The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-21
The LEGEND OF
SAN FERNANDO.
By LEO CRANE.


the towns noise ceased and a little be-
fore the wildwood began, stood the
beautiful house of Benito Flores, a
wealthy merchant Of the place. Men
said he could not count his wealth.
One warm day late in the summer,
when the bees seemed asleep and the
air was flied with dancing sunbeams,
a young girl, clad in silk OF lightest
weight and delicate in color. wandered
slowly through one of the iower-decked
glens Of the garden. Great gorgeous
blossoms brushed aside as she passed,
ncdding their tinted heads lazily as if
to court the butterflies more beautiful
than themselves. The girl was also Of q
rare type, and one not often seen in
tropic lands, where women are betroth-
ed in their cradles and are old before
they are young. She was followed by a
small pet of the gazeIle kind. They
stopped by a sheltered seat a few PAGES
off the path. Great leaves kept out the
tropic heat and screened the place from
all the glare of the tropic sun.
Through the arches of the garden edge,
where trailing and hanging vines made
Il natural lattice, was the dusty road,
winding like a thread Of white until
hidden in the bending Of the forest.
All was quiet in this paradise created
for the young wife of Benito Flores,
save the splash of a cooling fountain
and the faint twitter of native birds in
the thicket. \ gorgeous peacock strut
ted down the pathway, preening It's
brilliant feathers in the sunlight, and
nearby was a working servant, an old
mo- --i+h u-hifana6 hon ri Uhn CEil1fTl-
ly clipped the edges of a fragrant bush.
Are they still fighting?" asked the
woman in rather a sad voice of the SER
want.
The old man slowly raised his head
to see her half reclining in a generous
corner of the seat, her silken garments
tucked in round her and a single tress
of hair falling with careless grace over
the bare shoulders. He answered with
that confidence showing, he was well
liked and privileged.
Yes. Near Dagupan," he answered,
"sOme forty men fell a day or two ago.
The natives had no chance against
them-Our people are not fighters, lady,
when compared to these rowing men of
the east. 1 heard the tale from a stray
gIer who ~assed near the village YES
terday."
What was he doing near Sn Fernan-
do While men are needed so badly at
DAo ~lNAA ~ AAoN~AA SO-@
pie do not care to fight?"
They are tired, lady-.--and then,
this nan was hurt" the servant re
ulieC. "Shot through the shoulder and
We had quite a time 10 shield him from
the sight of soldiers. Why he came this
way I cannot see, knowing all the rail-
rad to the great city was in their
E'nds."
Then they are cruel men, these white
s, -diers?" half asked the woman, raw
l. the gazelle to her.
Perhaps to spies, but not always to
ca one expect" and the old mar
S. ugged his shoulders. Fol a time
only the clip clip of his shears was
heard. Then the leaned for
W ID and asked:
But why did they come, Emllio..--
Hel. me-. I know nothing of this hight
I-o. for Benito tells me it is not good
Cor women's ears. 1t was so peaceful
ere before, and now he very birds
.,aem frightened at their marching
I read. Benito says at times they I'LL
he village with their ugly faces....Are
they all ugly, Emilio?'
The I'D man laughed lightly. I
have not vet seen a man with crippled
limbs or wrinkles before he was old, lady
...they do not seem to age as fast as
our people"
"And are they kind?"
seTo elpIes oneS?... Why yes, L nave
not known of one to harm a child or
o course. the men--.-tney
are fighters and must welcome bloWs,
"But tell me why they came here,
she commanded.
Perhaps it was all so planned DeIore
their coming" the old man said SLOWLY,
coming forward and seating hlmsei at
the paths edge. Years ago, long, long
before nv great grandfather's day, n
100 oJJ tho SDaniSh soldiers came
i'm a like manner, and this Is but the
repeating of a bit of history. Instead
of ancient ~caravalS, these men come IN
great nit ships of war; instead OF
wearing rusty suits of iron and carry
ING rapiers. these fair men dress IN
cloth of dusky color and use deadly
o11ns- All his is according to a legend,
lady that lived here long before the
nadres came to teach us such were fool
ish....'
"a legend" she said eagerly. child
ishly, tell me-
oh. please. Emilio-Why am 10
hear only things that please? Am L a
doll. that everything must be like sum-
mer clouds? Why should it not be nice
TO hear? 1t is not only spoken Things
that hurt one
az heard il years ago. he commenced,
Avhen l was quite a boy ana Went
through the forests to court a maiden
All n A1lIdSS. AL IN
she lived near the forest end. ana
had heard the tale from someone as tar
removed and as old again
"A sweet maiden lived near a road
where many people travelled Inc
daughter of a great chief was she ana
the suitors of the ountr same 10 WOO
her hut she could not see n small
trace OF love in all their counting: 10
her it seemed as each one gazed three
at the fathers mansion before he looked
on her. Oh, it's blu a silly story laoS'
and does not end as sweet"
600 on, Emilio. there's nothing more
tn do about the bushes...1n give you
rest for the day...Go on"
"Rut the father was a chief OF power
and it was we'll for him to have the
daughter married. The Wedding rites
were all arranged. the girl had ceased
her CRYING and sought to make her eyes
beautiful again, for when all is said,
, the women Of yesterday We're but R9t m sa6n
ceme the nueer white-winged ships
across the waters, and men or war, ciao