Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-23

! stormed. kept the wire hot with
messages OF protest to officials. Two
messages came from Madrid saying the
delay was but temporary. So there I
sat in that musty compartment with my
wife BY my side and q heart full of bit
terness, for saw the precious hours slip
ping away and with them my chance
OF taking the Sunday morning train SO
as to catch the Cadiz steamer To miss
it meant ruin.
Hour after hour passed by, and there
we sat. My secret cause Of unrest had
to be kept locked in my breast, while
my young wife, all unsuspecting, was
merry and happy. chanting little snatch
es Of song and telling me 100 times she
was the happiest Of women. She did
not care for revolutions nor for delays.
Was she not with me? The sun began
to go down the sky, and the shadows
fell. Still we sat on, expecting every
moment an order to proceed. The sus-
pense was terrible.
The time wore on, when suddenly,
toward midnight, the operator rushed
out of his Office, and, shouting to the en-
sineer, flew up to our compartment,
said goodby, and in a minute we were
of. After that long and terrible day it
was happiness to be moving.
/ had given the engineer . tip; he
put on steam, and as we flew over the
road hope returned. felt we We're safe.
At tho rate we were going should
have two VI three hours to spare. We
soon were at the Escurial As fate
would have it, we found here an order
to run us ON q side line and to keep the
track clear for train going north. For
two miserable hours we waited, and no
train. Then set the wires in motion
again, and just as the eastern skies grew
gray We started.
Madrid is situated ON q high sandy
plain, storm swept in winter worse than
any plain in northern Europe. We had
o wheezy engine. Four miles out it
broke down, and then gave up the
struggle.
At 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon, nine
hours too late for the Cadiz train, we
arrived at Madrid. Too late to reach
Cadiz by special train! Not too late
could the train have been started of rs
soon as ordered, but in Spain q special
train is an unheard Of thing.
telegraphed to Lopez & Co. at Cad
IL inquiring if they would hold the Ell
Rcy Felipe for "a hours. They replied
they were under contract with the gov
eminent and had to sail ON time. So I
said gOodby to that plan.
On consulting my memorandum saw
there was French steamer sailing from
st. Nazaire, ON the west coast of France,
for Vera Cruz, Mexico, which would
touch at Santander ON Saturday for
mails and passengers, and resolved to
go by her; this, of course, meant retrac-
ing our way through the hated Avila to
Burgos, and changing there for San
lander.
On Monday we visited the picture
galleries and museums, and ON Tuesday
we got our baggage down to the depot
once more, and purchasing our tickets
we were off for Santander. was too
anxious to enjoy the scenery. We were
day and night ON the journey, and
arriving on Wednesday I still had be-
fore me day of anxiety.
Early the next morning my servant
awoke me, asking me to look out of the
window. I ran to it, and, looking out,
there in the bay, Just in front Of the
hotel, lay steamer Of tho largest size
and magnificent i'm her beauty. 1t was a
happy sight for me.
Num- hired boat for our luggage
and a second for me, and then. after o
LII L.
steamer, Num- following with the bag
gage. AT last I'VE were afioat, and now
1 was oil eagerress to hear the steam
, monkey start to bring the anchor apeak
II is simply amazing how bad con-
science "moldeth COLLINS swift as fren-
zy's thought. Even as I stood there
was not ut rest, but was impatient and
suspicious of every movement from the
shore
Just then with q mighty throb the
screw gave u turn, and it was music to
4 my ears.
But rs stood ON the deck that night
| and watched the mountains sink into
the sea 1 felt this all dimly and tried
to shake off the feeling. stood fasci-
mated. with many conflicting emotions
sweeping through my mind, sadly
watching the receding shores Of Spain,
and just as the highest mountains were
sinking in the sea my servant, appear
ing at my side, informed me dinner was
ready and my wife waiting. Sending him
away and turning my face to the land
I strained my eyes through the gather.
ing gloom to discern the distant shore
Then with bitter feeling in my heart
I set out for the saloon, but stopped, and
| quoting this line
| The day Of M destiny is DER,
And the star Of my fate hath declined
| I went below.
Soon, under the warming influence OF
wine, forgetting all my foIebodings and
looking into my wife's face beaming
with love and content, could not
help saying to myself: am a fool to
doubt that happiness is mine. Am no,
fortunes favorite: With love, youth,
enthusiasm, health and wealth ON my
side. what else save happy days and
nights and long years filled with conten,
l -z.n 10 mine: