Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-09

1t is now II years ago that our below
ed Spain was shaken by civil war. Car
los and Isabel disputed the crown, and
our countrymen, divided IN two fac
tions, shed their blood in fratricidal con-
1ict.
had in those days friend named
Ramon Gomez, cavalry lieutenant in
the same battalion, one of the best
hearted fellows have ever known. We
were educated together; together we
left college; together had we passed
many happy days, and together we were
ready to die for liberty. Oh, can truly
say that he was more attached to the
liberal cause than any of us, and his
loyalty was never questioned. Yet, even
so, certain injustice committed by our
chief, one Of those abuses of authority
that wreck the most honorable career,
made the cavalry lieutenant desert the
ranks Of his fellow soldiers, the friend
leave his friend, the liberal abandon his
cause for that of hated faction, the
subordinate desire to kill his superior
officer
Neither my warnings nor my entreat-
les awaited to dissuade him from this
rash step. 1t was thing decided. He
would change the helmet for the cap,
despising as he did the rebels and their
cause.
At that time we found ourselves in
the principality Of -, three miles
from the enemy 1t was the night in
which Ramon was to desert-a cheer
less evening, cold and wet, ON the eve
Of battle. At midnight Ramon enter
ed my tent. was asleep.
"Basiho,' he whispered in my ear.
who's there?" asked, waking with
a start
''It is I. Goodby."
lyon are going already?"
"Yes. Goodby" And he grasped my
hand. Listen" he continued. "If to-
morrow there is great battle, as is the
rumor, and we come face to face in it,
II know, 1 know" I interrupted.
"We are friends. "
GOOD. We clasp hands and fight aft
erward I shall die tomorrow surely,
but not until I have fought my way to
the side of the lieutenant colonel As
for you, Basilio. do not expose yourself.
Glory is but yapor.
"And life2''
"Well said. Make yourself a COM
mandant. The pay is not ethereal
that Is, not till one has smoked it away.
All, but all that has now ended for me. "
"What melancholy thoughts - cried,
not without a sinking at the heart. "To-
morrow we shall survive the battle.
"Wen, If this be so, let us now ap-
point q meeting place"
"Where?"
"In the hermitage of st. Nicholas at
O'Clock tomorrow night. He who is
not there by that time shall be given up
for dead by the other. Is it agreedf"
Agreed"
We'll, thep, goodby."
"Goodby."
We embraced affectionately and part
ed, Ramon disappearing under shelter
Of the darkness.
As we had. expected, the rebels at
tackled us the following day. The action
was q bloody one and lasted from 3
O'Clock in the afternoon until nightfall.
About O'Clock my battalion was rough
y set upon by a party Of Alaveses. Jed by
Ramon. he then wore the uniform and
decorations Of scommandant and on his
| head was the white cap of the Carlists.
! ordered my company to fire upon Ra-
mons fo&ces He retaliated, and soon
our battaIions were engaged in hand
to hand struggle. We were victorious,
and Ramon Vas forced to retreat with
the scattered remnants Of his band, not.
however. before ne had slain with his
own hand our lieutenant colonel, who
opposed a desperate but vain resistance
to the fury Of his antagonist.
Toward sunset the fortunes of war
turned against MS and part Of my unfor-
tunate company was, with myself, cut
off from the naalp body apd forced to
! susrenasE ksSas IsAea pEtsQgeE- to the