The Washington times., 1904-06-19
CHAPTER TX.
The senorita Sends a MESSAGE.


In spite of the weakness brought upon
him by his wound and the urgent hospi-
tally of Senior Cassava. 70 which his
daughter added gentle word Of invita-
ton. lieutenant Mertrez was impatient
TO continue his journey. The conflict
with the bandits and the slow progress
made by the coach had caused him to
lose at least half day. and his mes
sage was urgent; there was. indeed.
greater cause for haste than he himself
dreamed.
He would have attempted TO push on
that same night. despite the lateness
of their arrival. except for the assurance
OF his host that IL would be impossible
TO provide a horse at that hour.
Reluctantly he consented TO defer his
departure until the following morning.
BY so doing HIS life. and perhaps his
mission as well, was the better served,
for when he tried 20 rise from his bed
the following morning his lameness and
/. the weakness from his wound were so
great that he could scarcely support
himself. and before he had finished
dressing he had fallen in a second faint
ing IT.
The physician who attended the house
/ hold of Don Cassava was called in. and
assured Mertrez in terms OF awe-inspir-
ing Latin that he must on no account
venture forth or he would induce inter
nal bleeding of his wound, which would,
beyond doubt, result fatally.
/ Neither this warning nor the repeated
protests OF Don Cassava. in which the
Senorita Paula joined. would have de-
TERED the anxious young officer. But
what advice could not compass. physical
| lxueGS made frnrperaf
Each time the lieutenant strove to
rise he was seized afresh with an over
pOwering faintness that sent him again
upon his back.
| Convinced at length that he could not
hope to continue his Journey without
the delay Of a day or more, he reluc-
family consented to intrust his precious
dispatches to the secretary of Don Cas-
sava, a distant relative and poor de
pendent of that crOtchety gentleman.
The secretary departed toward the
capital about noon OF the day following
the encounter with the bandits. The
lieutenant. being freed OF the response
bility OF his dispatches and worn out by
his anxiety concerning them. promptly
went into a state Of Inconsistencies
that lasted well into the following day.
During this time he alternately rallied
at Brulo and addressed tender words
TO Anita. which brought tears TO the
eyes OF his faithful nurse and atten
dant. the fair Senorita Cassava.
When he had become himself ono.
more. the nurse spent many hours fl
entertaining him with the music OF hel
Moorish guitar. on which she accom-
panied herself in some captivating low
songs. To Mertrez II seemed. from tn,
IN,
amounted sometimes almost 20
car ess. that she was singing TO him
, and I'm spite OF the knowledge OF Anita
, waiting for him upon the Rock an,
praying for his safety before the Vir
gins shrine, the thought that his pres
ence might arouse a tender passion II
tho heart of the fair Senorita Cassavi
: was not an unpleasing one to him.
She questioned him often and a
! length about the life of the men VIII
were set 10 guard the southern fortress
and he told her of IL fully, laying stres
upon their longings for the sight of fai
faces that was denied them in thei
quarters.
Hereat the senorita blushed, and I'll
foolish young man felt prouder thai
ever. not being wise enough TO under
|. stand that the look Of soft longing &
the faT away eyes WAS not IOT MIN.
E II was a week before the don's secre
tary returned.
: He had been kept waiting several day
. before he had the opportunity of de
! liyering his papers to the proper on
GERS. At length. however, he had don
z so. and had received dispatches for tn
/ Commandant at Gibraltar and other
a addressed 20 Mertrez himself.
, These latter hade the lieutenant re
: turn as quickly as possible 70 his pos
= or IL he was unable TO return. 20 for
ward the dispatches. as the troops In
!, tended 10 REINFORCE the garrison woul
. arrive within the fortnight. and II wa
! necessary that quarters should be ORE
D pared for them.
: BY this time, however, the youn
J mans wound had begun 20 heal. unde
8 the skilIful dressing of the old surgeon
e aud there was no reason for his longe
delay under the roof of the hospitabl
e don Therefore, lie prepared TO TAX
e once more to the road.
r IL was upon the evening before his DIT