The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-02

government found out the person attempt.
s,~ e. IL meant death, perhaps. and who
could tell that boat approaching the
cruiser might not be fired into and sunk?
No. chsguita. not for all the money In the
treasury at Santiago could he be persuade
"a 10 risk his life In such q crazy venture
The good soul knew perfectly well that
the girls lover was attached TO the stan
~ cant. Montt, and he naturally thought
the girl was only love sick and yearned for
an interview with Clifford before the feet
commenced hostile operations
Listen TO me. Manuel" said the girl.
when al last she was allowed 10 put in a
word: II am utterly determined. and since
YOU refuse TO go out with me 1 will go
alone. but go l must and will. I cannot
explair 10 you now the reason Of my
strange conduct IL may puzzle you and
appear unbecoming to girl OF my station
in life. but at some later date, perhaps.
Won viii be convinced that you misjudged
my action and that I only performed my
duty. like true Christian, toward my
fellow beings. The whole affair may end
in ms utter ruin. but nothing shall deter
me. and all I beg of you is TO let me have
give me suit of your fsherman's clothes
to don. They win Mt me admirably
Pulling from her pockets what money
she possessed along with some valuable
trinkets she pressed the whole into Mar
tha's hands. implUing her to intercede on
her behalf. That good woman finally
managed to bring her lord and master TO
terms, but both steadfastly refused to take
more than the money, which amply paid
for the boat that would be lost 10 them,
for the girl declared she intended to re-
main on board the cruiser. if ever she
were fortunate enough to reach there. un-
til she could be landed at Caldera where
an aunt OF hers was living. Only a short
time remained until dawn, and 1t was
necessary for Manuel to go at once and
get a rowboat in readiness which was
moored with his larger fishing craft in a
little cove back Of the lighthouse. When
he was gone, his good spouse endeavored,
by every possible ruse she could think of
to once more dissuade Herminia. from her
adventurous undertaking, but il availed
naught. for the girl was not TO be thwart-
ed. The parting words of her loyer-"for-
get me not"-kept ringing in her ears. and
ever and anon she clasped her hands
across her heaving BOSOM where within
the folds of her dress lay hidden the faded
sprays of forget-me-nots.
After partaking of some mate para
guayan teal which the good Martha had
prepared for her. Herminia hurriedly di-
vested herself of her feminine apparel and
donnsa the coarse fisherman's garb, which
was by no means ill-becoming TO her sup
pie figure. Her thick black tresses she
plated tightly in knot at the back of her
head, which she covered with one of Man.
uels sou'-westers.
Manuel returned just before daybreak,
and after bidding a CHEEKY farewell 10 the
weeping Martha. Herminia followed the
fisherman lightly down the hill to the cove
where the little rowboat was lying ready.
Nobody was astir at this early hour. not
yet O'Clock, to witness the proceedings
of the pair, and after a hearty hand-shake
with Manuel no time was lost by Herminia
in putting off from the shore Ii was a
beautiful, calm morning. The sea was as
smooth as glass, and ii was an easy mat
ter for the spirited girl to work the light
oars. After rounding the point by the
lighthouse, she pulled directly toward the
offing OF the bay, where could be seen the
towering black hulls Of the men-of-war.
When drawing nearer Herminia deserted
large white boat of the squadron coming
directly toward her. For a moment her
heart seemed to stop beating, but, instant
~ recovering her presence of mind. she
proceeded TO raise long boathook. to
which she attached a large white hand
kerchief, in the bow of her little craft,
and kept on pulling in the direction of the
approaching boat. which proved to be a
duty. Boat ahoy!" presently came the
challenge of the coxswain. and the eight
armed oarsInen stopped pulling Friend
Friend and supporter of the cause of the
opposition, bearing an important message
for Capt. Jorge Montt and for the whole
squadron" answered Herminia promptly,
and moment later she was alongside OF
the cutter and the oars slipped from her
grasp. From pocket in her trousers she
drew forth the copy OF the Recluto con-
tanning the description of the torpedo at
tack arrangements, and presented IL TO an
officer in the .sternsheets of the cutter. to
whom she also explained in broken sem
fences the purport of her mission and made
known her sex and the reasons for dis
guising herself. Then suddenly all her
strength and self-possession, which up TO
this moment had never failed. forsool her,
and as amid storm of applause and rous-
ing cheers she was lifted into the stern of
the cutter. Gods mercy remembered her
and in the black blank of a swoon she
sank into oblivion.