The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1917-12-27
OLD ST. AUGUSTINE
BY A. M'GAFFEY.

need not be surprised to meet a 70.
nance at any turn of Its quaint old
streets. And the cathedral on the
plaza, with its ancient Spanish belfry
would seem to be one of the most
likely places in the city for a story
or, at least, for the beginning of one
So must have thought the fate that
watches over our mundane affairs
when on Easter Sunday the bells be.
gan to ring out their joyous invitation
to the world.
AS the orderly crowds thronged into
church two young men crossed the
Plaza and entered. One was in naval
uniform the other dressed as a tour.
lists guide, and both were bronzed as
IL from long sea service.
The services were half over when q
lady and gentleman came in at the
great door and passed down the aisle
toward the altar. The gentleman was
stout and middle aged, the lady In the
bloom Of twenty years.
As they passed, looking neither to
the right nor to the left, one of the
young men touched the other on the
arm with glance at the pair. He
was answered by a nod, and presently
both left the church, slipping out by
a side door. In a narrow street run
ming at right angles to the plaza, they
hailed cab, into which he of the uni
form stepped, drew the door to and
sat down to wait.
The other, sauntering over to the
plaza, took his station near the group
of palms, in the shade of which two
or three carriages were grouped. And
soon the old bells doomed and the peo-
pie streamed out. Among them were
the two for whom our amateur detec-
tive was lying In wait, and as they en-
tered one of the carriages he managed
to get near enough to hear the order
to Fort San Marco"
By three o'clock in the afternoon the
fort was crowded with people. Walk
ing through this animated scene, a
part of it, and yet foreign to it, were
the young lady and the stout gentle
man. There was a third person In the
party now, a stranger with q distin-
guished air.
There's fine view for you, senor,"
remarked Mr.. Maynall, the stout gen.
tleman.
Don Miguel nodded a smiling assent |;
he was far too happy for words.
But a cry of rage from Mr.. Maynall
broke In on his trance. Right under
the sea wall, at the foot of the eastern
glacis, a four-oared boat, rocked on
the incoming tide, and as Marian May
nall caught sight Of 1t, she turned to
her father and said, with a sparkle In
her eyes: ''They are waiting for some
one down there; wonder who 1t can
be-"
Eyes, they belong to that gunboat
yonder. suppose some young naval
sprig out for a lark, curse him."
"Father!" exclaimed the girl angrily.
81 mean what I say" rejoined the
other. II hate the whole service be-
cause of that impudent jackanapes
with whom you have been fancying
yourself in love. What have you to
say, MiguelT
"Ohl OIL What is 1t, senorr re-
piled Miguel.
II say we will laugh at a certain
person after vespers," answered Mr..
Maynall testify.
The Don's response was a scowl.
As the three moved away a tourists
guide stepped out from an embrasure
and walked leisurely down the stair
way. He wrote something In a memo
randum book in his hand, then went
into the corridor below and waited.
The three came down presently. The
guide nimbly opened a door on the
right, and before the two gentlemen
knew what had happened, they found
themselves In small room with q
table in the center. An obsequious
salesman took them In hand, while the
guide, saying: II will find a seat for
the young lady outside" slipped back
into the corridor.
Marian Maynall, divining that some
thing unusual was on the tapis, was
standing flushed and trembling when
the audacious guide put the paper in
her hand on which he had written:
Lieutenant Westville waits for you
at the foot Of the eastern glacis. Lose
no time"
And Marion Maynall lost no time.
She flew out Of the dark portal with
swift step. A young man in naval
uniform met her half way, and clasp
ing hands they ran together down the
slope to the boat. They were in 1t in
trice, but had not gone many lengths
from the wall when a couple of gentle
men bounced. out upon the esplanade
waving their hands and shouting like
mad.
Something must be done, however.
Don Miguel set Off below the fort,
where he could hire a boat, and Mr..
Maynall, pressing a cab into his serv-
Ice, hurried after, the crowd streaming
down the road to see the fun.
1t was fine sight which now greet
ed the throngs on the pier. Each boats
crew did its best The situation was
intensified when, moment later. q
group appeared on the forward deck.
and 1t became apparent that a mar
rtage ceremony was taking place there