The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-11-17

OF which were secured ana sentry
placed here and there. Anyway, /
heard no fighting, and it was not long
before the rebels came back into the
courtyard with two officers in their
midst-an elderly man, in generals
uniform. and younger man.
AT last, Captain Monterol" ex-
claimed the girl triumphsntly, address
ing the young man. Her face seemed
to have changed entirely. When 1 first
set eyes on her, she might have been
mistaken for an angel, but now she
would easily have passed for the OPP
posite.
The captain said nothing, but he APP
peared to be surprised to see her
there and in that dress.
"You did not expect me to return so
quickly?" she asked, noticing his sur
prise and smiling. 1 preferred her
frown to that smile.
81 am at your mercy" he replied
codly. 81 presume that you mean to
kill me, but l am not afraid of DEATH"
eyes, mean to kill you," said that
she devil with cold-blooded emphasis.
{" mean to kill you as you killed my
loverl"
He was a consplratorl
"He was your successful rival That
is why you put him to death, because l
loved him and would not listen TO your
false tonguel You have robbed me of
all the happiness of life, and intend
to have noble revengel"
She stopped to get breath, for she
had been working herself up into ter
rible rage. Then she went on:
9" planned the taking of this place
because that would enable me 10 ac-
complish three things at one time. l
guessed that you would most probably
not be expecting an attack, especially
from so small a force.
elf you were prepared, that meant
death to all of us, but we were willing
TO risk it. We have succeeded"
There was ring of triumph in her
voice, and it must be admitted that
there was good cause for it.
"The taking of this fort means death
to you at our hands-that's one thing.
1t means disgrace to your father-there
be stands-and your family, the COM
mandant of stronghold who allowed
it to be taken by thirty men and a
womanl And it is blow to the gov
eminent, which promoted you for your
infamous deed We can hold this fort
against all the troops and ships your
masters can send to retake it, and we
shall soon be reinforced"
The captains lips twtched, but am
certain that it was the thought of his
fathers disgrace and not the idea OF
death which unnerved him.
At sign from Sanchez the officer
was dragged to tall post at the end of
the courtyard and securely fastened to
it so that he could not move any part
of his body 80 much as half an inch. l
hadn't long to wait for an explanation
of this proceeding.
"This is what l intend to do with
you" said Sanchez to her victim. 81
and two of my men who are good shots
with the revolver will stand twenty
yards from you and fire at you. We
shall not aim at any vital part, but
shall scratch and wound you all over.
When l think you have had enough,
we shall leave you to die of pain and
thirst. And while you are living your
last moments in agony think of Juan
Machado and how Maria Sanchez
avenged his DEATH"
could not believe my ears. l
thought she was trying to frlghten him,
but she was in deadly earnest. She
took up a position opposite him, and
the others stood ON each side, but at
some distance from her and twenty
yards from him, 80 that they formed a
kind of semicircle in front of the DOOM
ed wretch and all three at equal dis
lance from him. They began the shoot
ing without delay. The father was
dragged up to the spot to witness his
sons agony.
The girl had the first shot. The bull
let struck the captains ear, tearing half
of it away. One of the men struck
him in the arm, and the third bullet
grazed his cheek.
The sight was too much for me. !
could understand her killing her enc
my, but to torture him in that manner
was too awful. l couldn't stand by and
see it done without making an attempt
to prevent it. My blood was up and l
didn't care what came of my interfer-
ence.
"That's enough of it'll" 1 yelled,
rushing in front of the officer. II
you want to kill him, do 80, but you
shan't kill him by inches in that way
while 1 have bullet to use. The first
one who raises his revolver signs the
death warrant of that she devil"
And as l spoke pointed my revolv'
er straight at her head. 1t took them
all by surprise, but the girl was as
quick as a dart and got even with me
at once. Before realized it-and I'm
pretty smart generally - her revolver
was pointed at my head, and there we
stood facing each other like duelistS
waiting the signal to fire.
"Stand asidel' she said imperiously
I" If not, you will be shot dead"
my bullet will travel as fast al
yours" l replied coolly. l knew
should be killed, but at least / had {
chance of putting an end to the fend
ish work of that little-angel. sup
pose she realized that, for she gave in
"Stand aside, and he shall be killed
outright" she said, and as l looked du
bious about it she added haughtily, 6.
give you my word"
felt that she would keep it, 30
stood aside, but the poor fellow hat
tainted, and she lowered her pistol
He was united and carried away. 4