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TULA VELASQUEZ. Leo Gordon was a handsome youiig southerner, whose home was on the balmy hacks of the Pearl riv er. He had served in the confeder acy with all the enthusiasm and con fidence that characterized the most intrepid wearers of the gray. It was not so much th discomfiture he felt at the termination of the civ il struggle, as it wa the spirit of ad venture, which had led Leo to aban don his southern home and seek that land of thrilling romance, Mexi co. Leo found Mexico then in a beligerent state. Immediately on his landing he joined the amy of Juarez, who was fighting against Maximilian. Many were the brave deeds of Leo Gordon, which won the respect and admiration of his comrades and of the great chief himself. But it is not of his service in that struggle that we intend to write, but of a certain adventure, deeply rose-hued with romance, in which Leo played an active part. With several of his friends, who had followed, him from the United States, Leo went one night to the luxurious hacienda of a very wealthy ranchero, and asked the savage browed master to grant them per mission to pass the night there. With a few crusty words in a sur ly voice the ranchero refused the re quest. But the Americans persuad ed, and on their saying at last that they were determined to stay any way, he gruffly and sullenly acquies ced to their lodging beneath his roof. The hacienda had a somewhat raambling, partially furnished wing that was used by the rauchero's fam ily, but had long ago been abandon ed to the bats and spiders. This wing was assigned to the accommo dation of the half dozen adventur ous Americans who had insisted on passing the night at the haciendn. ; Here they would bo wholly to thi-m-selveSj save the stealthy gnawing that broke the silenceof those unused rooms, and suggested a multitude of rats.) The moon was up and was iilter tering her silvery beams over the breast of the warm, delicious night. Leo was leaning out of one of the long, narrow windows of the wing, looking with sincere admiration at the ample and beautiful flower gar dens of his host. The flowers, in the moon's wealth of pellucid splen dor," with their rich perfumes tossed to him ever and anon by the bland south winds, carried the young southerner's mind back to his home on the Pearl, with its flower bedeck ed walks and balmy nooks. So lost was he in the memories which the scene before him evoked, that at first he did not observe Mex ican girl approaching the window from which he leaned. As she drew nearer, the young soldier became aware of her presence. She was very handsome. Her form, i which was plump, was richly clad. Her eyes were dark and intelligent. She looked seai chingly at Leo, and, s if satisfied with her swift scrutinr, h raised one soft, dimpled hand in warning, and placed the forefinger oyer her crimson lips to enjoin his silence. 'This is mystery personified!" Leo exclaimed within himself. ; But he preserved silence and not 4 movement of the graceful girl es aped his rigilant eye. Ha did not ven shift his attitude, fearing he i might arouse his companions who I were resting on the couches of the long apartment, and he cared not to disturb them. What could be the I meaning of the strange procedure of I the lovely Mexican girl! L As she stood with her fingers ov i er her lips, she glanced quickly over her shoulder to make sure that her I movements were not observed by I otner tnan the young American. As I sunng herself that she had not been suspected and watched, she glided up as close ta the window as she well could and whispered in a musical Voice: ; Look, senor! I place this down Lhere for you. Get and read it as soon as I am gone.' And as she uttered these word shtstooped and placed a note under a rose bush. Then plucking several blossoms from the bush to avert suspicion if she should be seen in that quarter, she turned quickly and left him without vouchsafing him an other glancs from her dark orbs. Leo's curiosity was deeply stirred. Here was promise of romance and adventure beyond the specter of a doubt. He gazed after the girl until she was lost from view. He was fully satisfied that the girl was a lady of considerable refinement, but in some trouble, from which, no doubt, Hhe hoped he might be instrumental in effecting her release. When they had ridden into the plaza that evening Leo Gordon had noticed at the blinds of the casement several feminine forms and faces. But so carefully had they concealed themselves that the American had caught but a transient glimpse at them. "I'm just in the right mood for an adventure," he uttered to himself. "I'll secure that note beneath the rose if the old duenna herself rules the flower garden." He stepped softly to the door, which stood ajar, and passed out. He looked about him circumspectly. Not a soul was in sight. The night was lovely, and everything seemed to favor his plans. With an elastic spring, Leo's strong, well trained limbs carried him over the fence which shut out the garden from their quarters. Once over the fence, Leo sauntered nou chaleutly toward the bush where the note of mystery lay hidden there. Feigning to admire the roses, he stopped, and, with a dexterous grab, soon possessed himself of the mys terious epistle. He was walking leijurely back to his room with the delicately scented note thrust in his breast, when his dignified steps were vastly accelerated bv a huge Mexi can bloodhound suddenly material izing among the bushes at the other end of the garden, and plunging hwadlong after him. Leo felt that perhaps the eyes of the Mexican beauty might be follow ing him and would fidu have pu-s-rved his dignity during the retreat. But he found it expedient to change his will ifter one sweeping glance in to the capacious rod mouth of the cauina monster that had been so quick to resent an intrusion on his master's private grounds. Leo, for once, bade dignity u liastj arewell and vaulted the fence in the very face of his savage foe. He just barely made his escape and that was all. He congratulated himself as he hastily entered the wings of his ha cienda, that the Mexican dress that he wore had no superfluity of coat tails to have suffered an inglorious diminuation in length. Safe within the quarters which had been reluctantly assigned to j him and his companions, Leo broke the seal of the dainty litlte note and perused with eager eyes the follow ing finely written lines: Senors Americanos: This is pen ned you by an unfortunate maiden, who believing in your nobleness of soul, implores your help to save her rom a cruel fate. My father, the ranchero, who re- luctlantly permits you to pass the night here, intends to force me to wed, this night, an officer in the army of Maximillian, a man whom I most vehemently detest; but he holds some great power over my father, and I am to be the victim to annul that power. The man I truly love is El Cap tain Eznal Jo, one of the bravest in the army of our chief, Juarez. I de sire to the protection of my lover, and I implore your aid that I may do so. The ceremony is to be held at 10 o'clock to-night, when that detested man, Col. Henriquke Fernandez, will be here to claim me. He dare not venture into the lines of Juarez except under coyer of deep night. The little chapel, which you may easily see from the wing which you occupy the place where the mar riage rites are to be performed. In writing this, good, brave senors Americanos, I appeal to your good ness of heart to save me from the living death, and in so doing you will ever receive the sincere prayers of the poor, unhappy, Tula. Velasquez. P. S. My trusty maid, Zela, Mill ! have horses ready in the grove be yond the garden, and we beg to fly under your protection to that of my noble Eznaldo. Tcxa V. Leo read the letter through sev eral times, then he soliloquized to himself: "Tola Velasquez! And this girl who appeals to us for assistance is the very same of whom I have heard my friend Eznaldo speak so often in such lofty praise. Verily, it is all so 6trange! But I arn willing to take any risk to protect a lady from such an unwelcome fate as a forced mar riage. This is a promise of adveu ture," and he roused his sleeping comrades and read Tula's letter to them. The party was composed of young men of adventurous spirits, and most of them knew the handsome Eznaldo in Juarez's army, and were ready to engage in any combat or undertaking, however daring, if in so doing they could serve that young officer or the girl he loved. Accordingly, they made all things ready, and waited for the hour of 10 to roll round. Leo was on his watch at the win dow, and when at last he beheld the bridal party moving swiftly and si lently as spectors toward the chapel he gave the signal to his companions to foilow him. They fled orderly out of the window, and very soon the wedding party was joined by six un iuvite.l guests. The ranchero that was leading the lovely but unwilling Tula halted near ihe door of the chapel and look ed o t r his shoulder. Perhaps he had iit.tecied the tread of the Amer ica!. s, though they arrived almost noiselessly. At the same time a tall, niiddk-age- grizzly bearded Mexican offi eer, Henrique Fernandez, the would be bridegroom, who was a little in advar.ee of the bride, became aware of tho American's presence. The officer, Fernandez, was attended by two younger officers, and all were dressed in the most gorgeous uniform-;. The party stopped, Fernan dez, hi an imperious voice, demand ed: Don V elaquez I particularly re quested that this ceremony should bo free from all intrusion. Who are the strangers?" The moon, ere this, had lowered herself behind a bold range of mountaius in the west, hence the dim outlines only of the intruders could be made out, but nothing of aces nor dress could be distinctly seen. "It's the Senors Amoricans," re plied the savage voice of Velasqnez. 'Why are you here, senors?" he de manded: "Don Velasquez," said Leo, step ping boldly before the ranchero, you are cruelly forcing your child to marry, this night, one whom her soul detests, while her heart in the keeping of the orave Eznaldo of Juarez's army. It is to save Tula Valesquez from the evil fate you have selected for her that we are here." With a glad cry Tula Velasquez tore herself away from her father's side and rushed up to Leo just as he struck the revolver, which the Mexican officer had leveled at him, from his hand. Quickly leveling his own revolver in the face of Henrique Fernandez, he said: "You are my trisoner. CoL Fernandez. Stir from your tracks at your peril." The Mexican officer knew that he was no match for the American, and one glance was sufficient to show him that the least resistance would invite his death. But he had not been forbidden to use his voice, so he ealled to Velasquez, who,at first was too dazed at the very unexpect ed attack to move. "Don Velasquez, call upon your X , 1 (servants ior neip: lniorm my men without." mi w xne young omcers wno nad ac companied Fernandez had all they could do in a hand-to hand struggle witn two robust Americans. How ever, the struggle was of short du ration, aaa the Mexicans soon sur rendered The ranchero gave a weak call for help, which some of the men ser vants quickly answered. A sort of a melee commenced. There was a scene of confusion by the little chapel door. Pistol shots rang out oa the still night air. Tlie women in attendance shrieked and ran through the garden. The priest who stood unmoved in the chapel door, shouted in vain to be heard above the din. In the height of a severe wound in ceivfcd he scarcely it all, Leo with his left arm, rt knew how, cut his way out, dragging Col. Fernan dez a prisoner still with him. Tula Velasquez and Lela, her maid, were near him and the other Americans soon came after, bringing the two officers that had been captured. "Here through the garden to yon grove!" whispered Tula to Leo, "we shall find horses there for our escape. Go not by the front entrance, as sol diers left on the plaza by Col. Fer nandez will again oppose us." It required little time to reach the grove pointed out by Tula Valesquez. As she had promised, they found their hoises ready for them. Itela, with the assistance of her lover, one of the ranchero's servants, had at tended to that part. They soon mounted and started briskly away through the grove, the shouts of the Mexican soldiers, who were trying to find their route of escape, ringing in their ears. When at last their trail was dis covered the Mexicans gave them a hot chase for some distance. But they had the prudence to relinquish the pursuit, as they were being drawn within a short way from Juarez's camp. Leo and his companions dashed into camp, where tho lovely Tula was placed uuder the charge of Eznaldo, and the prisoners surren dered to Juaiez himself, who found in Col. Ftmandez a foe whom he long desired to capture. Leo Gordon's wound was so ob stinate in healing that he was com pelled to leave the service. Before he had quit Mexico, he saw Tula Velasquez and Eznaldo huppily made one. Three years after when Leo returned to visit his friends in Mex ico, he met Eznado's handsome and accomplished sister Valletta. A love sprang up between them and they wire soon married, Leo bringing his bride to dwell on the banks of the Pearl. Yankee Blade. At first a little hacking cougli, 'Tis nothing but a cold." They say " 'Twill very eooa wear off-" Alas, the story old! The hectic cheek, the failing strength. The grief that cannot tare, Anal life's wan Same goes out, at leoght. In a consnmptire's grae. If persons would use Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery, when ir ritation of the lungs is indicated by a cough, it would be an easy matter to avert consumption. Be wise in time. Rheumatism and Neuralgia cured in i to 3 davs for 75 cents by Detchon's 'Mystic Cure." Do not suiter and waste money on other remedies. This abso lutely never tails. Sold by W J. l,ajs down, Druggist, Butler, Mo. S-fim. A Hanging Fixed on a Day Not on the Calender. Baltimore, Dec. 0. Governor Jackson last night made a curious mistake. In fixing the date for the hanging of Isaac Keenan he had a calendar of 1888 before him, and running his finger down the column fixed upon the 29th. Not being leap year, there is no February 29 in 1889, and some legal complications may ensue. English Spavn Liniment removes all Hard, Sott, or Calloused Lumps and Blemishes from horses, Blood Spavin, Curbs. Splints, Sweeney. Stifles, Sprains Sore and Swollen Throat, Coughs, Etc- Save S?o bv use of one bottle. V arrant. ed. old by W. J. LAssoowy, Drug- gust, Butler, Mo. S-iyr. Sir Donald Smith, of Montreal, is the owner of the costliest piano ever made in this countrv. When landed in Montreal it cost him $27,000. Consumption is on the Increase. From tecent statistics it appears that consumption is on the Increase through out the western states. The principal cause, it is stated, is due to neglect ot common Coughs and Colds. It is the duty ot all persons whether ot delicate or robust health, to have e remedy at hand at all times in readiness, and a cough crceld may be broken up before it becomes seated. B LLARD: HORE- HOUND SYRUP will cure an v cough except in the last stages of consumption A. stitch in time saves nine. Always keen it in the house. Pvle & CruTT.ler agent. WITH YOU r Si tflllil s flrli HfliJi With a Clean Stationery, Paints, Oils, &c. Come :iii?! us as would be First !-.;r of Ea i McFABLAND BROS. keep t, ; largest stock ; til E Pi EST l'RICEb IX HARNESS and SADDLERY. Spooner Patent collar PREVENTS CANNOT CIIOAKE A HORSE. 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