Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-20

again. General! General Maduro!" She
thrust her arm against my chest, nearly
forcing herself from my grasp by the sud
denness and fury Of the effort. I under
stood the hatred of the man who had sent
her husbands head as q present to the
king.
Not General Maduro, my child. I am
Arroyo" For though she was an enemy
she was also a woman. and I pitied the
little creature At the name her whole ex-
preston changed and she looked at me
with wonder and questioning. "Arroya?
Arroyo who was al the Chico?" she cried.
''Yes. 1 am that Arroya."
"Save meas you are brave and merci-
full. save me-" she faltered. She looked at
the soldiers as though she would have them
further away. Understanding that she
might have something for my ear alone l
ordered the men to retire little way, and
when they had done so she spoke quickly,
though with evident pain:
DO you remember Colonel Poey, who
was with you at the Chico?'
Poey, my dearest companion in arms;
he died long since. l owed my life to him
cree on the battlefield. Why do you speak
Of him?"
Because 1 am Colonel Poey's daughter"
The news stunned me. | could find no
words to express my establishment. AS
though in a dream l heard her say: Il am
mortally hurt. But l would not die with
out the consolation of the church of my
religion. Oh. If you are really that Arroya
that my father loved, get padre that
! may confess and receive absolution before
/ die
1t would not be difficult, thought, to do
as she wished if l had but place to leave
her: for 1t was very evident that at
tempt to move her to our camp would be
fatal before we could reach it.
rs there TO house or cabin near?" I
asked.
'''Thare iS h1p hnu ho1f a
mile from here" she gasped. 1T is in the
footpath that turns to the left as you go
toward the river"
So we lifted her carefully and carried her
slowly to the hut she had indicated, and in
that rude and inhospitable shelter we laid
cur burden. who had tainted from the loss
of blood and the pain of her journey.
Quick" 1 directed Sapportez GO to the
camp: take E dozen men with you for safe
ty: carry this Ia note l scrubbed to the
generaD and bring back your padre
But Sapportez said: General, We have no
padre in the camp. We had two, but one
died of the fever and the other accompanied
his body back to the city to celebrate mass
for him"
Here was a dilemma which had not been
anticipated. Just then Antonio came up
to me.
Antonio" I asked. "do you know FL
Libertad?"
"As well as I know your house. senior. I
was born and raised there
Stay, SapporteZ. You will not go to the
camp, but l will leave you in command
here to guard the prisoner. Dispose your
men well, recollecting that you are in an
enemy's country. Place your pickets care
fully: guard the lady in the howell yonder
with your life, if necessary. against any
harm. but do not on any account permit a
rescue, and rather than have her taken
from you alive. kill her with your own
hand first Do you understand?'
Yes, senior. Perfectly. l am to kill the
WITCH"
NO. no." I exclaimed. THAT is only as
the last alternatives; when you find that
your life will no longer serve to keep her
from being rescued. She Is to be cared for