The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-01-31
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
|1HEY set forth early in the morn
ing. There was cool fresh
ness in the air from the storm
Of the day before, and If they
wished to avoid the necessity Of rav-
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 attitude
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 vicer0y 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 end of his position as
the publicly afianced Of Donna Mer-
cedes to address her a few words in
farewell, which she received with Isu
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 Agaplda
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 a 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.
Alvarado, whose white, haggard face
showed that he mad passed sleepless
night, rode at the head Of the column.
Some distance in front CT him rode
trooper, for there were even then
thieves, wandering bands Of masterlesS
men who levied bloody toll on travel
ers 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 th"
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-all, that is,
except Donna Mercedes, the duenna
and Alvarado.
The worthy Sonora Agapida with
womanly ssrewdness more than sus-
pected the true state of affairs. In
deed, Mercedes, who loved the old
woman, who had been as mother to
her, her own mother having died when
she was mere child, had scarcely
taken the trouble to conceal her mis-
,, cry. and the old woman's heart was
wruns whenever she looked at the
dropping figure at her side. She would
lain have brought the flush of hal.oi-
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 tie viceroy could
properly fault her.
When Mercedes had met Alvarado
early in the morning she had achnowl-
e4ged his profound salutation with the
curtest and coolest 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 a long time, and, if she had
the slightest doubt, the sincerity with
which he had spoken the night before,
the fierce, passionate fervor Of the
kisses that he had pressed upon her
lips, his utter abandonment to his pas
sion, had more than satisfied her. Yet
when she had offered to throw every
thing to the winds-love, duty, obedl-
ence-if he would only take her away,
he had hesitated With her, a wom-
an who had all Venezuela at her feet,
held in his arms, he had repulsed her.