Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-08-23
OMANCEOFA" BEAT

IL was Harding, q fine specimen of
the Woodworking. versatile and travel
ed newspaper man who cared little for
society or for anything but his profess
sion. who told this story to q group of
reporters the other night;
Five years ago l was working on o
New York newspaper. Ono afternoon
just as l set out from the Office to do
my routine assignment the managing
editor sent for me. He held a yellow
cablegram in his hand, and as ] entered
his room he glanced up from it and said:
Harding, l am going to send you
to Honduras. You leave in two hours.
"He explained that a new uprising
was imminent-an uprising that prom
Used to be a bloodier ono than any ever
before experienced by hat country of
constant revolutions. L need give you
no instruction, no said. You know
what news is. Go there and send it to
us. We want the situation just as you
find it.
we got into Truxillo after doubling
Cape Honduras about the same hour in
the afternoon that we had left New
York several days before.
II 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.
II suppose | watched the crowd for
IN hour and had Just started to return
to my hotel when a woman's figure
came toward me along the street. Some
thing in the fine figure and graceful
carriage made me think that l had seen
her before. and [ waited. l recognized
her as she came near me.
Ills this Miss Villiers of New
York; | asked in surprise, extending
my hand. She turned and held out hel
hand frankly. 1t is, she said, and
this is Stuart Harding. remember you
very we'll. What ON earth are you do
ing here?'
eel have just arrived, , l said to her.
But what could have brought you
hereY Brought me here?' she laughed
in surprise. Why, this is my home
IL did not know her very we'll in
New York, but she impressed me rs
having great depth. She showed a pref
renee for my society, but when she
turned those deep, unfathomable eyes
upon mo il always gave me q shifty,
uneasy feeling. She went in elegant
style, with good people and appeared to
have plenty of money.
And now 1 had met Miss Villiers
again, and she was ven moro beautiful
than before, My pleasure at meeting an
old acquaintance in this foreign city
was reflected in her own happy face.
1 never see a New Yorker here, she
told me as We walked along together.
''Sho was a charming companion, and
l found that / had walked by hor side
until we had almost left the city behind
us and stood in front of a 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 a rich
glow.
Miss Villiers, l said, wouldn't ii
be advisable for you TO go back to New
York awhile? / havo Trustworthy in
formation hat n terrible revolution is
imminent Your life would DO in dan.
ger here.
'She glanced up at me, startled. oh,
I think these rumors must DO unfound-
cd, she said hastily. The revolutions
arc 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.
ing eagerly forward
"'No, | answered, for an instinct
told mo that | was saying just what she
desired me 70 say. No, l will o The
government is too cruel. l am with the
revolutionists-the people.
"'Oh, / can trust you, | know, sho
said half -passionately, " continued Hard
ing. 81 knew it from tire drst hour !
met you in New York. l know it now.
! am so glad you are here. Perhaps you
may help US. Perhaps you may advise
father.
Eyes, there is 70 DO a revolution,
and a bloody one, / fear. Father is the
leader, He has sore grievances, for he
has been thrown out Of power by a re-
volt. and then he is the champion Of a
principle. just as soon as the plans ma
lure the iDsurreotion will come.
"She laid the whole plan Of the mp.
rising before me She trusted me i'm
plicitly, even to giving me the names Uf
the leaders and the date when the out
break was expected to come.
"As l listened to her tho conviction
grew in my mind that her father was
about 20 stir up a cruel and causeloss
rebellion No higher motives than those
Of revenge and power to be gained i'm
PEELED him onward. And yet she boliev-
ed In tho righteousness and Justice Of
his cause with all her heart.
81 went 10 my room and wrote ont
the story. rave cra.y detail, mention
ed overv name / could remember and