Rock Island Argus., 1905-01-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
AN EPISODE OF CUBAN REVOLT
IOriginal.1

ton during which the Cubans, with the
help OF the Unized Sta les. flung OF the
Spanish yoke. Colonel Manuel Ordaz
OF the Spanish army married Donna
Ysabel Clevigero. who inherited one OF
the finest sugar plantations on the Is
land. They were both young and des-
perately in love with. each other. When
the revolution came Sonora OrdaZ es-
polised the cause Of the CubaDS. while
her husband. commanding regiment
OF Spanish troops. was bound to fight
ON the side OF Spain
"Go. Manuel said the young wife.
"and do your duty. That you must en-
deavor TO strengthen the yoke we bear
will not turn my love from you n
whit"
Il know" replied the husband. that
you will aid the insurrecton with your
means and your personal effort, yet 1
shall love you the same"
Colonel Ordaz left ber TO join his reg
iment. and Sonora Ordaz organized a
battalion OF Cubans. arming and equip
ping them at her own expense. When
they We're ready TO take the field they
demanded that she should command
them. This she consented to do nOmi-
naIly, with rank OF major.
The Spaniards at the outset OF the
revolution treated their captives as reb-
els and traitors. An officer and ten
men OF Sonora OrdaZ's battalion. hav-
ing been captured. We're shot The Sc
nora In response TO the clamors OF her
soldiers declared that she would shoot
the first Spanish officer and ten pri-
Yates that should fall into her hands.
One day soon after this. while Sonora
Ordaz was sitting i'm her tent, she heard
the tread OF men marching. and in a
few moments n squad halted without
and "a sergeant raped on the tent pole.
The major threw aside the flaps, and
before her stood ten Spanish prisoners
and man In citizens dress under
guard.
Why did the sonora turn white and
gasp for b,ea1h? She knew that these
men were marched before her that she
might give an order for their execution.
but the ten lives were as nothing COM
pared with that OF the citizen. for un-
der his disguise she recognized her huS-
band Colonel Ordaz had been arrested
trying to pass as "A civilian from one
province to another bearing important
dispatches. which We're found on his
person. This I'm all armies is considered
10 constitute spy and is punishable
with death.
The sonora listened To the report Of
the sergeant with n heaving bosom,
hearing not a word. Colonel Ordaz
stood erect, while a glance of recogni-
ton passed between husband and wife.
When the sergeant had finished. the
ma jor. with difficulty commanding her
voice called him TO her and said:
These men. as l have promised.
must die Take them TO the guard tent,
and l will issue an order during the
day for their execution. The spy 1 de-
sire to examine myself. ! will keep the
papers for transmission to our general
Leave the man here with me till call
for you"
"AIone?"
"Yes. alone"
'IIe is desperate. sonora. When ar
rested he tried to shoot himself. He
may Kill you and escape"
Leave that 10 me. Station a guard
before the tent down there beyond the
fence"
poStcu. anu TIE ST.
nora called the spy into her tent. leav-
ing the tent flaps thrown back. The
man stood with bowed head. The pair
could converse without being heard,
but were I'm full view Of the guard.
Manuel" said the wife. Il cannot
prevent your execution. though ! can
delay IL. l shall send for you tonight
when IL Is dark and in the meantime
devise n pretext for seeing you with
Dut observance for last farewell
do not stir a finger TO save me. BY
doing 50 you might endanger your own |
life"
The guard was called and the pris- |
Oner led away. That night he was |
taken again under guard commanded |
by an officer 10 the majors tent. The |
major ordered the officer TO surround |
he tent with his men, but to leave her
20 Il private interview with the pris-
Dner. from whom she expected i'm
,ortsnt information. Then the spy |
vas left In the tent. unIighted except
~ the rays Of full moon. For a time
he tent flaps were thrown back, but |
PRESENTLY they Were lowered.
The officer in command OF the guard
vas puzzled. He did not know what
y do. so he did nothing.
Presently the officer OF the guard
aw figure wrapped in the senora's
military cloak emerge hastily from the
ent and run toward him. Passing, she
ried in voice that he considered |
hanged by excitement: Il fear the spy
las cheated the galiows. 1 am going
or a surgeon"
The officer ran to the tent to see
: lie supposed-the body OF the SPY
wing on the ground. while a strong
nell OF chloroform pervaded the tent.
fe waited for the senora TO bring a |
urgeon. but she did not return. At
ist. when he was about TO send n
Messenger TO report the matter, the
py opened his eyes.
Where is he?' asked the voice of
be sonora.
Who? What? Are you
-Eae <xIA e. Ger 1