News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-05-07
A MEXICAN'S
FLIGHT
BY ARTHUR w. BREWSTER

| N'N iCNShl lIuhSlllOD VI lut
government of Mexico, in a suburban
village lived two families, one Of
whom, the Fernandez, favored the gov
ernment, while the other, the Molinas
were known to be revolutionary sym
pathizers
Nevertheless, these two families haC
been intimate friends for years, ant
when revolution came and tht
Madero government was about to be-
deposed both families made an ar
rangement for mutual protection. II
the Madero side won then any hunted
Molina would if possible be concealed
in the Fernandez home. If the Dia2
side won the Fernandez might seek
refuge in the Molina home.
Young Leandro Fernandez, boy of
eighteen, during the fighting for the
capture of the police in the City of
Mexico acted with the government
troops and when the end came fled to
the home of the Molinas. He was of
no political Importance, but had bit
ter enemies who desired to take ad-
vantage of the anarchy that followed
the presidents assassination, to be
avenged upon the young soldier. He
was successful in reaching the Molina
home and making an entry without be-
| ing seen,
Leandro, not relishing remaining hid
! den away in an attic or a cellar pos
sessing fresh, rosy cheeks and being
without the slightest sign of a beard,
resolved to make himself up as a girl
in order that he might go about like
other persons. Senorita Inez Molina,
girl of sixteen, was about his size
and loaned him some of her wardrobe.
His mother procured him a blond wig
and sent it to him. and with a little
paint and powder his maidenly toilet
was complete. He had been educated
In New England, so was able to pass
himself off for an American girl,
niece Of Senior and Sonora Molina.
No sooner were the revolutionary
forces victorious than young Fernan-
dez's enemies, led by one Manuel Co.
sarees. set watch for him at his
home, expecting to take him there after
the assassination of the president.
They waited for him to arrest him on
a forged order Of the revolutionary die
tator, but he did not appear. They
were about to give up, thinking that |
he had fed to the country. when some
Of the neighbors Of the Molinas heard |
fhnf h4 IN, hot,
ing as a girl, and, the report reaching |
CoSarees, he made inquiries and found |
that the only two young persons in the |
Molina family were Inez Molina and
her cousin. Miss Mary Ashurst of
Massac husetts.
Had the would be murderers been
certain that this supposed Mary Ash
urst was the man they wanted or had
she not posed as an American they
would not have hesitated to take him
out forcibly and kill him. But first
they must satisfy themselves that the
ed. and. secondly-a matter of even
more mportance-they dare not risk
troubling a citizen of the United States.
The DiaZ government was at the time
In dread of American Intervention. and
any man committing an outrage on an
American citizen would be severely
punished
The Cosarees gang visited the Molina
home ostensibly to make an inspection
If some kind and saw Fernandez, but
lid not recognize him, though he rec
,gnized them. They went away evil
iently dissa tisfied. and Fernandez be-
ieved that as soon as they could make
Up their minds to some method of
procedure they would call again.
1t was natural to suppose that If
hey suspected him they would bring
woman for the purpose of determin-
ng If he were really a woman. and
lpOn the discovery of his sex they
o and shoot him on the way. Some
hing must be done to provide for such
contingency.
The plan was hit upon for the two
iris to change identities by means of
makeup. lnez. who was about the
anne complexion as Fernandez, put on
he clothes he had worn during the Wis
of his enemies. The blond wig was
hen put on, and she was made up
18th wax and cosmetics to resemble
i'm. He, too, was made up for Inez.
True enough. the very next day after
leir first visit they came again. This -
me they threw off the mask and. =,
forged order from the new :
,gime, said they were looking for a
Iadero soldier who had assassinated
Diaz supporter. They had heard that
: was masquerading as an American
RI from Massachusetts and wished to
etermine the truth of the rumor. They
Id brought woman who would sat