The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-12-27

sounded very much like footstep in yon-
der copse"
eff so, it failed to reach my ears, senor"
replied the man addressed. "But, never
theless, l 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.
"No, senior, " answered the man Loren
70, on his return, "there is no one but
ourselves in the vicinity. 1 think we have
scared the rebels sufficiently to keep them
away for this night at least.
81 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 could have sworn that saw
light above us on the mountain! Yes
yes, was right" he continued exoitedly
''Look how it burns! Quick, quick, ex
tinguish it'll 1t must be a signal to the
enemy! Deploy, and, mind, allow no one
to escape! We must capture the one who
lighted it,
Hurriedly the soldiers sprang to obey
the orders, and so eager we're they to begin
bo hot ho hos
ing toward the illumination, found him
self alone, but he could hear his men or
either side beating the BUSH"
He had almost reached the circle o.
light that was emitted from the burning
pile, when he was suddenly confronted by
O woman who was fleeing at the top of bel
speed down toward the valley. So inpetu
Gus had been her flight that she had failed
to discover the proximity of the Spaniart
until his strong arms closed about hel
slight form.
AS the eyes of the former rested upor
his prisoner an exclamation of surprise es
capped his lips.
"Senorita Roderiquezi Is it possible
that you are here?"
Given so, replied the young girl, he1
indomitable courage coming to her assist
ance and she cast look of defiance upor
her captor.
"What does this meanP" he stammered
"Why are you abroad upon the mountain
at this lonely hour?"
Ere the heroine answered she turned ant
pointed to the bright light, which the ut
most efforts of the soldiers had failed tt
extinguish, and said:
''To save the lives of my countrymen. !"
"And in so doing to sacrifice your own
Oh, that this painful duty had devolvet
upon some other!'' And the soldier groaneC
aloud as he thought that it had been LEFT
to him to place the woman he loved il
the hands of the executioner.
"Lookr' said Isabel, after short pause
extending her delicate hands toward thu
Spaniard Look By the feeble light O.
the stars, you may see that these arr
stained with blood. That flowed from thu
veins of Cuban patriot, and the naughty
usurpers of my country shall see that lisa
bel Rodriguez is not less chary of her life
than was her noble brother, when the
cause of Cuba is in the BALANCED Senol
Deza, l am your prisoner, but for the
sake of our former acquaintance beseecf
of you a favor Do not submit me to the
rude gaze and ribald jests of your soldiers
That were worse than death.
"Senorita, believe me, should one of my
company so much as cast a second glanc'
upon those fair features, l would strike
him lifeless at my feet. But you shall moi
be made to suffer for your folly" contin
ued the officer quickly. "You have moi
been seen by the soldiers. I alone know
of your presence on the mountain. Go
the path to your home is open-go, goP
and the Spanish officer pressed the trenl
bling hand which he had taken in his owl
and hurriedly strobe away
Left alone, Isabel sprang to her feet an6
fastened in the direction of her home
which she reached in safety. AS she en-
tered the darkened room a feeble moan fel
upon her ears, and she knew that bel
brother lived
Yes, Felipe was alive and conscious
and as he heard his sisters step on tht
floor he murmured family:
"The light, the ight!-does it burn?''
s"Yes, the flames mount nearly to thu
heavens, - replied the senorita, as she sanl
into chair, almost overcome by her vari
Gus emotions
"The saints be praised! Our father has
been sayed!" exclaimed the wounded man
So it proved to be. The Cuban patriots
had caught the first glimpse of the warn
inc beacon and turned their vessels heaC