The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-10

| y, had been thrown up. over wooded
| ridge. into what had been a cultivated
| country, now deserted by the inhabi-
| tanls Ny companion explained that,
| although within less than forty miles
| of Havana itself. it had been the scene
! OF a rebel raid two months before that.
1t was evident that there were not
many people Of the superior classes left.
| hut by and hy we succeeded ia getting
both food and shelter ut the house of an
| o,erseer, besides Il good deal of SYM
| pathy us shipwreched sailors from the
! negroes.
When, at last. we started TO find our
way 10 the capital. We had obtained
| both shoes and hats. and, IN the course
of our long two~days' tramp, we were
fortunate enough 10 get substitutes
| for tile coats We had discarded IL was
my comrade who thought Of an cxpla-
nation of our appearance on the coast,
! which he warned me was our OF > pass
| port to liberty. and from time 10 time
he repeated the story of the ship
wreck OF the schooner Traveller. on her
|! voyage from Kingston TO Key West. ill
both of MS were familiar with the char
acteps in which we were 10 appear, If
questioned. In spite of this. we were
careful TO avoid Spanish guards and
patrols. of whom there were plenty on
nearly every road. and made our walk a
good deal longer in leaving the road TO
avoid the risk OF meeting them. The
more thought of il, the stronger had
become my feeling Of gratitude 20 my
companion. for the efforts he had made
10 save my life. and | very readily re-
signed myself 10 his guidance. only
promising myself that. when we
reached Havana would make some at
tempt TO repay him for his good Offices.
had friends there. l said TO myself, and
| was conscious of keen sense Of de-
lightful anticipation, as contemplated
the welcome which | hoped to receive
from at least one person. ] am afraid
that il went far to reconcile me at once
to the failure of my mission for the
Universe" and to the fate of my un-
fortunate shipmates. Ii is marvellous
how quickly the future can obliterate
the past, especially the future radiant
ground that Is dark and somber.
Thompson was TO take me TO a place
OF safety, where he said that friends OF
his would shelter me for q day or two.
till we could arrange. either formy safe
ty in Havana. or for some method OF
getting away. AS we stole into the
suburbs, just before moonrise. l
could not but feel grateful for the
cleverness and care he had taken to
ensure my safety. II was dark-the
soft languorous darkness OF an almost
brcezeless tropical night when all ma
turc seems to be waiting for the rising
of the moon--nnd ! soon began 10 fancy
that even in the darkness | could recog-
nize some OF the wel-emem bered land
marks Of the place. War seemed not
TO have touched IL mt all. and IL would
have been hard indeed. 10 imagine any
thing more peaceful than the scene
dimly visible in the shadows OF the
trees. Yet, surely. / knew the place.
Another minute. and WAS certain of IL.
We were in the grounds remembered
So wen. and that shadowy building that
could he dimly traced among the trees
was the white villa of Senor Cnstellano.
nv own and my fathers friend.
/ stopped for moment 10 recover
from the shock of the surprise, and
glanced quickly Mt my companion, who
was already a step or two in advance, as
something like feeling OF doubt
flashed through my mind. Thompson
had spoken OF his friends. and | had
lightly concluded that there was. "A
lady in the case. although he had not
said so: and now--what II il were so?
What IL this man who had saved my |
! l.fe-for knew that he must have done |
so by his esertions-what il this mnn |
we're rival? A thousand tales Of the |
readiness with which girls can forget |
the absent flashed through my mind, |
and for moment I was ready to be- |
leve anything.
Thompson looked back. and noticed |
my hesitation--"Come along" he said |
in a low tone: "this is the place"
followed him mechanically toward |
The house. Most OF the windows were /
dark. but. as we canc I'm sight Of the |
side Of the wcll-kn.wn building. saw |
that n broad bard OF light streamcd
from French window which opened
on a small piazza that was more than |
half buried in gorgeous creepers. I
paused again for an instant; indeed. I |
felt rs " I dared not 60 on. How often
] had s,t on that PIAZZA, How often
had wandered on just such night as
that under the shadows of the palms,
My companion appeared hardly to- re-
member nay presence now. hut stepped
eagerly forward TO the .ght. As he put
his foot on the step-it seemed 30 nc
That he did IL like one who felt sure Of
his welcome. and hot smart passed
through me as looked he half turned l
and beckoued mo 20 follow did 20
like man IN = dream. and IN another
moment ! stood on the Hcli-rcmem-
bered spot.
The window was thrown widely opeu.
and In another instant ! caught sight %
an arm and n shoulder. and lcad hent