The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-01-29


good man and
would keep his
word. Camilla
knew that. The prelado who was to
perform the ceremony had called to
congratulate. He told her any maiden
in the province would be rightly proud
to win the love of de Gomara, and
left her quite dutiful.
The wedding was a fine affair. Look
ing like some glorious bird of the
tropics, the little bride smiled sweetly
beside her lordly husband. Military
men from the Alajuela mountain gar
rison formed fair proportion of the
guests, and their smart uniforms
blended artistically in the sparkling
panorama under the chandeliers.
The perfume of rare flowers, the
dangerous melodies of CASTLE and
the subtle magnetism of bright eyes
that outshone their own diamonds
chased the glad hours away.
Its the birth of love-" murmured
the adoring husband; "it's good
omen, sweetheart.
Camilla assented, her coral lips
showing the white gems beneath.
They had reached the far end of the
lawn, where de Gomara stopped and
heavens.
MAY thy richest blessings"
Quicker than the stealthy action of
tiger two dark-eyed men came out
OF the shadows and, leaping upon the
hacendado, gagged him and bound his
hands. Then as swiftly and as noise
lessly they gently picked up Camilla
and gently passed her across the
hedge. where a sinister crew of dark
figures awaited, like vampires of the
swamps.
The music and the dance went on;
the stars glowed out of the dark
canopy and now and then Carriage dis
charged column of white, hot fame.
Then discovery was made by pair
of promenaders. The stricken hacen-
dado was released and the military
gentlemen mounted in hot haste.
Ten thousand pesos for the brigand
Moreno, dead or alive!"
So cried the lord of San Jose valley
as he climbed into the saddle on his
great black stallion and led the way.
Under the tropic heavens, through
the perfumed foliage, into the wild
mountains rode the rescuers, three
hundred strong.
AS the ascent grew sleeper the party
deployed. De Gomara and his retinue
keeping straight ahead, turned sudden
ly into roadway cut into the side Of
the mountain. Across the abyss was
Moreno and his fantastic crowd Of
outlaws lined up as if waiting. Camilla
sat on the saddle in front of her cap
tor. De Gomara, with a cry of rage,
raised his carbne. The bandit held
up his right hand.
"Senor de Gomara," he said, at
would be a pity to slaughter hundred
good men when two will suffice"
The hacendado understood.
so be it" he returned; you on
that side and l on this till one shall
die"
Moreno dismounted and gently as
sisted Camilla to alight. He indicated
a safe place for her to stand and
walked down the road bordering the
chasm on his side. Il was agreed that
a captain in the pursuing party should
count The bandit stepped boldly out
in the center of the road.
No one could tell just how it hap
pened, or when, but at the last count
the two carbines spoke simultaneously
and Camilla sank at the feet of the
brigand chief with bullet in her
breast. De Gomara's right arm wa.
perforated by the ball from the enc
my's objected weapon. With a strange
cry, Moreno stopped and lifted the
stricken girl. Then he looked across
the gorge.
"A truce, gentlemen he said; "the
lady's hit. "Will Senior de Gomara
please come over? My men will guide
him and protect him"
Moreno walked down the narrow
cliff roadway and then disappeared in
rude shanty on the mountain side.
When the hacendado entered few
minutes later he saw the brigand on
his knees beside the cot, the dying
girls arms around his neck. Her eyes
were looking into his with pathetic
devotion.
They made me do 1t, my dear Mo-
reno" she murmured; thou wilt for.
give poor Camilla, who never ceased
to love thee?"
The brigand run his hand through
the tawny tresses and whispered some
thing no one else heard The dark