Mexico Missouri message., 1900-07-26
TWICE WOUNDED.

incident which, with regard to myself,
came near terminating fatally.
n day or two after my arrival in
Mexico strollcd out one evening and,
half uncorsciously. took my way to-
ward one of those cool. shady walks
occasionally to be met with on the out
skirts of the city.
AS | paced slowly on toward part
OF the walk where the trees grew
closer, forming little grove, / sudden
ly became conscious of the presence of
two persons few steps in advance of
me.
The persons l had just discovered
were n gentleman and lady. On OBJ
serving this fact | was relieved of
momcntary fear of being set upon by
despcrad0es; | presently found my
couple to be a pair of lovers. enjoying
stolen interview in the little grove,
which had nearly reached but check
ed myself in time to prevent discovery
just then, though | did not long avert
IT,
The first words heard were spoken
hy the gentleman
Fly with me tonight. dearest, I en-
treat; give mo the right to protect you
from the wilcs Of Don Pedro. Only rs
my wife can | save YOU from the per
sccutions of him and His cowardly
SON"
81 know it, dear Manuel" replied the
maiden, whose soft. sweet voice quiv-
cred as if In deadly terror. at was
only this morning | overheard n con
vorsation which fully appriscd me of
the great power placed in the hands of
my uncle and guardian. Don Pedro de
Saltillo, power over me which now
he proposes to share with his trcacher-
Gus son. Garcia"
"iIow?" abruptly inquired the cav
alier
"Dearc6t Manuel. my guardian has
tried every means short Of personal
violence to invciglc me into u marriage
with Garcia. | have heard them plot
ting to secure me at night and carry
me To n deserted ranch at a distance
from the city and there, by the help Of
a vicious priest, unite me to Garcia.
"If marry without Don Pcdros con
sent my estates revert To him | sue
cceded In escaping tonight. aGG came
here knowing | should meet you. who
would rescue me from my peril, hut you
will take to your heart a dOwCrlc6s
bride dear Manuel"
Fear not, Isabelle" said her lover.
"Thcrc is but one course to take come
Ii 4
Our marriage shall be performed at
once and then Don Pedro and Garcia
cannot molcst You unless they pass
over my lifclcss body"
Hist" whispered the lady. as in my
laundering | broke a dry twiG. causing
n slight rustic among the shrubbcry.
The next moment | felt myself grasp
ed tightly by the throat, while a sharp.
singing sensation told me that | had
been stabbed. ! made an Intellectual
struggle, but soon sank into uncon-
! 5CiOuRncSs.
When awokc to consciousness ! was
| lying in n bed in a luXuriously furnish
cd apartment. while beside me sat a
venerable old man in the Earh rf a
priest
"Whcrc am -" was my first quos-
! tion, as ! mOtiOncd fcchly toward a
pitcher of water on the stand near by.
He pressed goblet brimminG with
the pure, icy liquid to my lips.
Tho old mans face inspired me with
confidence and | told him the whole
| story.
| He started and looked me kccnly
as | mentioned the names Of the lovers
and Donna Isabclle's unworthy guar
! dian.
And now, holy father, tell mo where
I am" asked again, as finished my
story.
The old priest looked at me steadily
a few minutes and then asked:
"Canst thou keep a secret, my son?
One of importance to these young low
crs? Thou art now in the house of
! Don Manuel de Mon2a, who, in his