Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-03-09

self ana. ScVonu- peNHu~S uiS he"'N
was given To woman. his worn
was passed that he would return every
evening to his Jail. and every evening
he returned
Was this because he respected his
promise or because he knew the gov
eminent could recapture him IL he
broke his parole and would then be
likely to fix date for his execution
II seems more likely that the govern
ment. for reasons best known to It
self, preferred that he should take
himself away and relieve 1t or the
necessity of his execution. There
were doubtless secrets In their con-
nection with the bandit that they
would not care to have him reveal and
which may account for their leniency.
But to some who knew nothing about
this Cortina was considered paradox
icaIly) the soul of honor.
But I'm the case OF the bandits love !
there were no such reasons Tor With |
holding sympathy. There was no
cause for his loving-nothing to gain.
1t was simply product OF nature
that pertains alike TO the good ana
the bad After he had been permit
ted to go about at his pleasure for
more than a year there came to the
capital beautiful woman from the
Caribbean coast. Cortina met this
woman and, though he was convict.
n murderer and n robber, she permit
rcd him to become acquainted with
her. From becoming acquainted the
, two became companions. They were
frequently seen together in the streets.
and Cortina visited her in her apart
o ments.
People wondered when they met the
. strange couple If this were not case
o of genuine love. under the influence
- Of which fiend incarnate would be
transformed into a lovable and loving
n man. Soldiers who were responsible
a for the mans keeping observed, but
h said nothing They had their orders
n from the government and obeyet
them. Indeed. all that pertained t'
no this man to whom cities had given VI
70 their gold and silver, before whoE
- whole towns had disappeared. bl
whom the streets Of both cities ant
- towns had been made to run bloo'
r and who was now permitted TO &
Il where he liked upon his word of hor
| or-his every movement was observed
| and vet no one openly made any con
:.
n ment or criticism
Ill But underneath the people marvele
fl 70 soc one who was ostensibly wal
II ing for the government to fix da
III when the garrotte should end his CT
81 reer forever, giving himself up to II
vi pleasure Of loving and being love
vi without an effort to avert the fin
II tragedy. Why did he not steal ava
III which he might easily have done wi
III the woman he loved. and in some fo
I'll e,pn land live n life of ctonement f
,U his crimes? But would she go wi
MI him? Would she share his exile.
AMI WAYS in dread wherever they mig
I'll make a home. that he should Decor
known as the bandit Cortina? or Il
n no one knew They could only wond
III And still the man under sentence a
II the Caribbean beauty appeared
Ii rether ON the thoroughfares. a
ii through her open windows came III
voices. sometimes mingled with lau
AL ter or the strains from her guitar.
~ One night Cortina's jailers met W
I'LL surprise. The sunset and the p
ii oner had not returned. Perhaps
I'll had been belated. The twilight fac
and vet nothing was seen of the p
oner At dark he was sui absent.
,sa II the guard was turned out. Whe'
GOV. II was called out under prett
sup or whether tue olue'e We ' a,
With should make an effort to find the !
as to oner ana return mn ~ J," VIZ
otbor matter. This man of so much unre
, MOS nized importance to the governr
,untry was missing anu 1t ue'ooNeu .ne
are Of thorities TO SNOW Ze"' III looAh' -
, pres him.
,se of The guard was about to start
the prison yard when man stage
accom- ND to the gate. threw up his b
effort and fell upon his lace. LltlhS
na and up. they threw back MS jacket
ut the there up against MS preast "aS
be In hilt of a stiletto.
swept The man was Cortina.
trating Eyes, am late, ne salu leeDly'
a time. I came. Love lured me to deaf
gan to had been with her all the after
Mt rea- Then when it was time for I
lit was return here she begged me to
tations longer with her. When came
ted sol the night had failen. we Walk
as oper- gether to the door, KISSED her
yht him by. 1t was dark. I felt the pc
knife as it slipped into my
the ease drew the pistol you have per-
accom- me to carry, but she had Vanls
sed, ex- the shadow
q know. Cortina gasped. and his hea
make a upon his breast lie was dead.
rrender The beautiful Caribbean WI
$ looked again seen in the capital tn