The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-02-14

N2S prevented C.I LIE SudItiS. IA1' u
rado strove to cheer the woman he
loved. and she promised him she would
choose instant death rather than dis
honor Re could give her little en-
couragement Of rescue, for unless word
Of their plight were carried to the
viceroy Immediately he would be far
on the way to the Orinoco country be-
fore any tidings could reach him, and
by the time he returned K would be
too late.
Again and again .AIvarado strove to
break his bonds in impotent and help
less fury. but this time he was secure
" bound. and his captors only laughed
at his struggles. In the midst Of their
grief and despair they both took notice
Of the poor abbess. Fra Antonio had
not moved Since Morgan had Struck
him down, but there was life still in
the woman. for from where they
stood, some distance back. the two
lovers each marked her convulsive
trembling. The sight appealed pro-
foundly to them in spite of their peril
GUS situation.
'The brave sister lives" whispered
Mercedes.
"'Tis so,'' answered Alvarado. "Se-
nor" he called, 1.-The sister yonder is
alive. Wilt not allow us to minister to
her."
NAY" said Hornigolds brusquely. 81
will go myself. Back, all Of ye.'' he
added. "She may wish to confess to
me in default of the worthy father"
He leered hideously as he spoke.
Coward cried Alvarado. But his
words affected Hornigold not at ALL
Before he could say another word
the guards forced him rudely back
with the two women. The worthy
Sonora Agapida by this time was in
state of. complete and total collapse,
but Mercedes bore herself-her lover
marked with pleasure-as proudly and
as resolutely as if she still stood with
in her fathers palace surrounded by
men who loved her and who would die
for her.
Rolling the body of the PROSTATE old
man aside, Hornigold knelt down on
the white sand by the form Of the Sis
ter. The moonlight shone full upon
her face. and as he stopped over he
scanned it with his one eye a sudden
flash of recognition came to him. With
2 m11ttered oath of surprise he looked
again.
1T can't be-" he exclaimed. "And
yet
After Fra Antonio's brave attempt
at absolution the woman had tainted.
Now she opened her eyes, although she
was not yet fully conscious.
"Waterw. she gasped feebly. And as
it Glanced the boatswain had small
bottle Of the precious fluid hanging
from a strap over his shoulder. There
was no pity in the heart of the pirate;
he would have allowed the woman to
die gasping for water without giving
her a second thought, but when he rec
ognized her-or thought he did-there
instantly sprang into his mind a desire
to make sure. II she were the person
he thought her she might have infor-
nation of value. Unslinging the bot
tie and pulling out the cork, he placed
it to her lips.
"I-die,' she murmured in stronger
voice. ga priest!''
There is none here" answered the
boatswain Fra Antonio-he absolv-
ed YOU
but I must confess"
Confess to me-" chuckled the old
man in ghastly mockery.
cart in holy orders, senor" NUT
tered the woman.
''Holy enough for you. Say on
Ezra Antonio. now" she continued,
vacantly lapsing into semideErium.
HE married us-'twas a secret-his
rank was so great He was rich, [
poor-humbie. The marriage lines
in the cross. There was a What's
that? A shot? The buccaneers. They
are coming. Go not, Francisco"
Hornigo11, bending an attentive ear
to these broken sentences, lost not
word.
Go not" she whispered, striving to
lift an arm. they will kill thee! Thou
shalt not leave me alone, my Francis
co. The boy-in Panama.
It was evident to the sailor that the
poor woman's mind had gone back to
the dreadful days Of the sack of Pan
anna. He was right then; it was she.
"The boy-save him. save him." she
cried suddenly with astonishing vigor.
The sound Of her own voice seemed
to recall her to herself. She stopped;
ner eyes lost their wild glare and fixed
themselves upon the man above her,
his own face in the shadow as hers
was in the light.
"Is it Panama. she asked. Those
screams-the shots"-she turned her
head toward the city-'the flames! Is
it Panama.
'Nay," answered the one eyed fierce
ly. ''Tis twenty five years since then
,nd more YOnder city is La Guayra.