Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-03-31
Mean while the attorney was falling

me the source or your eHOrtS TO con-
vert me to cause that you not ap-
prove. | 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 I
must suffer It shall be l."
Rosa at this avowal gave a quick
gasp, and an expression Of pain cross
ed her face,
you have only added to the COM
plicatlon that besets us all" she said.
"If ! could assure you that your love
was returned It might simplify mat
ters. for we might then come to mu-
tual understanding. AS II Is, to tell
you what threatens us would be to In
vite 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 nm not surprised to re-
ceive an unfavorable response. | 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 a power
full effect upon Rosa Molina She Ak
ed her gaze on the speaker with an ex
preston that It was difficult for him
to interpret II 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 ] 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 n
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 refusep
"You will pass into the hands of the
governor general. cannot answer for
your life"
you can answer for my death.
Those who 80 into General Weyler's
parlors never come out. You have my
reply. Long live Cuba and Cuban in
Dependence
With this Fernandez turned to leave
the apartment. Molina stopped him.
"You cannot leave this house."
"Why notf''
ut is surrounded by Spanish SOL
diers."
Fernandez paused. He had been has
ty In giving definite answer.
"Am | to be taken from here imme-
diatelyT he asked.
"Unless you recall your reply"
Give me time"
my instructions are to require an
answer within twenty-four hours"
every well. Before tomorrow noon
l will choose between life for Spain
or death for Cuba"
The Spanish fleet had been destroyed
Santiago had fallen. Cuban independ-
ence had been achieved. Sufficient time
had elapsed for the Pearl OF the An
TILES to become the pearl OF her own
people. Enrique Fernandez was now
a judge on the bench. Quite often Il
was his duty TO pass upon II matter
arising from the antagonlsm existing
adherents during the revolution. A
man whose hair was premnturely white
was brought before the judge on Il
charge of haying legally executed Il
man by order Of the king Of Spain.
The culprlt was supported by his
daughter, who was doing all In her
power to encourage him.
Jose Molina" said the Judge. do
you remember meT'
II do"
wien Inst we met you demanded
my support Of the Spanish cause or
my life. was given n day In which
to arrive nj II final decision. The de-
cision was not given, for that night |
escaped from your house. You were
only partly TO blame for these acts of
tyranny, for you were the unwilling
tool OF the tyrent. You gave me my
choice between spain and death, and
yet ] am under great obligation TO
you, not to you directly, but through
n member Of your fanny"
The prisoner stood waiting for the
Judge TO explain.
ut is 10 your daughter that you owe
the life that | am about 10 give you,
for It was she who provided for me
the means Of escape from your home
What ! owe to her give TO you. 90
free. We have had enough Of these
reprisals since the revolution. will
hear no moro OF them"
Then, turning to Rosa Molina. the
Judge continued:
"Senoritn, ! once offered TO give my
life to solve proble.s that distressed
you. You repaid me by giving me a
freedom which enabled RE to fight for
Cuba. II had hundred lives with
which to repay this debt | would give
them all to you"
As Senorita Molina led her father
out OF the courtroom she turned and
looked at the judge. What was In
that look he understood. for not long
afterward when she and her father
had returned TO her home wedding
was celebrated there. Judge gornan-
dez being the groom ana senorita Mo