Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-10-31

NT AUGUSTINE en- fete presents the
y prettiest picture imaginable, and
one need not be surprised to meet ro-
nance at any turn of its quaint old
streets. And the cathedral on the
plaza, with its ancient Spanish belfry,
would seem to be one of the most like
ly places in the city for story, or, at
least, for the beginning of one. So
must have thought the fate that
watches over our mundane affairs when
on Easter Sunday of last year the bells
began to ring out their joyous invita-
ton to the world.
AS the orderly crowds thronged into
church two young men crossed the
plaza and entered. One was IN naval
uniform; the other dressed as tour
lists guide, and both were bron1ed a.
if from long sea service. They seemed
to avoid attention, and took seats be-
hind a pillar, behind which they could
watch the entrance without themselves
being seen.
The services were half over when
lady and a gentleman came in at the
great door and passed down the aisle
towards the altar. The gentleman was
stout and middle-aged, the lady in the
bloom of 20 years. The man seemed
in the height of good humor; the
woman was evidently in serious trou-
BILE.
AS they passed, looking neither to
the right nor to the left, one Of the
young men touched the other on the
arm, with a glance at the pair. DE
was answered by nod, and presently
both left the church, slipping out by
a side door. In a narrow street run
ming at right angles to the plaza they
hailed a cab, into which he of the uni
form stepped, drew the door to and sat
down to wait.
The other, sauntering over to the
plaza, took his station near group Of
palms, in the shade Of which two or
three carriages were grouped. And
soon the old bells doomed, and the peo-
pie streamed out. Among them were
the two for whom our amateur detect
i've was lying in wait, and as they en-
tered one of the carriages he managed
to get near enough to hear the order
to Fort San Marco" After moment
or two spent in perfunctorily gazing
at the memorial shaft by the fountain
he Joined his friend in the side street,
and together they drove away.
By three o'clock in the afternoon the
fort was crowded with people. The
shady courtyard and the cool corridors
beneath the massive entrance held
their quota, while others of the mcr-
curial crowd fitted up the stone stair
way to the ramparts above. Easter
toilettes blossomed by the stern bas-
tions, and children's laughter filed the.
embrasures where cannon once guard
ed the honor of Spain.
Walking through this animated
scene, a part of it, and yet foreign to 1t,
were the young lady and the stout
gentleman. There was third person
in the party now, a stranger with
distinguished air and eyes into which
flames flashed as he talked.
"There's a fine view for you, senior"
remarked Mr.. Maynall, the stout gen.
tleman, giving his cane an outward
flourish as he spoke.
Don MIGUEL nodded a smiling assent;
he was too happy for words.
But a cry of rage from Mr.. Maynall
broke in on his trance. Right I'M
der the sea wall, at the foot of the
eastern glacis, a four-oared boat
rocked on the incoming tide, and as
Marian Maynall caught sight of it
she turned to her father and said,
with sparkle in her eyes: "They
are waiting for some one down there;
l wonder who it can be-"
eyes, they belong to that gunboat
yonder. 1 suppose some young naval
sprig out for lark, curse him"
"Fatherl" exclaimed the young girl,
angrily.
81 mean what 1 say" rejoined the
other. 81 hate the whole service be-
cause of that impudent jackanapes
with whom you have been fancying
yourself in love. But that's all over
now. thank Heaven, and 1 suppose l
ought to laugh at him instead. What
have you to say, Miquel?" he con-
cluded, giving the Spaniard playful
poke with his cane.
"Oh, oh! What is it, senor?" re-
piled MIGUEL, coming back to realty
with start.
81 say we will laugh at certain
person after vespers," answered Mr..
Magnall, testify.
The don's reply was a scowf5- a
gesture indicative of a desire to ex-
terminate somebody. Then bending
towards the young lady he raised her
hand to his lips. He did not see her
look of aversion; he would not have
cared if he had. It was enough for
him that ne was about to marry a
great heiress, and so be able to pay
off his numerous debts; what the
heiress thought or felt about it was
of supreme Indifference to him.
AS the three moved away tourists
guide stepped out from an embrasure
and walked leisurely down the stair
way.
'If only my plan doesn't fall" he
said to himself. He wrote something
in a memorandum book in his hand,
/ then went into the corridor below