, 1906-01-10
Wednesday, January 10, 1900


lOriginal.1
During the Cuban revolution all my
fathers family except myself were
strong supporters Of the Spanish gov
eminent. Indeed, my father, Senior
Emilio Cardenas, was so open In his
advocacy OF the Spanish cause that the
revolutionists vowed in case they ever
came into possession of his hacienda
they would burn the buildings. 1t was
q sad day when | babe goodby to my
mother to join the Cuban rabble that
called themselves an army. The sad
tlest parting Of all was with Senorita
Margarita Echarte, the g~overness OF
my little brothers and sisters. Mar
garita had descended from an excellent
Spanish family, but they had become
impoverished, and she was therefore
obliged to earn her OWL living. She
was a girl of strong character and at
the same time Of an amiable DISPOSE
ton. We had long been secret lovers,
but our relation had only been dlscov-
cred the day before my departure. In
deed, my going was all that saved Mar
garita from being turned out upon the
world, for my parents had no thought
Of my marrying d penniless girl.
A great change came over the cause
of free Cuba when the American troops
came to help us, or, rather, to a the
burden from our shoulders. At the
time of their arrival l was In western
Cuba and was glad when we started
to Join them near Santiago, for 1t was
in that province that my fathers
hacienda lay, and | was anxious to get
a glimpse of Margarita. We were
marching one morning southeastward
within a few miles of my home. Ev-
cry turn in the road, every wood, every
house, was familiar to me, and l
the dear old place.
On reaching II point half n mile dis
tant | deserted a camp which from Its
unmilitary appearance | knew to be
occupied by my comrades. We drew
nearer to my old home. At the gate
way | left the ranks and went up 10
the house, which l was pleased to see
was still standing. As l mounted the
steps, who should come out of the
door but Margarlta, but what astonish-
ed me was that she was handsomely
dressed In my sisters clothes and
moved as If she were mistress of the
hacienda.
"Margaritai" | exclaimed.
She put her finger to her lip to i'm
pose silence. Then she looked about,
and, seeing no one within hearing dis
lance, she said in a low voice:
THE Cubans and Americans can.1
near together, the Cubans first. We
feared only the former and had no con-
fidence in the Americans keeping them
from wreaking vengeance upon US.
Your father fled, and the rest of the
family are concealed in the garrett"
mot a safe place." l remarked, "if
they had burned the house."
1--WE had no time to concoct plans.
When the Cuban troops came in below
the family rushed upstairs and locked
themselves in. | fingered and when an
ofiicer-he proved to be the COM
mander-came up and asked for the
people belonging to the place l thought
it best to put OF a bold front. L am
Senorita C%ardenas,' | said, with all the
dignity l could assume. The others of
the family are away What means
this intrusion?'
Pardon me, senorita. If this Is the
Cardenas property my orders are to
burn it.
"'Whose ordersY
"He WINGED at this and, being asham-
ed of playing the vandal, told me that
he would do all In his power to say
the property. Since then l have been
playing a part. To carry out my char
acter as your sister | am wearing her
dresses and conducting myself as mis-
treSs of the house."
AT that moment a young Cuban Of
icer came up the steps, and, seeing me
talking with Margarita, glared at me.
Colonel Ferrarez,' said Margarita,
'this Is Captain Cardenas."
Captain Cardenas? Your brother?"
"Of course" stammered Margarita,
coloring.