The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-29
SENORITA
MOLINA
A Story Of the Cuban
Revolution

BY ESTHER VANDEVEER !
<>>>>><>>>>>>>>>>>><>>>>>
While the revolution that brought in
dependence to Cuba was brewing the
government Of Spain through 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
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 were not to
be disobeyed.
Molina was an elderly man and the
| father Of a 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.
] hnf Earnan6nz OF
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, l have been ordered by
the captain general to bring Senior
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. 1 must tell
my guest that the Spanish government
demands his adhesion or his life. Al
times woman may accomplish by per.
suasion what q man cannot effect by
argument. II you could win over Sc
nor Fernandez you might save his life. '
But, father" asked Rosa. "why arr
you obliged to do this work."
General Weyler is an autocrat In
Cuba. He may send me to prison OF
. 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 firs
/ winning his lover"
, II do not. would rather suffer thar
t have you do anything dishonorable."
Again there was silence, at the enc
3 Of which Rosa threw her arms abou
!. her fathers neck and assured him tina
3 she would do anything honorable t
5 save him from the consequences o
e failure.
What made this duty odious to ROs,
n Molina was that she was heart ant
y soul for the cause of Cuba. One morn
: ing she sat on the veranda Of her HON
with Fernandez and began to reasol
). with him why he should embrace tn
cause of Spain. He listened to he
$ while she spoke hesitatingly and with
It out animation. and when she came
d halt he said:
"Tell me the truth. Your heart
=. not with Spain; 1t is with Cuba. Their
o is some reason why you are endeavol
n ing to win me to a cause with whic
l. you do not sympathfze yourself"
Rosa did not dare tell him what b
e wished to know. II she should do S
ne might betake himself beyond he
y fathers reach. and the latter woul
y have to suffer for his failure. Sh
h would not tell an untruth. Rising frol
her seat. she went into the house. lea
e. Ing Fernandez wondering what a
lie this meant.
le Senorita Molina sought her faith,
n and told him that she had tried to II
II fluence Fernandez, but had failed b
* cause she was untitled to plead
cause to which she was bitterly oppo
y. ed Molina sighed. but the sigh ws
at his only reply. Rosa was much tro
is bled. She asked him many question
er If he reported failure to the govern'
would he be imprisoned? What wou
at be her next move in respect to Ferna
as dez? What did General Weyler mef
he by using force to secure the latter
id adhesion? She received no repl
e. Whether her father was himself u
Is certain in regard to these matters 81
err did not know. The only informatit
TX she received was that either her (
ut Their or Fernandez must suffer.
ne Rosa left her father to shut herse
Ell up in her room that she might for
err some plan of action. Would 1t not
al best for her to tell Fernandez of Il
situation and trust to him to find sor
IN way to save her father? This won
ID be trusting too much to a man who
ed she had known but short while.
Sc he should take himself off to the rev
of lutionists Rosa would feel that she hi
=" betrayed her father.
AT Fernandez. who suspected the sour
Of this pressure which had be
IN brought to bear upon him. would ha
ed departed had he not been interested
* these persons who he believed We
ok made the unwilling tools of the SIPS
mr. ish government More than this.
an was powerfully drawn toward Ro
on 1t occurred to him to pretend to
ill uncertain as to which cause he wol
od espouse in order that he might g,
time for observation In the hope Il
Oh ho would no ahle fo solve tho mvsfo