The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-28

/ ".
patio of the palace. the Venus res'au y,
rant overlooked with American ON
GERS, the streets were crowded VIII
men, women and children.
Meanwhile what were the CuDan'
doing? Many of them had their homes
in Santiago and naturally they were
anxious to return to them. and mac
fully expected to do so. Now by ON
cial mandate Of the Americans the9
we're barred from the gates.
Holton knew enough OF the derJ
temper Of these men to reallze tha'
Garcia and the other commanding OIL
ficers must sway great authority over
their soldiers if they we're to holc
them in leash under such situation
as this.
He. Of course, had no fears that
Shafter would be unable to quell an
| outbreak, but at the same time II one
occurred 1t would involve q complica
ton not to be desired.
That the Cubans In the camps Of
Garcia and Castillo we're openly talk
ing Of an uprising was known to every
| one, and not even Garcia's assurances
that he could keep them in hand
ouieted the fears of the more thought
full among the officers. Yet there was
no inclination to allow them to enter
the city. the fear that they would turn
: loose upon the unarmed Spaniards
still being potent.
In the absence of direct orders, Hol-
ton hardly knew what to do. His anx'
iety as to the outcome Of the present
predicament he kept to himself, not
wishing to fill Washington with vague
and perhaps causeless alarms.
Late on the morning of the day fol.
lowing the surrender he mounted q
horse loaned him by cavalry officer
and set out once more along the San
ia Ines highway for the La Tossa es.
tate.
Soon he reached the lodge and gate
which he had entered some nights be-
fore. Up the road he cantered, and
at length turned into the driveway
leading to the La Tossa demesne. Two
horses were tied to posts In front Of
the veranda, but the house itself was
not thrown open to the morning air,
the shutters being closed.
Something about the atmosphere OF
the building caused Holton to alight
from his horse at bend in the drive.
Throwing the reins about the branch
OF tree, he made his way through the
underbrush, until looking through the
foliage he could see the front of the
house.
Here he waited. Why he knew not
What had come over him? Something
inside was dampening the ardor with
which he had set out on this important
journey, and placing his spirits under
pail of utterly unreasonable fore
boding. An incubus Of doubt, almost
of dread, settled upon him, and try az
he would he could not shake it of.
And yet what nonsense! Here In
the broad light of this beautiful, scin.
tillating day to feel emotions which
might be natural to schoolgirl when
alone In the dark! He could not I'm.
derstand 1t at all. But neither could
he dissipate the spell.
AT length, with sudden resolution,
ne came out of his hiding. place, mount
cd his horse and rode boldly up the
driveway. He alighted at the door.
step. tethered his stoed Alongside the
TWO other ponies. and mounting the
steps. rang the bell the echoes of
which ne could hear jangling and clat.
terlng throughout the house.
Awaiting areply to his summons for
some time, and receiving none. he
pulled the bell again. now with ir. |
rilabie energy Almost on the instant
the door was flung open and Miss La !
ioSSd, sIili IN her hunting suit, and |
accompanied by Pierre, stood before
him.
She looked at him with cold. inouir.
ing eyes, and Elolton with gasp
stopped short.
Why--why--" His voice failed
him
AS the girl still regarded him with
cold, vacuous eyes, Holton flushed
angrily.
tie drew himself up very stiffly.
II beg pardon" he said. ~ fear
II came here under some sort Of
misunderstanding"
A CLEAN of an expression crossed
ne girls face. Pierre" she remarked
o her attendant, who stood rigidly st
Ter side, this is the gentleman we
net near Sevilla, is it not?"
Pierre glanced at Holton, his face
illed with an expression Of sayarn
hatred.
1t Is, senorita," he replied.
4 ~. v" ~ this ~n.Ig,, n ~ Go