Year: 1861

lOlP anu 70 WueTe DE won ny HOple uSCuo
of arms yet he their only boy and they could not
spare him Restrained by their tears and enreates he
had remained at home and passed his time IN perecung
his studies in riding the hills with his young sister,
and enjoying the rural sports Of the country. o. many
was the wild ga which he took with the Joyous girl
the fowery painsand along the green hil-sdes
of his fathers estate many bright scaled fish did he
draw from the deep pools of the Gamma, and many
brgheyedIdoe and horned buck fell before his certain
aim. His father was careless easy liver; his habits
regular as those of yankee clock. He arose
in the morning early and rode his place to see how
the work and crops on then returned to his house.
where with his cigar wine, siesta and society of his
family, he managed to kill the rest of the day very
happily His place he called Casa de Felees, or the
house of happiness and one who saw those who
dwelt theresn would deem it msnomer. But clouds
were poomed to overshadow it. and tears were to take
the place OF smiles on those happy faces.


1t was dark, on sweet summers eye-the twilight
had deepened into quiet gloom, and the stars had
commenced winlng at the wicked deeds which in the
shadows of the night often done upon the earth
The moon had not yet arisen though the lighted sky
above where she lay showed that she would ascend
her throne. Don Onisco Alvarez his wife and his son,
seated upon the piazza of their mansion which faced
toward the east whence the cool breeze from sea-
ward, mTmurng it swept freshly through grove OF
orange trees which stood between them and the seaside


'Nhere is your sister, asked donna julia Of her son;


cher guitar and voice would sound sweetly now, me-
thinks"


Il know not y replied Guilermo. u saw her when
the setting, walking down the hillside in the
orange grove; She must this have returned to her
chamber; she is too timd remain in the grove by
the seaside, after the night-gloom has thckencd'


You had best 90 and seek her my boy in her cham
Der. too would ftin listen to her music said the
father.


The Young man cheerily obeyed and soon his voice
heard from within, calling her name But her bird


like tones were not heard in reply and he flew from
to OF the old mansion, seeking her, thee echo
OF his voice and his hasy steps alone were heard Soon
he returned his parents and his check was slightly
pale lis eyes dstended with excitement, he said:


'She is not withn-she must be dallyng by the sea-
side or in the grove. will go there to seek her"
And then lie bounded off through the grove, and
down towards the sandy beach and al every step he
called her name: vet she answered not To and fro,
into every nooS and corner he ran, but signs OF
her. lie returned to the house and all the servants
were despatched in every direction the estate to
seek for her The fearful mother searched again each
room while the father hurried like a nadman over ev
cry part Of the house calling his daughters name.
At last the round bright moon came up and things
before wfapt in gloom became perceptible Then once
more GuemO hastened the water-sde; where last he
had her and bent his gaze down upon the snowy
sand to see il there remained of her footsteps
He them, but more pale grew his cheek, when be-
side her tiny foottrac he saw the traces OF mems
feet With beating heart he glanced along the track
and down by the very waters edge he found torn scarf
which she had worn on that very evening.
20 GOd!h he groaued, "she has been torn from us,
and then his eye turning to seaward fell upon vessel
which standing of the coast AS she sailed between
him and the moon he could see the black flag at her
masthead; he could see that herhu Of blood red
hue and then he knew where the idol Of the household
had been carried


o, who tell the agony that then rent his heart
he feared 60 back his home to tell his parents the
terrible truth But he had no need to do so. They
stood by his side They looked down upon the traced
sand they gazed upon her scarf and then looked
toward the vessel which rapidly bearing off their
child. The truth all too sadly plain There they
stood, stepped in the Of misery, they who had
before been 50 happy For time neither spoke-their
grief was -speechless--iudescribabl


GuiIermO to your saddle and ride to the port there
is iTigate at anbhor there; tell her commander don
Jose Sanchez OF what has happened, and pray him to
hurry in pursuit of the ro5ber fends who have away
your helpless sister"


In moment the unhappy lad obcved and soon the
steesod hoofs of the flying courser struck fire from
the rocky roadway he sped toward the port of Matan
Those miserable parents stood there upon the
surWashed beach gazing upon the pirate vessel, mean


time until it was lost to view in the eastern water line


Ii nearly day dawn before the trgate was underway
in pursuit. and when she gained the open sea- not sail
was in sight nor one spec to vary the deep blue o
oceans melancholy waste And thus was Nina Ava
rex lost to her h0me-thus she torn from the low
/ ing and beloved Of her heart


1t was vet four wears later than when they lost their
CuQ, Don pAlrCO ana MS vile were again stdttt upon
their eastern piazza and this time they were alone
Time and sorrow had strangely altered them BOTH
! Their cheek and brows thin and orrowed, their


hair before dark ravens wings, was now sllvery
white and they seemed to have grown old in day.
TheY were gazing ont toward the bay down which four
gallant vessels were speeding with belying sails and
Haunting blnnrrs. 1t was bright MONDAY, the warm
shone down upon the lovely tropical verdure before
them and made the distant sea look like molten gold,
and toward the east bore those noble vessels through
! its mist


The leading vessel of the four small but beauti-
fal galleon fitted with tall spars and carrying i'm
mcnse spread OF canvass. From her mainmast had
waved large white flag in which, worked with letters
of blood-color, the words, "DEATH TO ALL PI-
RATES" The vessel wore no other fag-she was utterly
devoid Of ornaments but three long brass guns ranged
on piyots her arm racks filed with gHtterng weapons,
and crew of one hundred picked young men, showed
that she WAS no seadandy; that she was fitted for peril
Gus service.


She was the nina, the vessel of young Guilermo
who had served four wears in the Spanish and had
for his desperate courage exhibited repeated occa
sons, been already promoted to command. At the
return of the fgate after her unsuccessful pursuit o
the pirate which bore away his poor sister Guermo had
entered the nayy-vowng his whole life to an etcrna
enuty to those who had robbed him and his household
of all Joy. Cuba, and all OF the surrounding islands
were at that day infested by numerous bands Of reckless
buccaneers and in conflicts with these, young
Alvarez had fame vi hich many officer lar Older
than he had fought and bled for in vain. This had
gained him his command and well had he earned it.


The vessel which have described SO veil fitted


for war was one built expressly for him, and had been
named the Nina in remembrance of his lost sister
whom he had sworn to rescue if yet iivng-o revenge
il she had persisted. He in command of four
vessels, each manned with hundred chosen men, and
never came he into port, TO reft them with pro
visions and water He had this occasion visited his
parents but they still sad mourner for their loved
and lost one and his stay brief He sighed TO be
oil again upon another cruise after the fends upon the
! sea.


We again take readers back to the pirates castle


1t was the second day of his confinement and the
I Conde de Goano grew impatient for he had not yei
been permitted to see his daughter, had Rinard


taken any steps send for his ransom Therefore when
the attendant brought his morning meal he bade him
tell his master that he solicited interview. This
soon granted and the conde himself astonished al


the unusual kindness of the pirates tone as he entered
and addressed him. His helmet on as usual and
his vizor down. but his dark eyes calm and soft
his tone mild and winning.


Wha can Rinard do serve his guest this morning.
asked the pirate.


Your guesg Methinks were you to say your pri8
oner senior, the term would best beft ne"


YOU need not long be my prisoner; you have it il
your power to free yourself" responded Rinard, in
tone of singular meaning which seemed TO import
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