The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-15
A CUBAN HEROINE.

Anu attn command OF tho Spanish Oili-
Ger tho reports of dozen rifles broke tho
stiffness of tho tropical forest that Dor
dcred on the northern coast of Cuba
"On, on! He must not avoid us, or tho
wrath of our general will fall upon our
hcads.'
Quickly the machctcs, or short swords
which each man wore at his bolt, were
graspcd vigorously and almost torn from
tho scabbards ms the impetuous guard cs-
sayed to hew pathway through the jun
gle.
SEQ, see, ho is woundcd!" exclaimed
the officer, pointing to few crimson
stains that had fallen upon tho dark green
leaves of tho trailing vines.
'Hc is hard hit and must soon fall.
Press on, press on, my mon! A hundred
piastcrs to the one who shall first lay
hands upon the spy, whc Bier he be dead or
alivc!'
Thus urged, the soldiers rcdoublcd their
efforts, but they proved futile, for the flu
gitivc threaded his way through tho tam
gled 1nazc of vegetation with the adroit-
ness and speed of an Indian warrior
Whom tho soldiers finally gave up the
chase and resumed their watch, darkness
had fallen upon the Pan of Nlutanza,"
tho mountain which rears its lofty head a
few miles back from the city of Mutanzas.
About tho base of this rugged elevation
nestod tho plantations of II number of rich
Cuban sugar growers, bat Mt this hour the
occupants of the low rooted, rambling, vet
spacious habitations seemed wrapped in
slumbcr, for no signs of human lifo were
apparent.
But, hold. There is light streaming
from the long iron barred windows of tho
house of Senior Manuel Rodcriqucz, one
of tho wcalthieSt citizens of the island
Within the apartment from which the
bright rays issued sat Il young woman, not
moro than is years of age, q perfect typo
of Spanish lovelincss She was alone and
seemed busy with her thoughts. Suddenly
she was aroused by n quick step OH tho
hroad voranda without, and tho next in
slant tho door opened, and man, with
dishcvcled clothing, hatlcss and with
blood streaming from n CHASTITY wound in
the side of the head, hurriedly entered and
sank well nigh exhausted at the maidcn's
feet
'Felipo! Felipe! My dear brother, what
in the namo Of the saints, has happencd?''
exclaimed the young girl, in tone of hor-
ror, rs she knelt by the side of tho sufferer
'Oh Isabel, wo arc lost-lost! All la
lost The noble cause of Cuba will this
night receive, as L have, her dcathblow!"
What mean you, brother? What mean
you?'' cntrcatcd Isabel, as she essaycd to
stanch the blood which flowed from the
gaping cut. Tell me-oh, tell mo whao
has happcned?h
What has happened you see before
you, gaspcd the stricken man, "but its
cause and effect are secrets which l scarce
dare impart even TO you.
''Whnt l, your sister and Cuban
and you will not trust mc?''
''Trlp trIp. IL il riuht that yo,, chnul1
know. Bend your ear closer; my strength
Is fast falling"
Then with visible effort Felipe aroused
himself and continued:
'Ths night our dear father, at the head
of band OF some 800 patriots proposes to
make II landing at u point near the eastern
entrance of tho 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 per-
il, when l, dolt that 1 was, stumbled upon
the Spanish soldiers. We caught sight of
one another ut the Same moment, and
their commander gave the order to fire. Is
was then that | received this wound in tho
head, which is slight compared to the one
that Is here" And the hero pressed a hand
convulsivcly to his side.
Away fled, and succeeded in throw
ing the human vulturcs off my track and
-and-here | am
AS he finished, the young man sank
back, exhausted in his sisters arms
But tho signal, Fclipe-thc signal?"
eagerly asked tho girl. 'Who will light it,"
ALIAS, no one! For who is there to go?"
II will, was the undaunted reply
"You-you, Isabel! No, no. Your fate
would be worse than death should you fall
into the hands of our prosecutors"
Speak not of them, brother, but tell
me where to find the spot"
well, Isabel, ii must be so, for should
our noble father be taken captive by the
cruel tyrants, it would be but short,
short time Gro wo all should follow him to
the cxecutioner! Now, bark, sister! Near
the summit of the mountain, and on that
Hat shelf where we have often played in
childhood, you will find large pile of in
flammable material But 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 to the worry stones beneath"
Il will find it and light it. But must
leave you alone, Fclipc"-
oh, mind not me. What is my life
or suffering compared to our fathers and
his brave followers? Long since gave my
lifc to Cuba and u few hours more CT less
o! existence matters little Go, sister, 20!
There Is not moment to lose! But be.
ware of the soldiers! God guard your
StColdng low, Isabel pressed u kiss on
The paiid lips of her brother, and drawing
her lace mantilla closely over her raven
hair, she extinguishcd the light and passed
out into the darkness upon her lonely mis-
sion.
"Ah, Lorenzo, heard you thats 1t