La Junta tribune., 1901-09-07
CHAPTER I-(Cont,nn,


terested. 1t In proper that l should un-
dertake to explain the case as well ss
am able. will tell you the whole
story as 1t lies nearest to my heart.
and you Will be able to take frem 1t
what most concerns you. To begin,
then. General: Some time ago l was
fqFtunste enough to rescue beautiful
girl from being dashed to the ground
ana Killed by runaway team Of horses
In New York. That girl was Lola Gar
IA, the daughter OF Don Juan Cara.
proud old Spaniard who has lived In
Venezuela and latterly in New York,
where he married wealthy lady. now
dead. Don Juan is one Of the proud
est OF Castilians, and though l am by
no means poor. was not wealthy
enough, or al noble birth. to satisfy
his ambitions for his daughter Lola
CARA, who has then seventeen years
OF age. and is now eighteen, inherited
more Of her mothers American nature
than her fathers Spanish one. She
cared nothing for royalty and old
vorld courts. and being wealthy in
her own right, was independent grew
to love her, and she returned my love.
but Don Juan forbade all communica-
ton between us. Still. we met clandes-
timely as often as possible.
We'll. Don Juan, about six months
Ego. began to receive strange men at
his house. and 1t was evident that
some kind of conspiracy was on foot
Still. he guarded his secret closely, and
We learned only the name Of one of
these-Fefdinand Gomez There was
another. whose name we could not at
first learn. who always wore n gor-
geous uniform. concealed, when on the
street, under 4 long Spanish cloak.
On the evening of the fourth OF this
month, these men and several others
were at Garza's house. and Lola was
called to meet them. Don Juan put her
hand in that Of the uniformed strang-
i, .er. and said:
Philip of Aragon, this is my
daughter. Lola. made my bargain,
and who shall say you will not be the
gamer by i.?
'Therc- was a great deal more said.
eand the poor girl, though much fright
ened. gathered enough from the con-
stant talk to know that these men
were engaged in q desperate
plot to seat Philip OF Aragon
on the throne of some coun-
try now republic, and that her
sfather had furnished the arms and am
munition and ready money for the en-
terprise. stipuiating, in turn, that his
daughter, Lola. should be made queen.
When. after long time. during which
she trembled with fear, she was al
sowed to leave the room. Ferdinand
Gomez. who was near the door. bent
over and whispered In her ear: Heed
him not-the madman. Whether he be
king or not, you shall never be his
bride. l have loved you long, and love
you now, too well to give you up to
him. Rather than have him marry you
I would kill him. And rather than
: give you to another. would kill you
Z Remember, peace or war. success or
failure, you are mine
''As you may suppose. General, the
poor girl was doubly frightened at this,
and made haste to tell me all on the
following day. Before could act, how
ever. on the morning OF the 9Th, Don
Juan Cara. his daughter, Gomez
|. and Philip Of Aragon were missing. ]
was much alarmed. and with my tried
and true friend here. Jack Tempest,
visited the Venezuelan consul, among
others in New York. At the consul's
of1ce we learned that the steamship
Agostura had sailed from New York
that morning with the conspirators
and q cargo of arms for Bolivar. There
fore, 1t is certain that Venezuela Ii the
country to be turned into monarchy
with Philip Of Aragon on the throne.
Now where are the conspirators?"
Salvarez laughed, and said:
You need not fear. Your Lola Il
, now probably safe In the hands OF the
Republic. and will not be harmed II
your story is true. The Agostura is 80
long overdue that do not expect to
So her at Bolivar"
Nofwithstanding this opinion Of
GensraI Salrarez. the smoke Of
stea1pR Nap seen approaching on the
I'd. AStivity bssan at once, and sal
y wares prepared to recelve into captivity
ethe enemies ol his country.
When the steamer drew nearer. they
were surprised 70 80 that ohe carried
the Custom House nag. thus ahovinx
that she had been examined -
parsed at La Guayra.
Then It could not be the, AgosturA 4
But 1t was the Agnstura-
Slowly she swung into the dock; the
hustle of landing occupied some lit
tie time, and the captain presented his
papers.
Not q passenger was on board; no
Gomez. no Cara. no Lola. no Philip
Of Aragon.
The invoice was examined. The seal
Of the custom house was genuine.
The work Of unloading began.
Case after case was brought ashore.
and by the command Of Salyarez brolE-
on open.
The contents Of one was . plow, Of
smother . harrow.