Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-09
SSS S N MN s ~ Sir Henry Morgan,
 BnCcaneer
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY, Author of aThe Southefners," sFof Love of Country "The Grip
 of honor," Etc.
Copwtpht, 1908, bg c. ". DsWtnohdm
 Company

of Honor," Etc.
 Copwsont, 1908, M c. v. Dmsnoham Company
 IT CHAPTER XII. =S @lHEY set forth early in the morn- I ing. There was a cool fresh ness in the air from the storm
 of the day before, and if they wished to avoid the necessity of trav- cling in the heat of the day early de parture was necessary. Although the season was summer in tropical land not far from the equator, the altitude of Caracas lowered the ordinary tenn perature to an agreeable degree, but after they crossed the pass of La Veta and began the descent toward La Guayra they would be within the con fines of one of the hottest localities on the face of the globe.
 Early as,it was, the viceroy and his officers, including, of course, De Tobar, were assembled in the patio to bid the travellers godspeed. While De Lara gave few parting directions to Al varado, Don Felipe took advantage of the opportunity and of his position as the publicly afianced of Donna Mer- cedes to address her few words in farewell, which she received with list less indifference. The final prepara- tions were soon over. Don Felipe lift ed Donna Mercedes to the saddle of her Spanish jennet; some of the other gentlemen assisted the Sonora Agapida to the back of the sure footed mule which she had elected as her mount; Alvarado saluted and sprang to the back of his mettlesome barb, and, fol lowed by half dozen troopers who constituted the escort, the rear being brought up by servants with pack mules carrying the personal baggage of the two ladies, the little cavalcade moved of, the gentlemen in the vice roy's suit standing bareheaded in the doorway as they disappeared under the trees and began the ascent toward the pass
 showed that he had passed sleepless night, rode at the head of the column. Some distance in front of him rode trooper, for there were even then thieves, wandering bands of masterless men who levied bloody toll on travel CTS from the capital whenever they got opportunity. Next to the captain came the sergeant of the little guard, then the two women, followed closely by two more of the soldiers, after that the little pack train, which he had ordered to close up and keep in touch after they left the city, and, last of all, the two remaining soldiers to bring up the rear.
 The soldiers, servants and muleteers were in high spirits. The day was pleasant; the scenery, though familiar, was at the same time grand and beau tiful. and they were happy-ali, that is, except Donna Mercedes, the duenna and Alyarado. $, .-.5 Tho: worthy Sonora Agapida 2 with womanly shrewdness more than sus- pected the true state of affairs. In deed, Mercedes, who loved the old woman, who had been as Q mother to her, her own mother having died when she was a mere child, had scarcely taken the trouble to conceal her mis- cry, and the old woman's heart was wrung whenever she looked at the dropping figure at her side. She would fain have brought the flush of happi- ness to the face of the girl she loved by throwing her into the arms of AL varado, but as a distant connection of the De Laras herself the worthy dame had her own notions of pride, and her honor would not permit her to do any thing for which the viceroy could properly fault her.
 When Mercedes had met Alvarado early in the morning she had acknowl- edged his profound salutation with the curtest and coldest of mods. She was furiously and bitterly angry with him, for, between duty, honor, friendship and her love, he had not chosen her. She knew that he loved her. She had known it long time. and, if she had the slightest doubt the sincerity with :: which he had spoken the night before, the fierce. passionate feryor of the kisses that he had pressed upon her lips, his utter abandonment to his pas sion. had more than satisfied her. Yet