," she said to the
African in tones that thrilled the youth.
Cangallto grasped the paper eagerly and
Miguel turned to leave them alone to-
gether.
Remain. Miguel. This is your queen
your queen when her moments work is
done. Take her hand. Conduct her
among my brethren in their huts. Then
60 with her to the palisade. Let her see
all that has been gathered together"
Cangalito said all this lightly, while
running over the words of the message;
lightly, and without looking up from
Marin's written words, or Miguel and the
maiden had never gone. For one time
in all lives, there is look between man
and woman which etfaces and reveals
all, which changes and seals all, and
grasp or hand, ligh though it be as thistle
down borne upon an autumn breeze,
whose thrill eternally blinds. They
moved among the wondering. almost
worshlping blacks. They entered the
palisade and were alone. The lives OF
ten thousand Cubans hung upon what
should be said or left unSaid as they stood
together. She was first to break the
silence.
You are Miguel of La Delicia, Canga-
lito's prisoner. You are to be his coun-
selor when the revolution is done. l
have seen you at the palace of Colonel