The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-31

ture.
What are your plans, if may ask:''
he inquired.
IT will join the army. I suppose" I
said. indifferently AT least, it is about
the only thing one can do. War, at
present, appears to be the chief occu-
patton of the people"
You are not thinking of joining the
Conservatives he whispered.
NO" / replied. it not having occurred
TO me before that the Conservatives
held the capital But surely there are
Liberals in the city! What think your
I inquired.
ITO be sure there are he said, but
they are IN the minority. Pedro, who
has been talking with some Of his coun-
trymen. says that they have made no
move II is thought they are organ
ICED, though, and only waiting their
opportunity to rise"
1--WE can tell better what to do after
we have been here a week" / said, by
way of disnissing the subject.
After the first disappointment OF re-
ceiving no word from Mr.. Melrose,
was disposed to view the matter with a
calm indifference.
What troubled me most was my lack
of money. I had about $500, and after
paying Martin and the peon found that
I did not have much left. kept two Of
nv horses. my own and the one Martin
had ridden, but the other two animals
/ sold.
with nothing better TO do. and unde-
cidea as 70 my future coure. spent
the first week or two of nay stay in the
city sightseeing. After that l began 70
grow restless.
had gone around to Messrs- Smith
& Rivera and left my address. but was
unable to gain any further information
about Philip Melrose In fact, 1 called
there about every other day for three
weeks with no better result than 1 had
had at my first interview with Mr..
Smith.
think he considered me bore l
know that I thought him a discourte-
Gus cynic. I had no favors to ask,
neither could expect any from him.
We were at outs from the first.
Not willing to give up all hope OF
hearing from Mr.. Melrose. inasmuch as
ne had been so anxious to secure my
assistance when I met him at FL Paso.
had placed confidence IN me. and 1 had
taken his money. 1 waited day after
dav expecting in some way to hear
from him. but as the days heightened
into weeks and not even a word came
for me. I almost ceased to look for him
The war still continued. Preparations
were being made for another expedition
20 Vera Cruz. and it was confidently
asserted by the Conservatives that the
CITY would be taken this time and Pres
ident Juarez's government overthrown.
Not only was the army being con-
centrated so as to bring a large force
against the city. but II was expected
that a feet would act in conjunction
with the land forces.
on the other hand It had been whis-
pered that an uprising Of the Liberals
might take place at the capital 10 assist
the army Of the central part Of The
country in an attack on the city But
there was no uprising. A strong garri-
son was maintained in the city. and tbs
police quickly arrested anyone GUS
pected of being in sympathy with the
Liberals.
Martin. acting on my advice. offered
his services as a physician at the hos
pital. and was accepted as an assistant
His duties kept him employed much oi
the time. and I saw less Of him thar
heretofore. However. I was enabled tC
learn through him much about whai
was being done.
AS for myself. not being IN sympathy
with the party IN power. I held my
tongue when with strangers. and was
careful not to say anything which NIGH
4 lead TO a suspicion that favored either
side.
/ Feeling against Americans was very
bitter Diplomatic relations with the
| United States had been broken of. Elk
petitions had been allowed to be fitted
out in American ports TO assist the Lib
erals, and even President Buchanan had
sanctioned flibustering.
There were very good reasons for be
| lieving that the United States was con.
templating the acquisition OF more ter.
ritory from Mexico. At least a treaty
had been prepared which granted tbs
United States extraordinary cOnces
sions.
| One day as / was walking thought
fully along the street, a feint rustlinG
OF skirts attracted my attention and
caused me 10 look up.
1 think I never in my life had seer
as pretty a face as that which looked
into mine. 1t was that OF young girl
not much past eighteen. and it was JUS
for an instant that our eyes met
almost thought she was going to speak
but the duenna who was with her wa.
I mindful Of her charge
| My first impression was that she wa,
not Spanish. Her hair was brown, anC
her complexion fair. and l would hav,
said that she was either English o.
American. but she had the expressive,
eyes Of the Spanish.
She had thrown her lace mantuI;
aside as we met. and there was just {
look OF sadness about her face which
seemed to appeal to my sympathy.
II may have been something in her ex
preston. or It may have been the sud
denness with which she had come upor
me. or. possibly. her wondrous beauty
which fascinated me. but / was certain
ly under the spell of her charms. To-
| turned almost unconsciously and fol
lowed her. walking a little distanc
behind her.
! do not think that am easily move,
by a pretty face. for l had met mani
handsome ladies. and never before ha,
felt my heart quicken it's beats a
IL did on this occasion. / was not eveI
aware that / was following her.
She may have known il, but she di
can it would not have seemed anythin
out Of the usual for me to follow hei
for it is common enough with Mexica