The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-02-27
erals returned to their lines. The sur

The men were 1ubilant, but many
were beginning to succumb to the ply
steal effects of their life in the wet
trenches.
On the 18th of July, General Shat
ter, his staff, brigade commander, and
a goodly body of troops left the
trenches and, with bands playing ana
flags flying, marched up the trail lead
ing into Santiago, where the surren-
der took place before the two armies.
Then the march continued into the
city.
The Spanish soldiers, some twenty
two thousand men (Holton had under
estimated their NUMBER, were to be
shipped to Spain, and nothing re-
manned to be done but to assume the
reins Of military government and set
things in order. One OF the first acts
of the Americans was to release po-
litical prisoners from confinement
and then as evening fell the lights
were lighted, the bands played IN the
patio Of the palace, the Venus restau-
rant overlooked with American ON
GERS, the streets were crowded with
men, women and children.
Meanwhile what were the Cubans
doing? Many Of them had their homes
in Santiago and naturally they were
anxious to return to them, and had
fully expected to do SO. Now by ON;
cial mandate of the Americans they
we're barred from the gates.
Holton knew enough of the fiery
temper Of these men to realize that
Garcia and the other commanding or
ficers must sway great authority over
their soldiers if they were to hold
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 If one
occurred 1t would involve compiica'
ton not to be desired.
That the Cubans in the camps OF
Garcia and Castillo were openly talk
ing of an uprising was known to every
one, and not even Garcia's assurances
that he could keep them in hand
Quieted 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 a
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, ant
at length turned into the driveway
\ leading tn tho -,sr~ Io--~-- sr-~s-
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 a tree, he made lis way through the
underbrusA, until looking through the
foliage he could zee the front Of the
house.
Here he waited Why he knew not
What had come sver him? Somethins
inside was dam,ening the ardor with
, which he had Sc out on this importan,
: journey, and plcing his spirits under
pail of uttGly unreasonable fore
: boding. An Incubus Of doubt, almost
of dread, settbd upon him, and try as
: he would he ould not shake 1t of.
And yet WAT nonsense! Here in
4 the broad light Of this beautiful, scin.
tillating day to feel emotions which
might be naural to a schoolgirl when
/. alone in tn, dark! He could not I'm.
derstand it at all But neither could
|. he dissipah the spell.
At Length, with sudden resolution,
he came ont of his hilng.place, mount.
e ed his horse and roe boldly up the
g driveway, He aligEed at the door.
L step, tethered his sed alongside the
two other ponies, I'D mounting the
steps, rang the bi, the echoes Of
e which he could es3angling and clat-
tering throughout pc house.
n Awaiting arepf 70 his summons for
n some time. and eceiying none, he
h pulled the bell aun' now with ir.
e ritable energy. most on the instant
n the door was fluFopen and Miss La
A. Tossa, still in 8 hunting suit. and
a. accompanied bFlerre, stood before
a, him.
at She looked ann with cold, inquir-