The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-12-13

in the streets of Havana, and a wit
ness came forward who swore that he
had seen Sanchez commit the act.
Judge Antonio Herrera presided at
Sanchez's trial. In the witnesses the
judge recognized Cubans who had been
active In the revolution. Nevertheless
good case was made against the for
mer deputy of the merciless Weyler.
The jury brought in verdict Of guilty,
and it only remained for the judge to
pronounce sentence.
miguel Sanchez, stand up"
The prisoner arose, pale and trem-
bling. He was supported by his daugh,
ter, a dusky Spanish girl with liquid
eyes bordered by long lashes.
miguel Sanchez" said the judge
"do you remember meP
Il do" faltered the prisoner.
when did we last meetT
II ordered your arrest. You were
brought before me, and I sent you to
prison."
"What were your words on that &C.
casionT .
II don't remember"
II do. You said: The crown of
Spain demands your influence to put
down the revolution or your life. /
give you two days in which to
choose"
The judge paused moment. The
courtroom was dealthly still except
for the sobs Of Dona Maria Sanchez.
"Do you remember some months lat
er, after had got away from you-it
was through the connivance of one
near your person-that you were be
sieging the town of G.. where you had
me, backed by number of revolution
lists, surrounded?"
II do"
"You found nut too hard for you to
crack. You cared little for any one
within the town except myself. One
evening a note was put into my hand
by one who slipped away and was lost
in crowd before I could mark him
The note was from you. You asked
me to meet you without the walls,
promising me safe conduct. You
limited that the crown was ready to
pay me a good price and give me an
important post in case l would abjure
on the other side. l sent a man made
up to represent me. What became Of
himW
Sanchez stood with bowed head
Again there was silence except for his
daughters sobs.
81 will tell you," continued the judge
HE was arrested and was about to be
shot when he succeeded in convincing
you that he was not the person he APP
peared to be. He was permitted to re-
turn to me as a messenger with anoth-
er safe conduct and further offers"
The judge paused again. This time,
besides the sobs of Dona Maria, there
were mutterings among the ex-revolu-
tionists who had secured the prisoners
conviction.
what have you to say" continued
the Judge, Gin explanation Of your
treacheryW
The prisoner raised his head, looked
at the judge and said:
Nothing"
Something lighted in the eye Of the
judge that had not been there before.
He sat regarding the prisoner, who
was still looking fixedly at him. Then
the judge broke the silence.
"You have this to say. You were
simply a machine to carry out the or
ders of butcher. What you said were
the words of General Weyler. What
you did were his acts"
The pallor of the prisoners cheek
gave place to tinge of color. Dona
Maria looked up at the judge with a
new expression.
at is I, not tyrant, who judges
you now, as l was judged. And this
is my decision. The revolution is ac-
complished. 1t is not for me, judge
of the court, to dispense vengeance.
Yhis case has been trumped up against
you by those who wish to be revenged
upon you for acts Of which you were
only the tool. They might as we'll
strike an ak and leave the headsman
who welded it untouched. Sentence
is suspended indefinitely. Meanwhile,
Miguel Sanchez, you are permitted to
go where you Will"
The sudden reprieve was too much
for Sanchez. He reeled and fell into
the arms of his daughter. He did not
see the look that passed between that
daughter and his judge, look that
seldom sits on the human countenance,
for only extraordinary conditions can
call forth such an expression.
In one part of the judges address he
had spoken of having ESCAPED through
the connivance of one nearfhe govern
or's person. That person was Maria
Sanchez. There were but. two persons
in that courtroom who knew the secret
Of the judges leniency, who knew that
he and Dona Maria had ever met.
And there was but one who realized
the remarkable adroitness with which
the judge prefaced his decision. These
were Dona Maria and the judge him
self. They were lovers.
f. A. mitchell.
"