The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-29

in me I will tell you something which
you do not suspect ! love you. Tell
me the source Of your efforts to con-
vert me to a cause that you not ap-
prove. l swear to you not only on the
honor Of a gentleman. but as one who
loves you. that will not betray you;
that If either you or your father or
must suffer it shall be L"
Rosa at this avowal gave quick
gasp, and an expression Of pain cross
ed her face.
you have only added to the CON-
plication that besets us ALL" she said.
"If could assure you that your love
was returned 1t might simplify mat
tiers, for we might then come to a mu-
tual understanding. As it Is, to tell
you what threatens us would be to in
vite a sacrifice on your part without
being able to reward you for making
it. If you have seen anything in me
to warrant your avowal you have been
mistaken"
81 have seen nothing to warrant an
avowal, and am not surprised to re-
ceive an unfavorable response I have
made my confession that you may I'M
derstand that you have nothing to fear
from me-that my life is at your serv-
ice."
Naturally these words had power
full effect upon Rosa Molina. She fix
ed her gaze on the speaker with an ex-
preston that it was difficult for him
to interpret. 1t seemed to be min
Cling Of awe and reverence. But there
| was no love in it. After thus looking
intently at him for few moments she
said:
Leave me to think over all this. So
/ many strange things have followed
upon one another so closely that I am
bewildered."
Meanwhile Senior Molina was acting
irrespective Of anything that was TAX
ing place between these two. Weyler
had become impatient and given him a
definite and imperative order. One
morning Molina summoned Fernandez
into his private room and said to him:
"Senor. the government demands
your influence and your efforts to as
sist In putting down this rebellion
against the authority Of the king of
SPAIN"
"And what II l refuse?"
You will pass into the hands of the
governor general. cannot answer fol
your life"
you can answer for my death
Those who 60 into General Weyler's
parlors never come out. You have my
reply. Long live Cuba and Cuban in
dependence!"
the apartment. Molina stopped him.
"You cannot leave this house."
why not?"
1T Is surrounded by Spanish sol
diers"
Fernandez paused. He had been has
ty in giving a definite answer.
Am l to be taken from here imme
diatelyY he asked.
"Unless you recall your reply"
Give me time"
= MY instructions are to require al
! answer within twenty-four hours"
e Every we'll Before tomorrow moo
r l will choose between life for Spai
: or death for Cuba"
The Spanish feet had been destroyed
Santiago had fallen. Cuban independ
ence had been achieved. Sufficient tim
: had elapsed for the Pearl Of the Al
TILES to become the pearl of her ow
people. Enrique Fernandez was no'
Judge on the bench. Quite often
was his duty to pass upon matte
Z arising from the antagonism existin
q between Cuban liberators and SPANS
Q adherents during the revolution.
man whose hair was prematurely whit
= was brought before the judge on
IL charge Of having legally executed
man by order Of the king of Spail
r The culprit was supported by h
l. daughter who was doing all in hi
: power to encourage him.
a "Jose Molina" said the judge, q
> you remember meT
IS 81 do"
J. when last we met you demande
s. my support of the Spanish cause I
u my life. l was given day in whic
"a to arrive at a final decision. The d
J. cision was not given. for that night
N escaped from your house. You wei
only partly to blame for these acts I
y. tyranny, for you were the unwillir
d tool of the tyrant You gave me n
lie choice between Spain and death. ar
III yet | am under great obligation
d. you. not to you directly. but throul
a member of your family"
II The prisoner stood waiting for Il
u judge to explain.
'e ut is to your daughter that you ov
ie the life that l am about to give 20
ne for 1t was she who provided for n
III the means of escape from your HON
u What owe to her l give to you. {
II free. We have had enough of the
.. reprisals since the revolution. W
III hear no more of them"
Then. turning to Rosa Molina. t
ce judge continued:
en- "Senorita. once offered to give n
We life to solve a problem that distress
In you. You repsid me by giving me
re freedom which enabled me to fight
n Cuba. II had a hundred lives wi
ne which to repay this debt l would 81
"a them all to you"
be AS Senorita Molina led her faith
I'D out of the courtroom she turned a.
In looked at the judge. What was
lat that look he understood. for not lol
| eha ~ foth