The Portland daily press., 1895-11-30
rounded very much like footstep In yon-

der copse. !"
''If so, it failed to reach my ears senori"
replied the man addressed. "But, never
4 theless, / will go and see, and rest assured
that if / find another spy lurking about,
he will not escape us this time"
So saying, the soldier, throwing his gun
in readiness for instant use, hurried in the
direction indicated by his superior.
His search was long and careful, and
although he called others to his assist
ance they failed to discover anything sus-
picious in the neighborhood.
'fNo, senor," answered the man Loren
20, on his return, "there is no one but
ourselves in the vicinity. I think we have
scared the rebels sufficiently to keep them
away for this night at least"
| II trust So" was the reply, "for to be
outwitted twice in one watch would be
enough to reduce you to the ranks and de-
| prive me of my commission.
"Of that there is little cause to fear,
senior, was Lorenzo's placid answer, and
| he seated himself on fallen log and pre-
pared to roll cigarette.
"By our Lady, Lorenzo" he exclaimed.
chad not your fire but this moment flashed
in my face l could have sworn that saw
light above us on the mountain Yes,
yes, was right, he continued excitedly.
"Look how it burnsi Quick, quick, ex-
tinguish it! 1t must be signal to the
enemy Deploy, and, mind allow no one
to escaped We must capture the one who
lighted it,
Hurriedly the soldiers sprang to obey
the orders, and so eager were they to begin
the search that the officer, though hasten
ing toward the illumination, found him
self alone, but he could hear his men on
either side "beating the bush. )"
He had almost reached the circle of
light that was emitted from the burning
pile, when he was suddenly confronted by
woman who was fleeing at the top of her
speed down toward the valley. So impetu-
GUS had been her flight that she had failed
to discover the proximity of the Spaniard
until his strong arms closed about her
slight form.
AS the eyes of the former rested upon
his prisoner an exclamation of surprise es-
capped his lips.
'sSenorita Roderiquezl Is it possible
that you are here?'
Given so,' replied the young girl, her
indomitable courage coming to her assist
ance, and she cast a look Of defiance upon
her captor.
"What does this mean?'' he stammered.
"Why are you abroad upon the mountain
at this lonely hour?"
Ere the heroine answered she turned and
pointed to the bright light, which the ut
most efforts of the soldiers had failed to
extinguish, and said:
"To save the lives of my countrymen.'
"And in so doing to sacrifice your OWN
oh, that this painful duty had devolved
upon some other' And the soldier groaned
aloud as he thought that it had been left
to him to place the woman he loved in
the hands Of the executioner.
"Lookp' said Isabel, after short pause,
extending her delicate hands toward the
Spaniard. "Look By the feeble light of
the stars, you may see that these are
stained with blood. That flowed from the
veins of Cuban patriot and the naughty
usurpers of my country shall see that Isa-
bel Rodriguez is not less chary of her life
than was her noble brother, when the
cause Of Cuba is in the balance! Senior
Deza, I am your prisoner, but for the
sake of our former acquaintance I beseech
of you a favor. Do not submit me to the
rude gaze and ribald jests of your soldiers.
That were worse than DEATH"
'sSenorita believe me, should one of my
company SO much rs cast a second glance
upon those fair features, would strike
him lifeless at my feet. But you shall not
be made to suffer for your folly" contin-
ued the officer quickly. you have not
been seen by the soldiers. I alone know
Of your presence on the mountain. Go,
the path to your home is open-go, go!"
and the Spanish officer pressed the trem.
bling hand which he had taken in his own
and hurriedly strobe away.
Left alone Isabel sprang to her feet and
fastened in the direction of her home,
which she reached in safety. AS she en-
tered the darkened room feeble moan fell
upon her ears, and she knew that her
brother lived.
Yes, Felipe was alive and conscious,
and as he heard his sisters step on the
floor he murmured family:
1.-THE light, the light!-~does it burn9"
eyes, the flames mount nearly to the
heavens" replied the senorita, as she sank
into chair, almost overcome by her vari.
GUS emotions.
"The saints be praised Our father has
been sayedl' exclaimed the wounded man.
So it proved to be. The Cuban patriots
had caught the first glimpse of the warn
ing beacon and turned their vessels head
again seaward and sought safety for the
time being among the keys that girdla
the shores of their island home
But had the light not shone out, much
suffering and probably loss of life would
have occurred, which were svertod by the
prompt action of the fair patriot of Ma.
tanzas Exchange.