Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-11-26

Most young men 90 To college with
out any fixed life plan before them
What they will do with their cduca.
ton they put of deciding until after
they get ii. I was one Of these. /
was good classical scholar ana one Of
the honor men OF my class. The clos
Ing days of my college life were vcs.
pleasant and very exciting. Gel.t
cred the salutatory-in Latin having
the satisfaction of being considered
very learned young man.
/ went home with the plaudts u
my admirers ringing in my ears. But
there found contrasting quiet. The
excitement had all died out, and |
found myself face TO face with the
problem Of career. Many young men
who take honors in college become
pedagogues. had no such inclination.
nor did care for profession OF any
kind. preferred Il stirring life.
went 10 the city, hunted for business
position and found one with house
doing a commission business whose
clientele was In South and Central
America.
stood the humdrum of business life
for about year, when some one was
needed to go TO Honduras TO collect n
debt owing the firm. offered 10 90.
My offer was accepted. and within a
few weeks l found myself in the coun-
try OF the rubber tree
While collecting the debt ! was ap-
preached by some men who told me
that they were plotting to seize the
government They persuaded me to
join them. They were defeated. /.
with others, was captured in arms
and thrown into prison The same
evening we were told that we would
all be garroted the next morning.
When at daylight an officer entered
the room where we We're confined to
take us out 20 execution he said to
me:
II understand that you are an edu-
Gated man. Am correct?"
II consider myself good classical
scholar" replied.
Every WELL Then, turning to a sub
ordinate, he said:
"Take him 10 his excellcncy."
was led TO the presidents house
and told TO wait till called for About
0 O'Clock | was conducted to the pres
ident's private office.
"what do YOU know about the clas-
sics|' he asked.
told him that was Il college grad.
uate and had at commencement deliv-
cred an Grafton In Latin.
you're just what ! want" he said.
"My son wishes to enter an American
college next year and needs Il tutor.
II you will III him for the entrance
examinations l will pardon you for
your stupid completely with these ras-
Gals who have sought TO put them
selves in my place. But understand
your sentence is only suspended You
will come into my family and be one
of us Any depression from straight
path and you will suffer under your
sentence for treason. Say nothing To
any one OF your connection with trail
tors"
/ did not understand what he meant
by "any depression" till | arrived at
his house and for the first time saw
that he had n daughter nj that tender
age when girls are liable 10 fan in love
with any presentablc man they hap
pen to be thrown In with. Donna Mar
guerlta was nineteen and OF course a
Spanish type. II was plain that | had
been warned against making love 10
her.
was introduced into the family by
President Sanchez as college gradu-
ate lie had imported from the north TO
tutor his son Pedro. sixteen years old.
Sonora Sanchez was probably the only
person In the house that knew was
under sentence Of death.
have theory that we only enjoy
by contrast. Another way Of putting
II is Stolen fruit Is the sweetest"
The president made great mistake
In warning me. To II young man of
twcnty.thrce being forbidden under
penalty of death TO make love to a
young girl is terrible temptation.
Had Senior Sanchez made no such
threat l might have lived in the same
house with his daughter and not trans
crossed. As 1t was was tortured
with n terrible desire TO win her and
with a terrible fear Of the garrote II
did
Whatever were my feelings. dared
not show them even TO the young lady
herself And here made the same
mistake with her that her father had
made with me. Observing that | had
unintcntionally inspired her with a
sentiment that might lead TO love
confded 10 her the secret that love
with us meant death for me.
From that moment passion that
might otherwise have either never
been born or at least soon have died
out famed up In Donna lnez and alb
sorbed her whole being. Could this
passion be scientifically analysed
think II would appear that the pre-
dominant element IN II would turn oui
TO be desire that | should accept
death In preference to giving her M.