The Elbert County tribune., 1905-12-14
Copyright. 1893. by Street and smit

has made rapid progress--it promises
to be fatal.
Smithers seats himself upon the rus
tic bench, and Jack stands with one
foot upon the same. leaning his head
upon his hand, so that he can watch
the agents face as the soft glow of
the Moorish hanging lamp from the
enclosed court falls upon it.
"Of course you won't be surprised
10 hear that Senior Roblado, finding
the Fates working against him on all
sides. has resolved upon a grand coup
de main, whereby several little enter
prises in which he Is deeply inter
ested may be advantageously ad-
vabced.
Perhaps you do not know that Just
at present Havana is in n ferment-
that the Spaniards are celebrating
changes that have recently been made.
The city is thronged with newly-ar-
rived troops; for during the summer
months thousands will drop with the
fever and there must be enough poor
devils to take the places of those
who. not being acclimatized. fall
ready victims to the awful Yellow
Jack
This night Havana will go wild
as never before. Bonfres will be
lighted. torchlight parades seen in
many of the streets. and the greatest
exhibition of forced gaiety ever known
occur. In word. you will believe the
old Cuban capital has gone mad. and
that her citizens have determined. to
live up to that venerable shibboleth of
pleasure seekers, 'Apres nous lie de-
luge.'
But I must not give way to my
feelings. Listen, then, sir. and hear
first what is about to occur, and later
how those in whom we are so deeply
interested are to share in IT,
Tonight there will be entertain
ments of all leinds--every house you
will find Illuminated; for to refuse to
obey the edict that has gone forth
would be to draw down the suspicion
of the military authorities. and, under
the accursed rule of Spain, that means
file of soldiers in the early dawn ,in-
der the walls of Morro Castle yonder
Among all these gay scenes none
Will vie with the reception of the Cap
has as absolute sway over the island
as though he were a king.
'There is no building in the city ca
Fable of containing the great throng
expected to be present-no palace in
which such reception could be held
and so. as the best thing to be done
under the circumstance. the great
theater where these bullfights are held
is to be utilized. Flags adorn the
walls and soldiers will swarm through
the aisles and throng the ring where
but few hours previous the torea-
Gors met their fierce four-footed antag
onists in deadly strife.
''Oh, Senor Jack, everybody of con-
sequence will be at this great enter
tainment. Senor Roblado and his
daughters have decided to go. You
Will. of course. attend? An invitation
is not necessary. since it means hom-
age to the Captain General. and is de-
signed to show the tremendous power
of Spain upon the island.
1t will be sight well worth your
trouble, Senor Jack; and, what is
more to the point. believe you will,
If the Fates continue to smile. be Civ
en- chance to win that which is ever
uppermost in your thoughts"
Go on says Travers. who has not
moved all this while but listens eager
ly-
Enough of the picture; you your
self shall see 1t before many hours
have passed. | said everyone in Ha-
vana of consequence would proceed to
the grand reception at the Plaza de
Toros in order to pay their respects
to the Governor. Between you and
myself. Senior Jack. there may be
some present whose appearance, if
known in Havana. would arouse the
most intense excitement this city has
known since the end of the Ten Years
War"
You must mean the great Gomez
himself" says Travers. quickly.
We'll guessed. He is in the city:
1t is not the first time since the strug-
gle began. Before now he has had
narrow escapes. and we have shiv-
cred for fear lest our beloved leader
be taken from us. for upon him we
have come to pin much of the faith
that is in us.
"And now new uneasiness has
come. do not understand what in
fiuenced him, but he had motive
back of it. l am sure. What do you
think could bring him to take such
risk? Certainly not spirit of adven-
ture. At any rate. he has determined
to visit the reception tonight. and see
the Captain General face to face, sur
rounded by scores of generals and
other officers.
'Senor Jack, that was bad enough;
hut had known Of it, and was also
aware that certain precautions had
been taken to cover his retreat in case
of discovery. There was worse to