The record-union., 1894-08-25

At the conclusion of the convention OF
1889 between the victorious Esparatero,
Commander-in-ch of the forces OF
Maria Christina and Moroto, the de-
feated Carlist Commander-in-C Chief, which
gave distracted Spain a few years OF fe-
verish peace, there were returned to prl-
vate lie great numbers OF the younger
members of the Spanish nobility VINO
had adhered to the cause OF their queen,
as we'll as many OF arlstocratlc DIood VINO
had cast their fortunes with the defeated
CarliSt leader.
The romantic experiences of war had
iily fitted the former class Tor a resump-
ton of drowsy life and lonesome pala-
clos, the threadbare experiences IN stu
dents gowns al the university. or even
for the dull intrigues of waning court
at Madrid.
OF the titled Carlist Lieutenanls there
was scarcely score who were not ruined.
Some, following their chief, fled TO
France. Others, IN sheer despair, joined
the banditti of Andalusia And others,
more desperate soldiers of fortune still.
swarmed about the trente-et-Q
tables OF Monaco, Monte Carlo and HON.
burg.
one evening in December of the year
named, the rooms Of the great casino at
Monte Carlo were crowded with habl-
tues of the place. Among these was a
young Spaniard, Don Enrique, brave
officer in the recent modified force of
Queen Christiana, heir to vast estates in
Arragon, whose father, the aged Duke of
Teruel, being at deadly enmlEy with the
Queen. had practically disowned MS son
Tor engaging il her service.
Nor was this the only cause for silence
and estrangemenJ between the noble faith
er and son. The latter had been destined
|, hi
old Duke fondiy fed itself in a dream to
sometime see the purple mantle and scar
let hat of q cardinal take the place of the
black students cloak, and the black hat
which all too jauntily sat upon Don En-
rique's fair and girlish head.
But the boys nature was warm, poetic,
adventurous. He had fled from the irk-
some university. Joining a band of
strolling musicians he wandered for sew
eral years through the provinces, much
in Catalonia, greatly beloved by the peas
antry, and especially by the gitani, or
gvpsies, who never forgive an injury nor
forget a generous friend.
Don Enrique had been that friend to
many of them, and one, Francisco. falsely
accused OF petty crime, had been saved
by him from the greatest disgrace which
can ever befall gypsy, that of imprison-
1nenL, as he was being dragged through
the streets TO the careel of Lerida.
This gypsy, Francisco, called in good
fellowship "Pancho' among his COM
panions, was stocky, brawny fellow
with huge, shocky head and neck
nearly as big, on which, above his open
shirt the cords aud veins lay like ropes
half hidden beneath black and matted
hair. Sleepy and sluggish OF appear
ance, he was Keen ana agile ana strong
as an OK.
Pancho's home was at Barcelona. He
followed sea1aring life. was the best OF
sailors. knew all the secrets of the ocean.
and as fisherman possessed wonderful
knowledge and craft.
shortly after the rescue of Francisco at
Lerida came the Carlists' victorious ad-
vance beyond the Ebro in 1887. Don
Enrique hastened to Madrid TO serve his
Queen. From the position of subalt-
ern he had been advanced, on merit TO
the rank of Colonel, but at the conclu-
sion of hostilities had left the army, and
still unreconciled to the Duke Of Teruel,
in a wild and vagarous mood of adyentu-
rous unrest, found himself like hundreds
OF others abandoning true courage and
his few remaining pesetaS at the gaming
tables at Monte Carlo.
Don Enrique was deathly pale as he sat
there playing with feverfsh hesitance,
winning and losing, until at last, with d
quick. impetuous motion, he laid coin
20 the value Of two hundred pesetas upon
the red.
He was directly opposite the croupier,
upon whose dark, almost oriental and
ordinarily impassiYe face the faintesi
shadow OF interest might now have been
visible.
,Rouge perd ct couleur," called the
croupier.
'sJesu Maria! Black-and it is alli''
So common are these cries in the lives
of reckless men at Monte Carlo. that the
eager players about the tables were un-
mindful of the agony of Don Enrique
passionate exclamation.
Half fainting he rose from his seat. His
hands, resting on the tablets edge. were
trembling and bloodless. If these had
not. all unconseiously 10 himself, suS-
tanned him, he would have fallen upor
the stone floor. The last play of thE
night was made as he desperately leaned
there at the edge of the table. The stir o.
departure seemed to arouse him. With