Mower County transcript., 1908-09-16
Dyes came close 10 his.

eyes came close 70 his.
q Marina he cried, desperately, amy
life IS yours! love you better than
III the world better than heaven! e
my captain, my yes. yes, my love
IL for you!" she said, rapidly, her
voice choking. "senor Chambers must
not dien Capt. Pilaro trembled as her
meaning became plain to him.
He shall not die, my adored ANGEL"
he cried. dropping to knee and TAX
Ing her hand into his. senor Cham
bers, as you wish. shall lfve!"
IN her misery she tried to look away
from him, but he drew her close to
him and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Toward ten o'clock the following
morning Gen. Bostos and his staff ar
rived at the camp, and the old war
rior's fatigue had nettled his humor.
Within the fortnight the forces Of the
government had suffered three de-
feats at the hands of the desperate
revolutionists, and the results of the
conflicts clouded Gen. Bostos' heart
with keenest despair and apprehen.
sion. What humanity was left in him
was almost snuffed out, and he had
determined that no quarter, no mercy,
should be shown to the rebels" that
fell into his hands.
Marina had intended to plead with
the general for Jerry's life, but she
knew it would be useless in view of
his gloom and desperation. Capt.
Pilaro recited to Gen. .Bostos the story
OF Jerry's capture, and the grizzled old
warrior became fiery red in the face as
he listened.
The dog!" he said, in curse so BIT
ter that even the captain quailed. "Let
his trial be speedy, let his punishment
be quick!"
At two o'clock that afternoon Capt.
P1laro and two guards carried Jerry
Chambers to Gen. Bostos' headquar-
ters on stretcher Bostos sat as
sole Judge, and it was evident that his
mind already was made up as to the
young mans fate. He had heard the
full story Of the capture, and he dis
played but little interest in the for
malities of the trial."
Jerry was permitted to testify in his
own behalf, and he spoke only the
truth. He had expected Marina to in
tercede for him, and when she 70
ma1ned In the background, her head
cast down SO that her eyes could not
meet his, his heart became chilled. -.
The punishment shall ft the crime"
said the general, sternly. Let the
prisoner be shot at sunrise tomorrow!
He shall have one night in which to
make peace with his God. Capt. Pilaro.
place the prisoner into your hands,
to be delivered to the colonel com.
manding here at sunrise tomorrow.
Take him back to his CELL" .~.f.:
Within half an hour Jerry Chambers
was In the cell Of the doomed. Pilaro
stationed death-watch at his grated
door. Marina did not accompany the
prisoner from the trial, and to Jerry's
surprise and infinitely increased de-
spatr. she did not appear at any time
that afternoon. At last, after the fall
OF dusk, Capt. Pilaro came to the cell,
for the first time since he had. es-
tablished the death-watch. His face
was white and he could not conceal
the excitement that was raging within
him.
Where is she-Senorita Bostos?"
Jerry asked
"senorita Bostos bids me say that
she will see you soon," said the officer
In a low tone. "She prays that you
bear up-bear up short time longer"
"Ah, what woman" Jerry sighed
almost forgetting the sentence Of
death that hung over him. "She is an
angel on earth, Capt Pilaro-one of
the noblest women that ever lived.
Even to me she has made the little life
left worth the living. I have request
to make, and feel sure that you will
grant it. Send to Wallace Cham
bers-" Here his voice broke and he
could go no further. Capt. Pilaro's
heart beat in great pity for him. and
he longed to tell him why Marina had
not been to his cell since the trial.
He seemed to smile when-he agreed to
grant the request and Jerry almost
quailed at the apparently heartless un-
concern. Capt. Pilaro, after few
minutes, approached the guard and
said: %>
You may be relieved at nine o'clock.
l shall remain with the prisoner until
sunrise
It was not long before Pilaro was
outside the cell. Jerry, watching the
shades OF night fall-like the dropping
OF an ominous pail Of death, lay fiat
on his back on the cot for half an
hour, at the expiration of which time,
to his utmost surprise afterwards, he
was asleep: His senses were not
aroused until the soft words Of Marina
Bostos fell upon his ears.