The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-09-29

shaatbed his blade. TITS Some poor
mother's son, hardly beyond the limits
Of bcyhood yet, and stu " hsd TO be
done.p
And d mastery stroke that did IL
right to the heart, senior, without 9
doubt
Gomez
The captain could say no more;l
tears were in his eyes, aud he wished
that the heilish work were undone.
He could hardly suppresssa sob ab he
thought OF the aged mother on the
other side ofthe sea, waiting and pray
ing for q that would never return.
oh, the anguieh OF that moment
Suddenly he halted, for ahead Of
him, not q dozen rods, was the ten for
he was searching. Pedro re-
mained q few steps behind to quart
against surprise, and alone the brave
(rebei captain crept up to the canvas
Map.
NThere was a light inside; he peered
In There uponIa bundle OF blankets,
With hands and feet securely bound
la2--not o man, but the form OF q
beautiful girl.
Fpr a moment he conld hardly believe
his yves. Was she aspya
Like a fash Of lightning the truth
dawned over him he had solved the
mystery.
hSenorita y he called, softly.
There was o stir among the blankets
n q pale, sweet face, with soft, dark
curis clinging about It like q veil, was
raised from its bard pillow.
"a friend to aid you; one who has
your welfare at heart"
The girl raised herself still higher !;
L htaf not - n, n 49, 49, H.. ia
was not necessary. the soft eyes alone
told the story.
Softly Valentino crossed to the pallet
swiftly he severed the cords that
bound her tender ltmbs-and swiftly
he caught her lovely form In his arms
and dashed into the open air.
IL was all over In q minute, for the
Cuban had thrown caution to- the winds;
his only thought-his only purpose was
to convey his precious charge to q place
OF safety. Alas that his haste was to
prove so fatal.
"Artol Who goes there ?n
The sharp rattle of acarbine rang
out on the still night air, and the camp
was awake.
Courage, Senorita, we will pass
them yet. Pedro. Ho, Pedro-!n
Here, Senior. Hasten, the horses
are in the hollow just beyond the hill"
1t was o race for life and the patriots
won. Hardly were they mounted and
Off before q dozen or more carabineros
rushed into the hollow.
"Caballo !Caballo T. they cried, and
discharged their weapons.
"Can you hold your seat, Senorita ?"
the captain asked as he rode up beside
her.
"With ease,n she answered brayely.
/ amilinp fuintlu fhrn,,nh tho rrTrNae,
"They are on horses aud in pursuit,
Senior. fear we are lostW interrupt-
ed Pedro.
"Why so, comradepn
because, I-I-Valentino, the girls
horse is dying ~
The Captain lurched in his saddle as
though struck by blow. For the fret
time he noticed the spasmodic leaps OF
the maiden's steed, and the gradual
tagging of its pace.
Still on they sped /; five--ten-ffteen
minutes, and they began to enter the
losing strength, but still the noble
animal plunged on till it's heart burst;
and with an agonizing groan it stun.
bled and fell dead.
Ina moment Valentino had the girl
on his own mount, and was daohing
away in pursuit Of Pedro.
Courage, Senorita,p he murmured
softly, and pressed her closer to his
breast, nesting his face among her
beautiful waving curls.
P~-i-n-ggg!
That fatal bullet dipped close to the
Captain's head, and was instantly fol-
lowed by a heavy fall.
"Comarada, are you hurt q,
No answer,
Dead ~
That one solemn word was uttered
withaa pathos that BODIED i'll for the
perpetrators of the deed.
"Oh, ye hellish dastards, We tramp
lers of human rights, may your flesh
rot and your bones decay in every
hidden swamp and recess OF Cuba, and
may the power of despotic Spain
sink beneath the pillows OF the sea,
carrying with3it every yestige OF the
accursed nation. DiosS Oh, Pedro,
my comrade-my friend"
The c~arabineros wee close upon the
fugitiyes now. and a last look at
his beloved comrade the captain struck
his spursG eep In his horses Hank and
g Aestwa ard.
Courage, Senorita, courage. he
whispered over and over again.
There yet remains one final resort III
all other fail. will save you-haye
you faith in mo ?p
And ia answer the girl would lift her
sweet face and say
Faith unbounded, You are q Cuban
patriot"
Never before had the young Cuban
been placed In such u critical position.
III 1t had not been for his beautiful
charge, he would have turned back
and died br8yely, fighting over the
body ut his slain comrade. But this
girl with the lovely waving hair and
the glorious eyes had cast q spell over
him which was not easily thrown off {;
she was more than life to him now.
"Oh, my God, they are gaining on
us, Senior See (; they level their pioces
they firel"
" Inferno the horse is struck-he is.
down Cling to me, Senorita.n
The quarry was run to earth; Valen-
tino's last resolve was shattered; he
could not nov forfeit his own life for
that OF his companion. But blood
should flow as free as water In that
dark, gloomy pass before he would
allow himself to be taken captive.
What was that ?
"A terrific explosion, q stream of
q~uiveriug flame shooting out from that
impenetrable mass OF darkness, and
the foremost dragon ,tumbles from his
horse, as Efeless as the weather beaten
rocks about him.
Cr-r-r-a-ack
Viva Cuba Libre ~