The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-22
A CUBAN HEROINE.


of the CROWN, do not allow him to escaped"
And Mt tho command of tho Spanish Off
Ger tho reports of Il dozen rifles broke tho
stiffness of the tropical forest that Dor
dcred on the northern coast of Cuba.
ION, on! Hc must not avoid us or tho
wrath of our general will fall upon our
heads"
Quickly tho machctcs, or short swords,
which each man wore mt his belt, wcro
graspcd vigorously and almost torn from
the scabbards rs the impctuous guard cs-
Saycd to how u pathway through the jun
gle.
Sec, sec, he is woundcdr' exclaimed
the officer, pointing to n few crimson
stains that had fallen upon tho dark green
leaves of tho trailing vines.
lilo is hard hit and must soon fall
Press on, press on my men A hundred
piastcrs to tho one who shall first lay
hands upon tho spy, whc4l ho be dead or
aliver'
Thus urged, the soldiers rcdoublcd their
efforts, but they proved futile, for the flu
gltlvo threaded his way through the tan
gled mazo of vegetation with tho adroit-
ness and speed of an Indian warrior
When tho soldiers finally gave up tho
chase and resumed their watch darkness
had fallen upon the Pan of NIatanza,' -
the mountain which rcars its lofty head a
fow miles back from the city of Matanzas
About tho base of this rugged elevation
ncstcd the plantations of u number of rich
Cuban sugar growers, but mt this hour tho
occupants of the low rooted, rambling, vet
spacious habitationS seemed wrappcd in
slumbcr for no signs of human life were
apparent.
But, hold. There is II light streaming
from the long, iron barred windows of tho
hn, n
of the wcalthicst citizens of the island
Within the apartment from which the
bright rays issued sat n young woman, not
moro than Is years of age, n perfect typo
of spanish lovclincss. Shc was alone and
seemed busy with her thoughts Suddenly
she was aroused by u quick stop on the
broad vcranda without, and the next in
slant the door opened, and n man, with
dishcvclcd clothing, hatlcss and with
blood streaming from II CHASTITY wound In
the side of the head, hurricdly entered and
sank well nigh exhausted at the maidcn's
feet
Felipe! Fclipo! My dear brother, what.
in the name of tho saints, has happencd?"
exclaimed the young girl, in tone of hor-
ror, as she knclt by the side of the sufferer
ION, Isabel, we are lost-lost! All Is
lost! Tho noble cause of Cuba will this
night receive as L have her dcathblow!"
What mean you, brother? What mean
you:" entrcatcd Isabel, us she cssaycd to
stanch tho blood which flowed from tho
gaping cut. Tell mc-oh, tell mo what
has happcned?''
'What has happened you see before
you" gaspcd the stricken man, 'but its
cause and effect are secrets which 1 scarce
dare impart even to you
What! l. your sister and Cuban,
ana you will not trust me-
True, true; it is right that YOU should
Know. Bend your car closer; my strength
is fast falling
Then with visible effort Feline aroused
himself and continued:
"This night our dear father, at the head
of IL band OF some 800 patriots, proposes to
make landing alta point near tho eastern
entrance of the harbor, providing that no
light is shown from the Pan of MantanZa
To warn them of danger. There is danger,
and was threading my way through the
forest and up the steep ascent to ignite the
beacon that would warn them of their pcr-
IL, when |, dolt that | was stumbled upon
the Spanish soldiers We caught sight of
enc another ut the same moment, and
their commander gave the order to fire 1t
was then that l received this wound i'm tho
head which is slight compared TO the one
b
convulsivcly to his side.
Away l fled, and succeeded in throw
ing the human vulturcs off my track and
-and-hcrc am"
AS he finished, the young man sank
back, exhausted, in his sisters arms.
But tho signal, Fclipe-thc signal?"
eagerly asked the girl. "Who will light it?"
ALAS, no one! For who is there to go?''
81 will, was the undauntcd reply.
"You-you, Isabel! No, no. Your fate
would be worse than death should you fall
into tho hands of our prosecutors"
Speak not of them, brother, but tell
me where to find tho spot
"Wcll, isabel, it must DO so, for should
our noblo father be taken captive by the
cruel tyrants, it would be but n short.
short time Gro we all should follow him to
tho cxccutioner! Now, bark, sister, Near
the summit of tho mountain, and Oh that
Hat shelf where we have often played in
childhood, you will find Il large pile of in
llaminablc material. But u single touch of
an ignitcd match and the whole mass will
spring into flame, and ono which tho sol
dicrs can never cXtinguish until it has
burned down 10 the Very stones beneath"
Il will find it and light it, But must
leave You alone, Fclipcn-
ION, mind not me What is my lifo
OF suffering compared To our fathers and
his bravo followers: Long since gave my
NO to Cuba and few hours moro or less
oi existence matters little Go sister. 20!
Ihcrc Is not moment to losel But be-
ware of the soldiers! God t.iard youvn
STOPPING low, Isabel pressed n kiss on
the palld lips of her broth rr. and drawing
her lace maniil!a closely over her raven
hair, she cXtingnishcd tho light and passed
out into tho darkness upon hor lonely mis-
sion,
"Al, Loren2N, how'd You thntg Ii