Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-31


I.began to sec more and moro what n
fool / was to let myself be caught ut
such timo in such land, but still had
no much confidence in my good fortune
that l felt would be ON time for the
steamer on Monday.
1t was now o'clock Friday. We
wero all aboard for Madrid and just
pulling out Of tho station. We would DO
due there the next morning. From Mad
rid to. Cadiz there is only one through
train in "a hours and that leaves seven
mornings u week. but, Us ii runs only
10 miles an hour and is seldom ON time
at that, ono must figure on taking an
entire "a hours for tho journey. Still NJ
we would bo due Saturday morning
had n big margin for delay.
At last we were of. On the train and
In every group we passed thoro were
signs OF suhduOd excitement. Between
Royalists and Republicans sharp lines
were evidently drawn which soon were
to eliminate in bloody conflict,
Soon after 10 O'Clock we arrived in
tho walled town Of Avila about so
miles from the famous Escurial built
by tho second Philip, and about 100
miles from Madrid Here we got an OK
cellent dinner and good coffee But din
ner was spoiled for mo by the disastrous
intelligence that martial law had boon
proclaimed and that the government
had seized tho roads running north from
Madrid to transport troops.
Here was u pretty picSlcl l was en-
ragged | SAW tho chief OF tho railway ut
| Avila, hut he was fool, and under the
unwonted state Of affairs had lost what
little head no ever had.
So once more our baggage was all
piled ont Of the train, and unco more
we had to go into camp on the floor Of
tho station, with terrific din around
ua,
arose emily, and loolsingup the telo-
graph clerk and railway chief made
them both rich by tho present to each
OF D escudos.
Then telcgraphed CASTELAR, and the
minister OF war that l was IN English
man; that had my family with me
aud having important business in Mad
rid must not be detained in Avila.
demanded that he should at once diroct
the military officials to send me ON t.
Madrid by special train. l also sent {
telegram 20 Hernandez, president OF til,
road IN Paris, Offering 5000 francs fol
special tpin Another urgent messag,
was sent TO the superintendent in Mad
rid repeating the Offer for q special train
the same sum to himself II he expeditet
the train. l also authorized him 4
spend similar amount If necessary ii
hribing the military authorities,
At II O'Clock had long Telegram
from him saying train wonld be mad'
up at Avila But an hour having passeS
away | sent him n message to order nj
an engine and one car from Madrid
Another message arrived at 9 o'clock
. and down came an engine aud oar.
/ The local railway chief was NOR,
than anxious 70 see MS off, as had add
cd another Is to the o. already given
Just then the telegraph operator flew
out with an order for our train to wal
r the arrival Of tho train from Madrid
i / stormed. kept the wire hot wit
: messages ~ protest TO officials. Tw
4 messages came from Madrid saying Oh
\ delay was but temporary. So thoro
4 sat in that musty compartment with III
! wife by my side and a heart full OF bit
temcss, FOR saw tho precious hours slir
ping away and with them my chanc
Of taking tho Sunday morning train )
I NJ TO catch tho Cadis steamer To mis-
: II meant ruin.
!, Hour after hour passed by, and thor
n we sat Ny secret cause Of unrest hn
= TO DO kept locked Ia my breast, Will
!, my young wife, all transporting. WI
il merry and happy, chanting little snatch
Z os Of song and telling me 100 times 81
was tho happicst OF women, She al
not care for revolutions nor for delay
Was she not with nc? The sun bega
i to 90 cowa shc s,s and tho shadow
fell Still wo sat Oh. expcctiu1 ever