Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-02-19

erals returned to their lines. Tho sur
render of Santiago was assured.
The men were jubilant. but many
steal effects of their life in the wet
trenches.
On the 18th OF July, General Shat
ter. his staff. brigade commander. and
goodly body of troops left the
trenches and, with bands playing and
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 overfiowed with American Off
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 Off
cial mandate of the Americans they
were barred from the gates.
Holton knew enough of the fiery
temper of these men to realize that
Garcia and the other commanding Of
flcers must sway great authority over
their soldiers II they were to hold
them in leash under such a 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 it would involve a complica-
tion 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 SpaRiards
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
horse loaned him by n 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 a bend in the drive.
Throwing the reins about the branch
of a 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 as
he would he could not shake 1t off,
And yet what nonsense! Here In
the broad light of this beautiful. scin.
tillating day to feel emotions which
might be natural to a schoolgirl when
alone in the dark! He could not un-
derstand It at all. But neither could
he dissipate the spell.
At length. with sudden resolution.
he came out OF his hiding place. mount
ed his horse and rode boldly up the
driveway. He alighted at the door.
step. tethered his steed alongside the
two other ponies, and mounting the
steps. rang the bell. the echoes OF
which he could hear jangling and clat-
tering throughout the house.
Awaiting a reply to his summons for
some time. and receiving none, he
pulled the bell again. now with ir-
ritable energy. Almost on the instant
the door was flung open and Miss La
Tossa. still in her hunting suit. and
accompanied by Pierre. stood before
him.
She looked at him with cold. inquir.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS