The Ocala evening star., 1911-05-24

His friendliness encouraged me.
would you grant me a favor?"
asked
He was on his guard in moment.
at Is not easy to grant favors in my
position"
"This is not large one. Tell me.
am 1 still allowed a daily constitution
al on the ramparts?
"Oh, yes You will be treated we'll
until your last day dawns."
''And the princess tOO:"
Yes, and the other prisoners too"
could you not SO arrange it that
we might meet upon the ramparts:'
'Impossible"'
Think, Costa, she is a woman. A
kind word of encouragement would
mean SO much to her.
Trust me, I will speak the kind
word
"She and l are friends in affiiction;
1t would mean more to her if 1 spoke
it."
81 do not doubt that" he said, with
a chuckle. You attempted to deceive
me when you said you did not love
her"
Il reverence her"
"Yet you say you do not love herT
Have l actually said that? Come
Costa, grant me this favor, and you
may demand Of me anything 1t Is In
my power to give. You shall stand by
me while 1 speak to her. In a few
days I shall be lying leaden footed
in the river below us. 1t will be good
81 Il
service
81 like you, Verrall, but / love my
self better. 1 cannot do 1t. I will see
what l can do with the executtoners.'
Had l had only myself to think OF
/ believe l should have made q dash
for liberty during one of my daily con
stitutions and thrown myself from the
ramparts | had Daria to think Of
What good was an easy death for me
If she were left to suffer?
In these days. indeed, 1t would have
been difficult to accomplish such al
escape. l was a show prisoner. Al
the time of my constitutional a small
crowd collected upon the ramparts tc
watch me as / walked to and fro
There was. however, a very unpleas
ant side to being show prisoner. Al
different times my cell was visited BY
the aristocracy of the city, even wom-
en- and children coming to look upon
the man who had once escaped from
| Yadasara and was SO mighty a war
riOr.
My fame had outstripped all reason.
l remember a child who came one day,
a dark haired little girl with thought
full eyes. She stood before me, looking
at me intently. Presently | smiled at
her, to her great delight, for she turn
ed to her mother and remarked:
81 don't believe he would hurt me" "
Poor little woman, l should think
not Evidently l was the fashionable
bogy to frighten naughty children
with.
Organ constantly came with Costa,
never alone. The Spaniard was afraid
that his lieutenant might do me an in
jury. Organ never spoke to me, and
over and over again Costa rallied at
him for not making my last days as
pleasant as possible.
Surely it is revenge enough to see
a former comrade in such a bad case"
he urged.
But the IriShman was obdurate. |
wondered that he could have changed
so completely.
One evening Costa came, accOmpa-
MED by four men, as villainOuS look
ing a crew surely as could be i'm
agined They entered stealthily, as
though they were on a secret mission.
and l rose from my seat, while a
strange thrill travelled up my spine.
thought my time had come.
Il could not bring them before" said
Costa You have been holding So
many receptions"
was relieved.
The executioners." l said. trying to
appear as If their coming had not dis
concerted me Gentlemen, | regret
that the poorneSs of my dwelling does
not allow me To offer you much hos
pitalitv nor much comfort. | fear.
Perhaps we may have some wine.
Il ordered It as we came said
Costa.
Two Of my guests lOunged against
the wall. and two sat upon the edge
of the table. O'Ryan brought the
wine and retired into corner. /
could not see the expression OF his
face as Costa talked on my behalf,
There are some men il is pleasure
| to help slowly out of life the Span
| lard went on with diabolical careless
ness. The cries Of a coward and g
| craven are good music, but there are
others who. having faced death bra We
| " every dav. should not be allowed tC