The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-01-28

CT. AUGUSTINE en- fete presents the
y prettiest picture imaginable, and
one need not be surprised to meet a ro-
nance at any turn of its quaint old
streets. And the cathedral on the
plaza, with it's ancient Spanish belfry,
would seem to be one of the most like
ly places in the city for a 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 bronzed as
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 a
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. He
was answered by a 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 a 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 mer-
curial crowd fitted up the stone stair
way to the ramparts above. Easter
toilettes blossomed by the stern bas-
tions, and children's laughter fnedthe
embrasures where cannon once guard
ed the honor of Spain.
Walking through this animated
scene, a part of it, and yet foreign to it,
were the young lady and the stout
gentleman. There was a third person
in the party now, stranger with a
distinguished air and eyes into which
flames flashed as he talked.
There's fine view for you, senor,"
remarked Mr.. Maynall. the stout gem
tleman, giving his cane an outward
flourish as he spoke.
Don Miguel nodded a smiling assent;
he was too happy for words.
But 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 a sparkle in her eyes: "They
are waiting for some one down there;
I wonder who it can be-"
"Yes, they belong to that gunboat
yonder. 1 suppose some young naval
sprig out for a lark, curse him"
"Father!" exclaimed the young girl,
angrily.
Il mean what I say" rejoined the
other. Il hate the whole service be-
cause of that impudent jackanapes
with whom you have been fancying
yourself in love. But that's all over