The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-06
TIE EVENING STORY.
A Mexican Adventure.

While in Paris soon after the Anerl-
can civil war French army olhlcsL
gave me the following account OF MS
experience in Mexico:
After my entrance into the army
served on the Spanish frontier Wnere
1 picked uQ a knowledge OF the span
ISL language. From there I went Win
my regiment to Mexico. where our
troops were supporting Maximtllan.
After his capture by the French en-
gagged in a desperate plot to effect ms
escape, but we failed, were arrested anu
put in prison to await either pelng gar
roted or shot The night before we We're
to be executed the officer in command
came into the room where We were con-
fined and asked if any of US spoke span
ish. Three Of Us responded. Then ne
asked US if we were Greek scholars.
alone replied in the affirmative. WaS
taken out of the room and was the only
one of my comrades who was not shot
the next morning.
The commandment took me to his colo
mel, who told me that he wished for a
tutor in Greek for his son, who was
preparing for college, and asked me If
was competent to fill the position.
was not &. proficient Greek scholar, but
OF course did not throw away chance
Tor my life. I undertook the work and
was promised that if I succeeded
would be permitted to return to France.
The colonel then sent me to his hacienda
in the province of Tamaulipas, first pro-
viding me with a permit to remain there
signed by General Juarez himself
My pupil, a boy of sixteen, and his
sister, two or three years his senior,
were on the veranda when I was driv-
en- up to the house. They knew my
story, and the boy regarded me with
far more than this A great sympathy
welled up in her lustrous Spanish eyes.
1 shuddered, for I knew that I could
not live near her without loving her,
] tn I0rr. t. - rss.k4r
/ to the death I had so narrowly es-
capped.
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
4 ings between Donna Anita and me.
| Both understood that we were on the
brink of a volcano. But danger only
/ strengthens love, and we passed the
quicker for it 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 risk rather than be separated. We
dare not ask Anitas fathers consent
to our union, for, if refused-and re-
fusal was almost certain-my life
would pay for our rashness. We
must make an attempt at fight. Fail
ure in this also meant death to me,
though I 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 $50 miles
south of the Texas border and thirty
five miles west of the gulf of Mexico.
I chose the shorter line. A F7renchman
to be travelling with a young girl at
that day would at once excite suspi-
| cion; therefore I decided that Anita
must go as a boy. ApprOpriating a suit
| of her brothers, she left her room one
night after the lights were out and met
me at the stable. I had her own horse
already saddled and one for myself
Leading our nags under the shadow Of
a hedge to the gate, we mounted and
rode away.
Before US was happiness, behind us
death. The risk we ran made the ex-
element keen as the edge OF 9. scfrnf-
ter, and to me not unnixed with a SEN
sation 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 a half. At 1870 in the
morning we stopped to rest our horses
and water them at a stream. dared
not attempt to use them further for an
hour, when we started again. We
made the next ten miles by 1870, and
the day daWned. We were within q few
miles of the coast when we passed a
band of Mexican guerrillas encamped
beside the road They called on us tc
return, and I considered the better
Chance 1OE us 10 OBEY. 4nelF COM
mander questioned me, and, assuming
to be indignant, I pulled out my per
nit and, pointing to the name OF
Juarez, threatened the man with dire
consequences if he detained me
Without waiting for him to read the
document, we rode on, leaving him IL
the road looking at US wonderingly.
In half an hour we reache ed tn
coast, and set about securing a Graf
on which to reach Brownville, thu
nearest point in Texas. Our departure
must be by this time discovered, anC
one party of purSuerS at least woulC
make for the coast. In a couple O
hours we must be ahoat or captured
There was but one craft in sight,
fishing smack-some two miles out
Fortunately I found a boat and pulled
out to her. 1 told the owner that
was anxious to get to Brownville OF
whose magic name showed him OF
my permit, offering the man a larg'
sum for the use of his smack. Afte
much delay he consented, pulled ms
ashore, took in Anti aand provisions
and pulled back to the smack and Sc
sail. When far out at sea I saw ;
party of horsemen dash I'D to thu
beach and scan the water. They wer'
too late. There was no boat in which
At BrownviIle gave the fisherman
a draft on my father in Paris, witt
which he was obliged to be content
and drew another for myself. Anita
and were married and worked oul
vvav to Galveston to await funds Wher
they came we sailed for New York
and from there to France, ~,,e,r
w. LIE ROY WISE.
auxxa