The record-union., 1894-08-25
Ill.

Perhaps three months had passed with
cut special interest TO the sworn friends.
The young noblemen, with ample means,
yielding TO Don Enrique's spirit of un-
rest, were now the honored guests of the
aristocracy of Havana.
For Don Enrique there had been but
joy in leaving hated Spain and in the
new life and beauty OF the Cuban me-
tropolis. Ii there were clouds behind the
placid features of Count Basil, no one
could know it. Two trifes to such as
he, might have haunted his inner life.
One was that a black-eyed serving
woman, or querida, or what-not, called
Griselda of Monte Carlo, had been found
dead at the house OF an absent croupier
with stiletto in her breast, whereupon
some Catalonian gypsies had stolen the
body away and buried it over the bor
der in Spain after their own barbaric
fashion.
Again, as the steamer upon which the
young noblemen EN- barked left the har
Dor of Barcelona, a shaggy fisherman,
whom the sailors knew as Pancho, was
found secreted on board. In his possess
sion was noticed a blood-stained stiletto,
whose pattern and dornamentation showed
it to have been the weapon OF different
man than he, tor such as Pancho are
never fastidious about a knife. He was
put in chains. Then storm arose and
he was liberated, for his giant strength
was serviceable. But his freedom was OF
short duration.
Count Basil, restlessly walking the
deck late one moonlit night had seen his
face and eyes full of gypsy vengeance as
the stowaway had crept stealthily toward
his cabin. A word to Ell Capitano from
Count was enough. The rest of the way
to Cuba Pancho sat in the hold with
mighty iron links riveted to huge grillos
upon his legs. But Pancho, In the hold,
forgot nothing.
At debarkation in Havana the differ
ence in the temporary relations of these
two men to society sent the man from
the hold to the chaingang of Cabana for
brief period, and the other, with Don
Enrique, the generous banker and loyal
friend to the splendid homes OF the Span
ish nobility in Cuba.
In this atmosphere Don Enrique and
Count Basil lived, and five years fitted
away as in a dream.
The impulsiye, grateful heart of Don
Enrique have never openly doubted. At
times a sense of oppreSsiveness came; op-
pressiyeness and dread, as if the very
cords OF fate were binding him to a re-
voting presence and companion. But
beneath the Don's lie of dalliance was
truly chivalrous soul.
Events had occurred that had also
touched deeper sentiment; q sentiment
of compassion. Attempts had been made
upon the lite of Count Basil de Orense.
| In one of these he was badly wounded.
The name of a fisherman outlaw and con
| trabandist had been whispered as one
concerned in these mysterious affairs.
But nothing came of investigation save
this:
4 Catalonian known as Pancho Marti
among the pescadores of Havana had
gained strange and secret power among
all the lowly in the Cuban seaport cities.
No one knew just when he had come to
Cuba. He had stepped from the Cabana
chaingang to barbor guadana, thence to
a fisherman's coaster, and, while he had
made rich hauls of fish in the coves and
inlets his wife, the negress Tomasa, fried
! the sweet meated robalo and the juicy
guaguancho and sold them at homes and
upon the streets.
Marti finally disappeared, when the
widest tales OF his subsequent sea piraces
were everywhere told. But Tomasa re-
manned. In her hut beside the sea in the
Balurate quarter were often seen the
! gypsies of Cuba. Her own life was
| blameless, and secretly dreaded as were
| her companions, "old Tonlasa,o as she
! was called, went and came without hand
or voice being raised against her, while
! in one noble quinta of Jesu del Monte,
| where lived the family of TomaSas one
/ adored human in ali the world, Donna
Felisa, she was still the beloved Cuban
many" of the ravishingly beautiful
! being she had nursed from the cradle,
and whose own fair hand had signed the
document which set the old black nurse
1 free.
Another event. the greatest that can
come to any mans life, had turned Don
Enrique's nature to whole-hearted trust
and tenderness. and this drew him closer
to the only man on whom he felt he
could rely.
In the nightly carnivals in Havana
| thousands of gay equipages, filled with
richly attired and merry occupants. may
| be seen upon the Gales and Prado. OFF,
cials and nabobs in the saddle loiter at
| their sides, exchanging greetings with
/ friends and acquaintances.
| On such an evening, when Don En-
rique and Count Basil were thus en-
gagged, the latter suddenly exclaimed:
''Santa Maria! All Spain has not such
] loveliness!"