Evening journal., 1905-05-29
A MEXICAN
ADVENTURE
lorieinaLl

lean civil war a French army ofhcer
gave me the following account Of his
experience in Mexico:
After my entrance into the army
served on the Spanish frontier, where
picked up a knowledge Of the Span
fish language. From there went with
my regiment to Mexico, where our
troops were supporting Macmillan.
After his capture by the French l en-
gagged in a desperate plot to effect his
escape, but we failed, were arrested
and put In prison to await either being
garroted or shot. The night before we
were to be executed the officer in COM
mand came into the room where we /
were confined aud asked IL any Of US /
spoke Spanish. Three Of us responded. !
Then be asked us II we were Greek I
scholars. l alone replied in the afirma |
tive. l was taken out of the room and
was the only one OF my comrades who
was not shot the next morning.
The commandant 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 II
/ was competent to ill the position. I
was not proficient Greek scholar, but
of course did not throw away chance
for my life l undertook the work
and was promised that if l succeeded
I would be permitted to return to
France. The colonel then sent me to
his hacienda in the province OF Tamau-
npas, FIRST providing me with permit
TO remain there signed by General
Juarez himself.
My pupil a boy Of sixteen, and his
sister, two OF 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
keen interest. As for the girl, it was
far more than this A great sympathy
welled up In her mstrous Spanish eyes.
shuddered, for I knew that I could
not live nesr her without loving her,
and to love her meant to me a return
to the death 1 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
Anko utlMktn AfWHnt AAAAN eAAA AAANf
Both understood that we were on the
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
risk 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 $50 miles
south Of the Texas border and thirty
I'VE miles west OF the gulf OF Mexico
! chose the shorter line a Frenchmar
to he travelling with a young Girl al
that day would at once excite suspi
cion: therefore I decided that Anita
must go as boy. Appropriatlng a suit
OF her brothers. she left her room on,
night after the lights were out and me
me at the stable. had her own horse
already saddled and one for myself
Leading our nags under the shadow o.
a hedge to the gate, we mounted anC
rode away.
Before us was happiness, behind u
death. The risk we ran made the ex
citement keen as the edge Of scimi
ter, and to me not unmixed with a sen
sation OF pleasure. Fortunately Anti
was as much az home on her horse a
on foot. We made the FIRST ten mile
in less than an hour and the next tel
in an hour and half. At 80 In tn
morning we stopped 10 rest our horse
and water them az a stream. l dare
not attempt to use them further for a
hour, when we started again. w
made the next ten miles by 4:30, an
the day dawned. We were within feV
miles Of the coast when we passed
band Of Mexican guerrillas encampe
beside the road. They called on US {
return, and considered the bette
chance for us 70 obey. Their con
mander questioned me, and, assumin
to be Indignant pulled out my perm
and, pointing to the name OF Juare
threatened the man with dire cons
duences IL he detained me. WithoJ
waiting fos him to read the documen
we rode on, leaving him In the roa
looking at US wonderingly.
In half an hour we reached the coas
and I set about securing craft G
which to reach Brownville, the neare'
point in Texas. Our departure mu
be by this time discovered, and OF
party Of pursuers at least would NAL
for the coast. In a couple Of hours v
must be afloat or captured. There WI
but one craft in sight--a fishing sma'
some two miles out. Fortunately
found boat and pulled out to her.
told the owner that 1 was anxious
get to Brownville on important bu:
ness for General Juarez, whose mag
name I showed him on my perm
offering the nan a large sum for q
use OF his smack. After much delay
consented, pulled me ashore, took
Anita and provisions and pulled ba'
to the smack and set sail. When Z
out at sea saw a party Of horsem
dash up to the beach and scan the W
ter. They were too late. There W
no boat In which to follow.
At Brownville gave the fisherm