The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JULY 2. 1912

impudence OF it--bahP
But before leaving Mason went TO
the garden. All Spain couldn't have
stopped him. Of course. Marthe cried
and Mason said all the things-and
more-that man says at such times.
He said other things, too. And as
she heard them Marthe frightened,
even laughed. Then Mason went his
way. Back to Manila he turned. but
his Princess leaning over the hacienda
wall watching until bend in the road
drew a green curtain across the scene.
"A week later the Presidenfe put
Marthe in the Convent of Our Lady
Of Muries-a gray prison in the old
walled city Of Manila, But more than
convent walls were necessary to shut
out the love of Marthe and Mason.
Every Monday lnez, a young servant
in the Prcsidenfe,s household, came to
the convent for Marines washing. A
week later she returned, and always at
the bottom of the wash-basket lay
note from Mason. Also, before Inez
left for San Fernando she met him
and delivered the note which Marthe
always had ready. And so their love
grew and grew-warmer, stronger.
The weeks passed and Mason's term
of service was drawing to'a close. On
Friday night he was to receive his
discharge. That Monday Inez carried
note into the convent. 1t was filed
with material facts and plans--some-
thing that none of the others had been.
1t told that Mason had arranged every
thing for their marriage on Saturday,
At this point Blake interrupted me
with an exclamation.
How could they be married? In
the convent he asked sarcasticslly.
For an answer | went on with the
"Of course. it was to be an elope-
ment. Once year the girls in that
convent are taken down to Manila Bay
for swim. Guarded by the nuns they
60 before daybreak and dress on the
beach. Now. in Marines last letter
she told that Saturday was to be the
day. and Mason had his plans instantly.
As the procession of girls and nuns
hled out Of the gate he was to be wait
with coehsro and team of horses.
As soon as Marthe saw him she was
to slip out of the procession and run
to meet him. Then the eocheyo would
drive them to Malta. where Mason
had arranged to have a minister marry
them. OF course, under the circum-
stances to be married by a padre was
impossible. Not only was Mason a
Protestant, which would REQUIRE time
tor dispensation. but the banns would
have to be published.
$50 about an hour before dawn on
Saturday we drove down the Malycon
Drive and drew up in the shadows
near the old walled city. / was along
as best man. Just opposite was the
Gale Real gate, with it's drawbridge
and the moat that trimmed the wall as
far as it went. One by one the stars
were paling and dying. The color of
the heavens had changed-no longer
light-but the serious noble blue of
rare sapphires, faint radiance that
drew silvery veil over the earth. Be-
yond the tree tops the walls and
towers of old Manila lay in dark
silhouette against the enchanted sky
medieval fantasy living again. And
as ! watched the drawbridge, silent and
grim, i almost expected to hear il
rattle down and knight in shining
mail to come faring forth.
Then the drawbridge did rattle
down. The gate clanked back. Two
vague forms dressed in white appeared
in the darkened aperture. After them
came Others, scores of them, all white
and hooded. strange procession that
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