Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-01-04

and rumor soon spread that Sanchez
rode in every night and openly visited
her at her house.
This was what Ruiz was waiting
for. and one evening the place was
surrounded and Sanchez taken pris-
oner. He was, of course, sentenced
TO be shot.
"Antonina, apparently, thought no
more of the matter. She appeared at
the theater on the following even
ing, and had never been more charm
ing. The story of her share in the
rebels capture got about, and she was
eheered whenever she was seen by the
loyalists. Ruiz was more infatuated
than ever, and was worse than helpless
in her hands.
''The day that Sanchez was to be ex-
ecuted Antonina demanded of Ruiz
that he should gain permission for
her to see her former lover alone. 1t
was not known what excuse she gave
for this seemingly strange request,
but, at any rate, it was granted her.
What took place at the interview was
never disclosed. Immediately after it
the courtyard. placed with his face to
the wall and shot to death. He me t his
fate with gallant indifference.
"Antonina watched him die, from
one of the windows, without a sign OF
emotion, save a narrowing of the eye
lids and, slight compression of the
lips. She danced that night, but can
celed her engagement for the follow
ing week, saying she was going to leave
the city for rest.
"a few days later happened to be
In one of the shabbiest parts of town,
and there met a woman whose re-
semblance to the dancer was so strik-
mg that turned and looked after her
as she passed me. She went into
miserable looking howell and, as I-loi-
tered near, hoping to solve the
mystery, she came out again, and
walked swiftly by me. This time 1
was convinced that it was Antonina.
Much puzzled at her appearance in
such place, / followed her, but soon
she disappeared down narrow side
street, and being unfamiliar with that
part of the town, lost track of her.
Next day / was called away from
the city, and when / returned / found
the social world in "a state of expec-
tation over a grand reception TO be
given by Gen. Ruiz in honor of some
OF the American officers. The chief
extraction was the announcement
that Antonina had been engaged to
dance for the entertainment of the
guests. l determined to accept my
invitation, as the woman possessed
a great attraction for me. [ was
present at the reception.
The salas were crowded with n
brilliant assembly. Scores of beaufi-
full " omen, and the handsome Span
lslI officers in their snowy uniforms.
mingled with the more sober dress
of our country, gave a most pictur-
esque effect to the scene. Il was
nearly midnight when the dancer ar
rived. She had driven directly from
the theater, and was attired in A
most magnificent costume, while on
her breast glittered the Ruiz oia-
mond. As she came into the ball
room, she was greeted with oravoS
paused moment on the threshold,
and responded with a faint half
mocLing smile. Then slowly raising
her arms. she stepped forward. In
Stantly the orchestra struck MP with
the passionate music of FL Sol, AMI
the guests drew away from the GEN.
ter of the room, leaving her standing
in blaze of color and jewels-alonc
On the polished floor
81 will not attempt to describe the
dance. We watched her with deep
drawn breaths, and dizzy brains, as
she wbirled herself from the lazy
languor OF the beginning to the mad
abandon at the end. Ruiz, unable {,
contain lis emotions, caught up a
flower that had dropped from her
hair, and, unmindful of observers,
kissed it. She saw the actor, and
with sidelong glance tore the scar
let scarf from her waist, and, still
dancing, threw it over his neck.
Something cleaned in her hand. and
some instruct warned me OF mischief.
stepped to Ruiz side. Antonina
stretched out her hand, ami he'd me
back, and if ever / saw the devil look
out from woman's eyes, l saw it
shining then between her half closed
Ids.
"'Adios, companeros,' she said in
clear, ringing tones, I go to wait
for You in hell
'Witha swift motion she buried the
dagger, which had been concealed in
her hand, in her heart, and as the
last strains of the music died away
She fell to the floor, the wicked smile
frozen on her mouth.
Three weeks later, Gen. Ruiz and
every one of his subordinate officers
died of the most malignant kind CT
smallpox. Antonina had searched
until she had found case, as we aft
cIward discovered-had exposed Sam
chez sword belt to the infection, AMI
thus carried the infection TO Ruiz.
gaining a vengeance whlch few
brains could have evolved. She had
loved the man whose life she had
sold for a jewel"
''Why did she take her life?" uues-
toned Lester.
That" answered Brown, "was a
phase of her character which /
found hard to understand, though I
believe that she preferred death to