The herald., 1898-07-10

full, but this one was different.
Obeying strange impulse, he stepped
forward. Camilla" he said, and held out his
arms. She rose, half hesitatingly, but the
next moment he was kissing her passionate
| ly; then she freed herself and ran into the
| house.
|. 1t was with mingled emotions that Oliver
paced up and down the small cleared space
in front of the house after Camilla left him.
He had but a short twenty-four hours to
reach Santiago and redeem his pledge, and
he had not even seen Cuyas, who had the
most important thing, the picture, in his pos
session. There was but one way. He must
| take the jewel and leave immediately 1t
would seem like robbery, and he ground
his teeth as he thought of itrbitterly ours
ing himself for the promise he had made
| and which must be kept.
Tossing his cigarette aside he entered the
house, braced for the task before him. TIe
knew Camilas room, and it was an easy
thing to open the unbarred door, yet great
| drops of sweat stood on his forehead as ne
| accomplished it.
| The moonlight streaming across the mar
row bed showed him the girl as she lay
| asleep, one arm bent under her head and her
dark hair tumbled over the pillow. With
trembling fingers he united the ribbon on her
neck and drew the ring gently off. The
touch of her cool, soft skin against his hand
went through him like shock. She moved
slightly and murmured something in her
sleep. 1t was his naMe. With stifed
groan he hastily turneo and left the ROOM
Reaching the open air, he leaned against the
side OF the house. dizzy and exhausted But
his work was not yet done, and he forced
himself to go to the stable and saddle his
horse, breathing more freely as he rode out
of the enclosure.
He had ridden but short distance pick
ing his way carefully over tha miserable
road, when a man stepped oul from the
underbrush and stood directly in his path.
The moon made it almost as light as day.
and Oliver.easily recognized Cuyas. Throw
ing himself from his horse, he went up tu
him, but the other held up his hand. $50
senor," he said, in slow, drawing Spanish
you go from my house like al thief in the
night. What do you take with you?'
| Nothing" answered Oliver, coolly, "but
the ring of the Senorita Dona Inez de
Quesada. which I have promised to deliver
to her tomorrow night, with the picture
which you wear over your heart"
Cuyas' face cleaned white and angry, and
he sprang forward with a threatening ges-
ture. Oliver caught his wrists and held
them in his powerful grasp.
| Listen" he said in Spanish, IT was in
vited by the lady whom you love to kill you.
but I shall not. have promised certain
thing and 1 shall do it. Yield peaceably, for
yield you must, and she is not worth strug-
gle. Come, will you give me the picture? ?"
Mother of God! Never!' said the other
fighting desperately to free himself
Then I must take it," answered. Oliver
and holding Cuyas hands firmly in one of
his own, he tore open his shirt with the
other and felt for the picture. 1t was sus.
pended by a cord around his neck, and
Oliver easily detached it. Then taking
Cuyas' knife and pistol from him he tossed
them into the bushes. II ,annot afford to
let you kill me- he said, grimy, 'but you
shall have that satisfaction before lorg, as
1 will return"
| Neither man had heard a slight rustling
among the trees, but as Oliver released his
hold on his prisoner a file of soldiers stepped
into the narrow path and seized Cuyas arm.
They wore the uniform of Spain. Oliver
grasped the situation e.. glance and turned
to defend the man he had beer struggling
with, but the soldiers had surrounded him
forward and raised his hat courteously to
Oliver, who Immediately recognized his face.
"Allow me to thank you, Senior Oliver
he said. "but I cannot understand why you
let him CO."
II had no quarrel with the man. returned
the American; "merely a question of bust
| ness. But If you consider him my prisoner
let him go'
impossible" said the other, I'VE have
been on his track for days and should not
have him now had you not detained him
with your business. Tomorrow there will
be one rebel less"
The words were uttered brutally within
plain hearing of C)uyas, but not muscle Of
his face stirred. He motioned Oliver 10 come
nearer. and the American obeyed.
"Do not blame yourself" the young man
said generously. but for the woman
should have lived for Cuba. Now can
only die. Tell her.1 wasi mad to threaten.
never really meant to harm her. But, God!
Why did she make me love her?" He shiv-
cred slightly and turned his face away; then
after moments silence spoke in a broken
voice. my sister," he said. "What shall
do?"
Oliver grasped his fettered hands. Her
| II swear it,"
Cuyas had no chance to reply, for the
Spanish soldiers, impatient of delay, closed
around him, forcing Oliver ASIDE. The
American knew that nothing could ave him
and he turned away, jumping or his horse.
He had not ridden far when a single rifle
shot ringing in his ears told him only too
| plainly that Spanish hate had not waited
until the morrow, and there was one patriot
| less in Cuba.
1t was noon when Oliver reached the
hacienda of Senior Gonzales, and changing
his horse, rode on again. Those who saw him
wondered at the set look on his face, but
| there were none who dared to question.
| AS he galloped on he dared not think. The
face of Inez rose before him in ali it's allur-
ing beauty, as he had seen 1t last, half
hooking, half loving. The strange light
that had cleaned for a moment in the
treacherous eyes chung to him, drawing
him on against his will. Then vision of
Camilla, desolate, alone, looking for the
brother who would never come, cursing the
man she had trusted. made him shudder
and set his teeth
1t was evening when, wet to the skin with
the water of the marshes, he saw the spire
of the cathedral cleaning like gold, and a
little later he rode up the hilly street of
Santiago. The long, hot day was gasping
it's last breath out under flaming yellow
sky. and most of the people were gathered