Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-10-17
SENIOR VALENTINO.
Twelve o'clock, midnight.

From far across the country comes
a dull, hollow, reverberating boom
the signal gun Of the Spanish forces.
Slowly, almost painfully, the Cuban
patriot flung back his light blanket,
gazed upward for a moment at the
burning mass of stars in the heav-
ems, then fell back again to dream of
bloody charges made by the gray
dragons of Spain, and of their re-
pulse by the sturdy Cuban machet-
GERS.
''Surely not again, Senior Captain !?
One must indeed be cool to think so
lightly of a task like ours"
"Viva Cuba Librei You are
right, Pedro-we must be up and
away"
This time the young Cuban sprang
to his feet aud shook himself as
though that was punishment for
his momentary forgetfulness. AS the
two young men stood side by side
in the soft mellow light of the moon,
it is easy to see that they are not of
the lower caste or guajiros, party
that comprises a large division of
the patriot army, but of the Cuban
planter, gentleman of the highest
degree.
Both are armed with small arms
alone, though their appearance indi-
Gates that they have seen military
services.
Snow is the time to read our gen.
erals instructions, Pedro the senior
lays great stress upon our actions to-
night and knows at this very hour
we are moving toward the forces of
the enemy to accomplish purpose
the penalty of which, if we are
caught, is instant DEATH"
As the speaker ceased he drew a
sealed package from beneath the
folds of his sash.
"Interno!" he continued moment
later; "the general is terse and sends
us out to do much against great
odds. The spy, he says, is guard.
ed prisoner in the Spanish camp, but
his Whereabouts he knows not; and
yet we are to liberate him at the risk
of our lives, and when we have &C.
complished this, receive any reward
we may ask for
"Carramba I! Valentino, the terms
are good. Two or three hundred
doubloons will satisfy me let us
hasten.'
"In sooth, you speak right, the
job is profitable one, but the night
is ill-omened. What care we for gold
when the liberty of Cuba is at stake?
"Do you forget, senior, that Span
ish metal will purchase American
steel with which the Cuban patriots
will win their freedom ?"
mo, pedro; but does not tie gen.
eral turn over all his spare gold to
the filibustering expeditions 2"
"Ah, one forgets in his eagerness
to aid his country. Greater though
will be the fever seourge, Valentino,
than all the steel and forces of Cuba
Gloria | Who can defeat us when
God is on our side ~
"But this spy, Pedro why should
our leader take more than common
place interest in him ? When first he
preached the subject to me he wept
like child, and implored me in the
name of Heaven to save'him. Pedro
there is mystery here"
II doubt it not, senior and did
he not mention name 7"
"Ah, not once; nor did question
him, he was so wrought with grief"
| "Seei The lights of the Spanish
camp, Valentino; we will halt here
the moon is disappearing, the stars
are falling, and it will soon be dark. :
"a fortune for a hundred brave
macheteers nowl Yon camp would
not look SO quiet and peaceful, Pc
dro, were my wish gratifed.'
| "There, at last Palo hill has hid.
| den the telltale orb ! Take one more
look, Valentino, before we leave or
our desperate game of chance
The two men gazed for a moment
eastward toward the insrrgent coun
try, and then to the westward a.
the twinkling lights a mile or SO of
on the plains.
"Will they be there-the horses q
whispered the one who had likenet
their task to game Of chance.
"Ee is true Cuban and will no
fail us in the hour of need if b.
does, God pity the spy-and u.s.
@Pardon me, senior, small need tt
worry now; it all hangs by a threat
anyway, even The rebellion. Th,
death of Marti weakened our emf
somewhat, but the dreaded fcye
combined with the patriots ough
yet more than match the home II
rant
u 4.