Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-12-29

AS managing editor OF the PATRIOT.
davana soon became too hot to hold
ne. Suspected Of corresponding with
the insurgents. / was hauled before the
tyrant Weyler at the palace. This was
one morning early. At noon l was
ABOARD a train for Batabano n at
night on a steamer for the Isle of
Pines. the penal settlement for political
cOnvicts.
1t might have been worse. of course,
for the tribunal might have sent me
to Ceuta, on the African coast, where
chains and a cell would surely have
been my portion. Instead, however, 1
vas confined within the borders of a
beautiful island which a bountiful
Providence had provided with every
gift of nature n deprived only of my
friends and my habitual environ
ment.
Soon after my deportation, having
been landed at one of the two ports
here and finding the wretched town
life not TO my taste, / wandered away
TO the eminence known as the Crystal
hill, from the summit Of which 1 could
look out over the desolate sea and the
forest intervening between 1t and the
plantations. These and the town lay
on the plain eastward of the hill. Some
distance down its western slope L
found a yawning mouth of a cave p
IN the direction Of the sea, its farther
md somewhere within the bowels of
The earth. 1t was large and dry, with
immense natural pillars supporting a
oof hung with s~talactites. while a
stream OF clear water issued from its
lnexplored interior. In its outer cham
ser l hung a hammock. a fire of gum
50od dispensed warmth and perfume
when the nights were chilly. and I
thought I could be content here for u
month at least, or Until I could venture
tack to Havana.
I had money and firearms, and pro-
Visions. were daily supplied me by a
faithful islander whom 1 had befriend-
"a In former times. In the surround
ng forest were plants and animals
which could afford me sustenance II my
supply from town were to be c. off.
and | lacked only companionship to
make me perfectly cOntented.
II only Olivia were here-Olivia, my
dancee! II I had but married her be-
Tore this unfortunate affair! But, no:
this was no place for a tenderly nur-
tured woman like the daughter of the
alcaldc OF San Cristobal.
/ sat in the caves mouth one day at
noon. h heat Of the plains was most
oppressive, but a breeze from the ocean
stirred the leaves Of the pines. But
Tor their signing there was no sound to
disturb the deathlike calm till an unfa-
miliar clashing OF branches caused me
to start and reach out for my rife,
leaning against q rock.
Distracted as was, / expected Moth
Ing less than n visit from the Spanish
volunteers. who guarded the island:
but, looking up, / saw before me the
figure of a girl. She was comely, and
her face shone with intelligence, yet I
enew that h belonged to the serving
ylasS. 1t was. indeed, Carmela, the de-
Soted maid Of my fiancee! She smiled
and held out a folded paper. At first
my bew!ldered senses could hardly ac-
cept this token of her existence. My
vision was blurred, the scene before
me swan In a mist; but. murmuring
vaguely my thanks. 1 took the letter,
opened 1t and read:
MY father has driven me from his
mousse. Do you love me? Will you well
come me? l am near. Olivia,
! turned to the maid. "Where-
where is she?" I demanded. leaping
from my hammock. The girl shrugged
ner shoulders n pointed to the pines
on the brow of the hill. but vouch-
Safed me no other reply.
! scrambled UP the rocks, and there.
steadying herself against the trunk of
= pine. was my sweetheart! She look
ed at me timidly. in her eyes a mute
Inquiry. as IL doubtful Of the reception
! would offer. MOI long. however, was
she hesitant. Then. shaking a finger at
me with playful gesture. she said: "Oh,
Felipe. yon did not think / would
come. Now, did you? And o that
have come. do you not think me over
D0ld or arc you glad to see me, t. have
me lid awhile with you? Now lead
me & ;our cavern am tired-faint."
While the maid set the cave in order