Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-10-24

LOVERS IN SAN seveRINo.
ssAs look at Il today" said the old
Cuban, "the past seems Ike IN evil
frightful dream"
10 len and right Of the great fort TIE
land side Of Paseo stretched, trce-shaded,
edged By low stone ses wall, and filled
with companies at drill, strolllng seuori-
tas, excursionlsts, peddlers who, Ia
varied minor keys, cried their wares
gusva sandwiches, cigars, lines, fresh
honey.
We paced peacefully on the brow Of
the fort and then crossed 70 point
where We looked down on the courtyard
lined with prison cells and officers
quarters. The wallis were naring In
coats of whitewash, and the clesnly
smell Of chloride OF lime came up to US.
Enlisted men were sweeping or plying
soapy mops to the pavements, or polish
Ing any bits Of metal In evidence.
Above an incline leading to q neigh
boring rampant an American sentry
paced, his bayonet magnet for dancing
spsrks Of sunlight, the Stars and Stripes
standing out above him In the breeze, .
brilliant square OF beauty.
The old Cuban WAS silent. He was
not looking ut the American dag. His
eyes saw nothing, bat the vision OF his
soul Was busy.
This shabby, quiet man, with shape
less Panama hat, knotted red neckcloth
and bullying cotton umbrella, was famll-
lar to the American colony. He was
none OF the dismal, out-at-elbow thou
sands OF Cuba, and but few years ago
had been wealthy planter. Now he
earned hand-to- mouth living ss inter-
prefer, for English was second tongue
70 him.
"Ah-ayev" he sail, coming back to the
present with dream. "Ah, what
have seen! You see the arch next the
lasts In the cell beyond that lsy--and
stewed-for sixty days"
"Alone there for sixty daysy"
Him." he said, with q grim sniff
Mot alone. There were twenty Of
Us in that hole, and some had fever and
two went mad"
"were you active among the insur-
gentsg"
20, yes; though not soldier. But
xas man TO fear. II was known had
lived In the states till was twenty-five,
and | had taken out papers there. Ny
enemies hated me, so 10 keep me safely
they put me In this pest house-as it
was then. Rats, vermln, every imagiD.
able Nth, and wretches who prayed
aloud for death filed every cell. Where
| was one OF Us kept awake always to
keep the rats of the rest while they
slept. We took turns that way. What
tell you is true.
Three times was sentenced To death.
Once Was really led out to be shot In
the most down there. But they were
sfrsid. Before they could carry out the
sentence the third time the protocol WAS
.igued. They dared not kill me. Mean
while my people did not know where !
WAS.
1T WAS not enough that San Severiuo
neld medieval horrors Of which the peo-
pie knew-upjust trials, torture, execu-
ton In bulk, where each man was \
numbered Cuban without name, just q
receptacle for Spanish bullet-but
secret murders by the score took place
within these walls. Some Of these sous
and husbands who had disappeared
we're seen again, when their garroted
bodies, not sufficiently weighted, rose to
the surface of the bay and drifted 10
the hesch. What / tell you Is true"
We went down TO the cells.
"This Was NINE" said the old Cuban,
smiling delightedly the aroma OF white
wash aud cycling the clean pallet, "ah,
the difference
A young lieutenant approached with q
large piece Of white psstebosrd. IL WAS
covered with black penciled squares.
"Hsve you seen thisr got II In one
Of the cells when we first came. Some
poor DEVILS chessbosrd. Wonder what
he played withg"
~ know" said the old Cuban; "dirt,
rolled into Jumps"
I'VE have another souvenir OF two
interesting prisoners" and the young
lieutenant led the way.
1.-TWO newspaper correspondents were
kept here out OF harms way. They
were not treated like other prisoners
and put into one Of the vermin-ridden
cells, though these were bad enough
when we came. Look" and he pointed
10 the wall.
There, In black crayon, were the pro-
files Of the two Americans, cleverly
sketched. Ii Is probable the drawing
will remain there while San Severino
exists.
We went back and recrossed the
bridge. Above In It's white arch, hung
the silent fortress bell.
"Ab, that bell. What Il said TO me
once!" the old man murmured. ut is
a curious feeling" he added, "to say
good-by TO life and then come back TO
It."
Our way lay through the passages be-
tween the cemented boulders TO the dry
moat. Over this the drswbridge hung
with massive, useless chain.
"Do you see the level line OF Clipped
stone along this WALTZ" said my guide ;
ut Ia the dead line Here those SEN
fenced to be shot were ranged, blind
folded"
He poked with the point of his um-
brella along the line OF loosened mortar,
and bullet fell out, then another, and
another.
st Is full OF them,n he said, looking
down on the rusty Jumps In his palm
land most of them stilled heart.
What tell you Is true"
Up one OF the paths between the tow
ering walls, past the moat, died trio
Of American girls 10 white, with flowers
and big green psrasols. Their laughter
made the most murmur. Following at
few yards distance came one girl, q
colonel's daughter, and with her q
young cavalry officer. He was leaning
toward her, and she gave him q rose as
they passed out Of sight.
"God be thanked! Lovers In San
Severino! The difference" murmured
the old Cuban, lifting his hst reverently,
and he said no more.-Kate Jordan In
the Criterion.
HOLDING HIS JOB.
At -.