Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-01-29
RoMANCEOFA BEAT

/; 1t was Harding, fine specimen of
the hardworlling, versatile and travel
ed newspaper man who cared little for
society OF for anything but his profes-
sion, who told this story to a group of
reporters the other night:
Give years ago was working on
New York newspaper. One afternoon
Just as set out from the Office to do
my routine assignment the managing
editor sent for me. He held yellow
lcablegram in his hand, and as 1 entered
his room he glanced up from it and said:
+" Harding, am going to send you
to Honduras. You leave in two hours. )
che explained that new uprising
was imminent-an uprising that prom
Used to be a bloodier one than any ever
before experienced by that country Of
constant revolutions. 4 need give you
no instruction, he said. 'You know
what news is. Go there and send it to
MS. We want the situation just as you
find it.
eve got into Truxillo after doubling
Cape Honduras about the same hour in
the afternoon that we had left New
York several days before.
] 81 strolled out that afternoon in or
der to get some idea OF the situation and
to meet English speaking people to save
myself from feeling hopeless isolation.
/ 81 suppose I watched the crowd for
an hour and had just started to return
to my hotel when woman's figure
came toward me along the street. Some
thing in the fine figure and graceful
carriage made me think that 1 had seen
her before, and I waited. recognized
her as she came near me.
! " is this Miss Villiers of New
York; [ asked in surprise, extending
my hand. She turned and held out her
hand frankly. 1T is, she said, and
this is Stuart Harding. remember you
very well. What on earth are you do
ing here?'
as 4 have just arrived, I said to her.
But what could have brought You
here?' Brought me heroT she laughed
in surprise. Why, this is my home.
ST did not know her very well in
New York, but she impressed me as
having great depth. She showed pref
erence for my society, but when she
turned those deep, unfathomable eyes
upon me it always gave me a shifty,
uneasy feeling. She went in elegant
style, with good people and appeared to
have plenty of money.
! "And now I had met Miss Villiers
tagain, and she was even more beautiful
than before. My pleasure at meeting an
old acquaintance in this foreign city
was reflected in her own happy face.
II never see q New Yorker here she
told me as we walked along together.
"She was a charming companion, and
I found that had walked by her side
until we had almost left the city behind
us and stood in front of stately in
closure, with a residence sitting far
back half hidden behind the luxuriant
foliage. We had become confidential,
and her face was flushed with rich
glow.
'' Miss villiers, said, wouldn't it
be advisable for you to go back to New
York awhile? / have trustworthy in
formation that terrible revolution is
imminent Your life would be in dan
ger here
''She glanced upa me, startled. oh,
I think these rumors must be unfouDd-
ed, she said hastily. The revolutions
are so cruel. In case there is one you
will help the government, of course?'
''She had placed her gloved hand on
my arm in her agitation and was bend
ling eagerly forward.
mo, 1 answered, for an instinct
told me that was saying just what she
desired me to say. No, l will not. The
government is too cruel I am with the
revolutionists-thep people.
"'Oh, 1 can trust you, know, she
said half passionately, - continued Hard
ing. 80 I knew it from the first hour /
met you in New York. know it now.
1 am so glad you are here. Perhaps you
may help US. Perhaps you may advise
father.
"sYes, there is to be revolution,
and a bloody one, fear. Father is the
leader. He has sore grievances, for he
has been thrown cut OF power by re-
volt, and then he is the champion OF q
principle Just @ soon as the plans ma
ture the insurrection viii come.
"She laid the whole plan OF the HE'-
rising before me She trusted me inn
plicitly, even to giving me the names OF
the leaders and the date when the out
break was expected to come
stAs listened to her the conviction
grew in my mind that her father was
about to stir up a cruel and causeless
rebellion. No higher motives than those
| of revenge and power to be gained i'm
PEELED him onward And yet tshe beliey-
ed in the Righteousness and justice Of
his cause with all her heart.
ST went to my room and wrote out
the story. I gave every detail, mention
ed every name could remember and