Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-09-15
SENORITA
MOLINA
A Story Of the Cuban
Revolution
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

government OI Spain IurOuSu the gov
ernor Of the island used every effort
to secure the adhesion Of prominent
Cubans. Among those whom it was
deemed desirable to win over was a
lawyer named Enrique Fernandez, who
was becoming prominent in his profess
sion. One Jose Molina was summon
ed one day before Captain General
Weyler and ordered either to win Fer
nandez by argument or bribery or
force Weyler at the time had unlim-
tied power, and his orders We're not to
be disobeyed.
Molina was an elderly man and the
father Of family of children, one of
whom, Rosa, was grown. Fernandez
was about thirty years old and IN
married. Molina invited Fernandez to
his house that he might have an oppor-
tunity to persuade him to align him.
self on the side of the Spanish govern
ment. Fernandez accepted the invita-
ton, listened to his hosts arguments.
but was uncOnvinced.
Molina noticed that Fernandez cast
admiring eyes on Senorita Rosa, and
1t occurred to him that what he him
self could not accomplish by argument
his daughter might bring about by
persuasion. The father therefore held
a private interview with her, at which
he said:
"My child, have been ordered by
tho P0nt9jn CyOnnpO1 70 hTinO SnnOr
Fernandez to the support Of the Span
ish cause either by argument or force.
I have tried the former and failed.
The latter course remains. l must tell
my guest that the Spanish government
demands his adhesion or his life. At
times a woman may accomplish by per-
suasion what man cannot effect by
argument. If you could win over Sc
nor Fernandez you might save his life"
But, father" asked Rosa. why are
you obliged to do this work?"
General Weyler is an autocrat in
Cuba. He may send me to prison or
to death, whichever he chooses
The girl paled She did not speak
for some time Then she said:
"Do you wish me to win Senior Fer
nandez's adhesion to the crown by first
winning his love?'
81 do not. I would rather suffer than
have you do anything dishonorable."
Again there was a silence, at the end
Of which Rosa threw her arms about
her fathers neck and assured him that
she would do anything honorable to
save him from the consequences of
failure
What made this duty Odious to Rosa
Molina was that she was heart and
soul for the cause of Cuba. One morn
ing she sat on the veranda Of her home
with Fernandez and began to reason
with him why he should embrace the
cause Of Spain. He listened to her
while she spoke hesitatingIy and with
out animation, and when she came to
halt he said:
"TelI me the truth. Your heart is
not with Spain; it is with Cuba. There
is some reason why you are endeavor-
ing to win me to a cause with which
you do not sympathize yourself"
Rosa did not dare tell him what he
wished to know. If she should do so
liz 1u4SuC DCLCIhG u11ISGII D0y OllQ LEI
fathers reach, and the latter would
have to suffer for his failure. She
would not tell an untruth Rising from
her seat, she went into the house, leav-
ing Fernandez wondering what all
this meant.
SenOrita Molina sought her father
and told him that she had tried to in
fuence Fernandez, but had failed be.
cause she was untitled to plead a
cause to which she was bitterly oppos
ed. Molina sighed, but the sigh was
his only reply. Rosa was much trou
bled. She asked him many questions
If he reported failure to the governor
would he be imprisoned? What would
be her next move in respect to Fernan
dez? What did General Weyler NEAR
by using force to secure the latter!
adhesion? She received no reply
Whether her father was himself I'm
certain in regard to these matters sh'
did not know. The only information
she received was that either her ia
Their or Fernandez must suffer.
Rosa left her father to shut hersel
up in her room that she might form
some plan of action. Would it not b.
best for her to tell Fernandez of tn
situation and trust to him to find som
way to save her father? This woult
be trusting too much to man whom
she had known but a short while. I
he should take himself off to the revC
lutionists Rosa would feel that she ha
betrayed her father.
who tho co17yo
Of this pressure which had bee
brought to bear upon him, would hav
departed had he not been interested
these persons who he believed wer
made the unwilling tools of the Spar
ish government. More than this, b
was powerfully drawn toward Ross
It occurred to him to pretend to b
uncertain as to which cause he woul
spouse in order that he might gal
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