Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-04-10
SENIOR VALENTINO.


gun of the Spanish forces. Slowly
almost painfully, the Cuban patriot
flung back his light blanket, gazed up
ward for a moment at the burning
mass of stars in the heavens, then fell
back again to dream of bloody charges
made by the gray dragons of Spain,
and of their repulse by the sturdy
Cuban macheteers.
Surely not again, Senor Captain?
One must be cool to think SO lightly
of task like ours"
"Vive Cuba Libre! You are right,
Pejro-we must be up and away"
This time the young Cuban sprung
to his feet and shook himself as though
that was punishment for his momen-
tary forgetfullness. AS the two young
men stand side by side in the soft
mellow ligt of the moon it is easy to
see that they are not of the lower
caste or guajiros, party that COM
prises large division of the patriot
army, but of the Cuban planter, gen
tleman of the highest degree.
Both are armed with small arms
alone, though .neir appearance indi-
Gates that they have seen military SER
vice.
Now is the ,lme to read our gen.
erals instructions, Pedro; the senor
lays great stress upon our actions to-
night, and knows that at this very
hour we are moving toward the forces
of the enemy to accomplish purpose.
the penalty of which, if we are caught.
is instant DEATH"
AS the speaker ceased he drew
sealed package from beneath the folds
of his sash.
"Inferno!" he continued a moment
later; 1.-The general is terse and sends
us out to do much against great odds.
The spy, he says, is guarded prison
er in the Spanish camp, but his where
abouts he knows not; and yet we are
to liberate him at the risks of our
own lives. and when we have accom-
plished this receive any reward we
may ask for"
"Carramba! Valentino, the terms
are good. Two or three hundred dob
looms will satisfy me; let us hasten.
profitable one, but the night is Ill
omened. What care we for gold when
the liberty of Cuba is at stalker"
do you forget, senior, that Spanish
metal will purchase the American
steel with which the Cuban patriots
will win their freedom?"
mo. Pedro; but does not the gen
Of
the filbustering eXpeditions?"
"Ah. one forgets in his eagerness to
aid his country. Greater though Will
be the fever scourge, Valentino, than
all the steel and forces of Cuba.
Gloria! Who can defeat us when God
is on our sile?'
But this spy, Pedro-why should
place interest in him, when first he
broached the subject to me he wept
like a child. and implored me in the
name of Heaven to save him. Pedro,
there is mystery here
81 doubt it not, senior; and did he
not mention a name?"
"Ah, not once; nor did l question
him. he was so wrought with grief"
See! The lights of the Spanish
camp, Valentino; we will halt here;
the moon is disappearing, the stars
are falling, and it will soon be dark"
"a fortune for a hundred brave
macheteers now! Yon camp would
not look so quiet and peaceful, Pedro,
were my wish gratifed."
10 Do hoc
the telltale orb! Take one more look
Valentino, before we leave on our des-
perate game of chance"
The two men gazed for moment
eastward toward the insurgent coun-
try. and then to the westward at the
twinkling lights mile or so off on the
plains.
"Will they be there-the horses?"
whispered the one who had likened
their task to game of chance.
"He is a true Cuban, and will not
fail us in the hour of need; if he does.
God pity the spy and u.s.
Pardon me, senor, small need to
IVORY now; it all hangs by thread
anyway, even the rebellion. The death
of Marti weakened our end somewhat,
but the dreaded fever combined with
the patriots should yet more than
match the home tyrant."
"If one of us should fall tonight,
Pedro, and be left behind with piece
of lead in his heart remember the
duty of comrade and friend and send
the tidings to the fallen ones home"
''Condanacoin Senor, do not
talk so iespondently, for Gods sake.
1t is growing dark and the chills creep
up my back like Shiny reptiles. If any
one dies tonight, it will be me, mark
it, Valentino"
"Ugh!" shudered the other. 1--WE
are both growing superstitious."
AYE, superstitious, but not coward
! ly. Never, as far back as the Cesped-
es can trace their pedigree, has there
been found coward, and now"
| Hist. Pedro!