The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1905-05-18

for my life. undertook the work
and was promised that If succeeded
would be permitted to return to
France. The colonel then sent me to
his hacienda In the province of Tamau.
hpas, first providing me with a permit
to remain there signed by General
Juarez himself
My pupil, boy Of sixteen, and his
sister, two or three years bis senior,
were on the veranda when was driv-
EN- up to the house. They Knew my
story. and the boy regarded me with
keen interest. As for the girl, 1t was
far more than this. A great sympathy
welled up in her lustrous Spanishreyes.
/ shuddered, for I knew that / could
not live near her without loving her,
and to love her meant to me return
caped.
People of Spanish blood have always
been careful of their young girls, but
there Is no degree of watchfulness that
would have prevented the stolen meet.
ings between Donna Anita and me
brink Of volcano. But danger only
strengthens love, and we passed the
quicker for 1t from one degree to an
other. Then when we both knew and
acknowledged that we were necessary
to each other we were ready to run any
fisk rather than be separated. We dare
not ask Anita'S fathers consent to our
Union. for, II refused-and refusal was
almost certain-my life would pay for
our rashness We must make an at
tempt at flight. Failure in this also
meant death to me, though regarded
the chances more In my favor. That
we agreed to take even this risk can
only be explained under the theory that
love is stronger than the fear Of death.
The hacienda was situated t50 miles
south of the TEXAS border and thirty
five miles west of the gulf Of Mexico.
l chose the shorter line. A Frenchman
to be travelling with a young girl at
that day would at once excite suspi
cion; therefore decided that Anita
must go as boy. Appropriating suit
Of her brothers, she LETT her room one
night after the lights were out and met
me ut the stable. had her own horse
already saddled and one for myself.
Leading our nags under the shadow of
hedge to the gate, we mounted and
rode away.
Before Us was happiness. behind US
death. The risk we ran made the ex
citement keen as the edge OF scimi-
ter, and TO me not unmixed with a sen-
satlon of pleasure. Fortunately Anita
was as much at home ON her horse as
on foot. We made the first ten miles
In less than an hour and the next ten
IN an hour and half. At 1 80 In the
morning we stopped to rest our horses
aud water them at stream. I dared
iiot attempt to use them further for an
hour. when we started again. We
made the next ten miles by 4:30, and
the day dawned. We were within few
band of Mexican guerrillas encamped
beside the road. They called on us to
return, and l considered the better
chance for us to obey. Their COM
mander questioned me, and, assuming
to be indignant, pulled out my permit
and, pointing to the name Of Juarez.
threatened the man with dire conse-
quences II he detained me. Without
waiting for him to read the document,
we rode ON, leaving him In the road
looking at us wonderingly.
In half an hour we reached the coast.
and l set about securing a craft on
which to reach Brownville, the nearest
point In Texas. Our departure must
be by this time discovered, and one
party of pursuers at least would make
for the coast. In couple of hours we
must be afioat or captured. There was
but one craft In sight-a fishing smack
some two miles out. Fortunately
found boat and pulled out to her.
told the owner that was anxious to
get to Brownville ON important bust
ness for General Juarez, whose magic
name l showed him on my permit,
offering the man a large sum for the
use of his smack. After much delay he
consented. pulled me ashore, took In
Anita and provisions and pulled back
to the smack and set sail. When far
out at sea l saw party of horsemen
dash up to the beach and scan the wa
ter. They were too late. There was
no boat In which to follow.
At Brownville l gave the fisherman
a draft on my father in Paris, with
which he was obliged to be content,
and drew another for myself. Anita
and I were married and worked our
way to Galveston to await funds.
When they came we sailed for New
York, and from there to France.
w. LIE ROY WISE.