The Washington times., 1904-10-02
CHAPTER XXI

They were infzafrymeB. but had pro-
Fided Themselves Hffh horses and also
eide arms. They said very little when
4 was introduced 20 them. and We start
Z ing.
The fist part of our Journey wss
pleasant enough. bur after a while the
/ road became a most horrible one 20
/ travel Had fr not been that ] was
anxious % reach Crizaba as soon a.
possible. i should have suggested that
I We travel more at our leisure As 10
I was IL was necessary for us 10 spend
[ two days on the road. We stayed over
night at a small village. where we OBJ
/ tanned fairly good accomua 1dations
A new hope seemed % animate me:
I the senorita might care for met was
possible that my love was returned.
But II was almost too much % believe.
I lived IN a kind OF dream. Though
/ was impatient % be an my journeys
end. set I was afraid
As we came in sight Of Orizaba. /
wondered # I would be able 10 see her
that evening I did not know where the
senOrita and her uncle were stopping,
but ] thought 7 could easily md them
Eat alas, for my hopes. I was not 70
see them.
I cannot describe all thar occurred.
for am hot clear in my own mind as to
just what did happen TO me- ] remem-
Der that ] was not feeling wei when we
left La Pueblo, and after the hrst day
a deathly sickness seemed TO be taking
+ possession o. me.
At first 7 thought it only imaginary,
bur by the time we had reached Orizs-
ba # was real enough so that 7 feared
the worst. could with difficulty keep in
my saddle, sharp pains shot through
I my head. accompanied by swimming
! sensation and giddiHess. and I was first
I hot and then cold.
I knew or cared little where ] was
going only I wished 70 go somevr here
I where 7 could lie down.
''Nhat IS the matUer2" asked Colonel
I Gracis. noticing that was unweI
4 ''I do not know" I said. "OnIy am
sick. 7 viii have 10 stol. ar the first
I place we come TO, guess, and you had
I better SEM for a physician"
You have need OF physician he
I replied.
] looked up. could see that ne was
alarmed at my condition Was / $50
Z very bad2 And then, all Of sudden. il
I flashed upon my mind that l. was the
plague
Ny heart sank within me. and my
/ courage deserted me. I could feel the
+ perspirati0u break out on my forehead.
/ I was hardly conscious that the sun was
shining or that anyone was near me.
The thought that 7 was stricken with
/ the fever appalled, me.
Colonel Ciracia directed the men who
were with us TO ride on ahead and md
accommodations for me where could
! receive care and attention. They rode
/ OF in a hurry. afraid themselves of the
/ Infection, and we were leEt alone.
/ There Is a chance for you to pull
J OF encouragement. do not get fright
/ eued-"
/ "I viii Try not 70" 7 replied
! had never before known what fear
I was. But the mystery OF this disease,
. which comes upon person so suddenly
and SO often proves fatal. 7 could we'll
/ dread. IL required a different kind OF
/ courage-a courage I knew very little
/ aboUt-rO defy such an enemy.
But after the first shock of discov-
erlug that it was the plague with which
was smitten, regained much of my
I WOnLed cumDOsure.
The men returned after a little and
I told us OF a small hotel. where I could
stay. They rode away again immedi-
ately after they had pointed out the
house 10 us.
The place 90 which we were directed
was poorly kept house. IT was on
the outskirts of the town. q vvre1cheily
gloomy looking old building. which had
been used In times past as hospital.
AS we rode up 10 the door we saw a
company OF soldiers drawn up across the
road The captain called TO US 10 haIL
Colonel Gracia rode forward 10 see
( what was wanted. As FOR ne i paid
no attention 10 them. j felt that I was
golng TO faint, and tried 10 dfsm0uut,
bur did not seem 10 have strength
enough 10 get OUT OF the saddle. Then
Z leaned forward, and thought that ]
would Iall out OF the saddl-, but was
afraid that my horse would step Oh me.
i could tell by the way the captain
mOuOued toward me what laey were
talking about. In q dun way 4 seemed
10 understand that j had been recog-
nized, and the intention was 20 place
me under arrest. but 4 cared little what
they did with me. rather wanted
them 10 come and take me.
did not wish 90 be- left 10 die by the
roadside. The delay worried me. j was
TOO sick to fear prison, or even TO care
whether ] lived or died.
Colonel GracIa finally left the captain
and came back 10 where was waiting.
B 1T is YOU that they want ne said.
well. why don they come and take
. me JAeuE asked. They VIII NOT
THAT Is IJ-rhey are afraid OF the
youito."
/ so am ]. answered
"But." explained Colonel GraciI, ''Jhs
captain sWears mo- game is E0ius r0 be
put up on him. Tie says be Ell place
you under arrest plague on ll plague.
. Tell IiG TO come and take lla -leIs
4 said lmudueuuE. 81 ann not going 10
He motIoued 20 the captain. and Ee
{ came a liJue nearer His men. moreover.