THE LAST FOUR LEAGUES.

Evening Star, Issue 10808, 17 December 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LAST FOUR LEAGUES.

WHAT A HEROIC CUBAN GIRL DID

FOR HER COUNTRY

It was rundown in Santa Rosalia. The rainy season was on in Cuba, and low, rumbling thunder had been heard all the afternoon. That is, the people who lived m the little cluster of palm-thatched houses called Santa Rosalia thought it was thmider. And so it was—the distant roar <f Spanish artillery that came up from 'ho south. ... One little cottage stood by the roadside, some distance apart from the others. It was the home of the Moncados. The father, Jose, was dead. He had fallen a victim to the last, the " ten years' " war. Three sons were letf to carry on the fight, and they were then with Brigadier Lopez Recib. Duly mother and Emilia, the sister, a little girt of twelve years, were left at home to watch and pray to God to aid the Cubans m their struggle for liberty. Suddenly the noise of clattering hoofs came from the south-west. The still night air bore the uumistakeable sound with distinctness. In an instant every head was at the open door. Nearer and nearer came flw galloping rider. He was alone. His horse was covered with foam and panting like a tired hound. Up to the little gate ot the Moncado cottage he staggered, and then Ins rider reeled and almost fell into the aims of his mother. "My God! Rafael, you are wounded, my

bov " .. ~,, "It is no matter; I can still nue. lne battle of Saratoga is raging. I am on my way to Colonel Vena. He does not know ot it We need him and his cavalry. Holp me to a fresh horse, and I'll catch Penu at Santa Lucia to-night. I must—--" The poor fellow never finished the sentence. He had fainted. The anus ot tender women bore him into the Poor little Emilia followed, the tears streaming from her eves. She watched them draw off the riding boots filled with her brothers blood. She brought water to moisten his parched lips. She saw the uglv wound in his hip. and murmured through her gritting teeth : " Bad Spaniards ! Bad Spaniards. Thev will kill us all yet!" And then her brother's eves opened. The cold water had revived him. He tried to mave, but on y groaned in agony. Once more he strove to lise. , , , -Mother, someone, help me to my teet. I must go on—l must go on. I have viddon sixteen leagues since moruiiig. There are onlv four more to Santa Lucia and to Pena. We must have him." And with a mighty effort he rose to his feet. Then he wavered, tears of helplessness came into his eyes, and he sank back on the tod with a sob of anguish. - To think that I should go so near to the end of mv journey and then fail l* " How'were volt wounded, my boy?" " 'Twas near' El Pesmayo—late this afternoon. I had changed horses at La Vinda an hour before. Suddenly I ran into a body of Spanish guerrillas from San Miguel. I could not tight them, there were too many, so I took up a ravine towards Isidro. Thev tired rive volleys after me, and gave chase. Thev knew I bore a commission. My horse was' fleet and strong, and I got away, but carried with me one of their rifle balls. I tore off parts of my sleeve and pushed them into the wound, but it still bled. _ I'm better now ; I'm rested ; I'll go on," and again he tried to get on his feet. "" Rafael, mv boy. it is impossible, you are weak. You cannot ride ; the motion of the horse will cause you to bleed to death. Guido must go. Emilia, tell him to saddh a fresh horse and get ready to vide to Santa Lucia."

Emilia started toward the door, but her brother rai-ed his hand in protest. " Guido is onlv a half-wit. He might start for Santa Lucia, but he would never find his way in the dark. Even if he reached the place lie would forget whom he wanted to see." ~ "But there is no other man in Rosalia, pleaAed the mother. "True! Therefore I must go, wound or no wound. Emilia, tell Guido to saddle horse and bring it to the gate quickly. We are losing time." " Brother, we can't let you go. I'll never see you again," and the poor child buried her head on her brother's neck. Then, suddenly rising, ?he exclaimed : "0, why was I not a man? Cuba so needs men! Yes, I'll tell him to get Linda ready at once Colonel Pena must go to help Gomez." Turning, she kissed her brother's forehead and hurried out to the stables. Soon the quick gallop of a horse was heard approaching the house. But it did not stop at the gate. Gn it sped in the direction of Santa

Lucia. . A moment later Guidn, the half-witted black boy, wandered aimlessly infco the room. . . T , ... ~„ ' :; Where in the horse, where is Emma, inquired her brother. " Gone'." replied the boy. " Gone? Where?" cams from all present, "I dun know. She said somethin' 'bout St. Lucia, jumped on Linda's back, and looks to me as how she's gone."

And so she was ; the brave little Emilia, although not a soldier of Cuba, had taken her brother's place. She had gone to get Pena; to tell him that the fight between Gomez and the Spanish General Caste-llanos was on at Saratoga, and that every Cuban in Camaguev was needed. On the little heroine rode In the darkness of the night. She had been born and raised in the countrv, and she knew the way to Santa Lucia, although she had never before travelled in the dark. But she was riding to save her brother's life and for Cuba. Darkness, danger, nothing daunted her. Bareheaded and alone, she urged her horse over the road at a paee which would have made most givls tremble with feat . \ot even when an hour later the tropica storm broke in all its fury around her did she hesitate. Lightning striking the tall " palma reals " caused Linda many tunes to shv and almost bolt the road, but the brave little rider held on. and never loosened rem until in sight of Pena's campfires. "Quien vs!'" suddenly called out the "Cuba!" answered the brave little patriotas. She reined up her panting steed. "Adelante una!" ordered the guard, and Emilia, pale, wet, and dripping, rode forW "caramba! It is a child. Who are rou? What do vou want?" " "I am Emilia Moncado. I want to tell Colonel Pena that there is a battle at Saratoga General Gomez has only 530 men against over 2,000 Spaniards, and he needs A few minutes later, almost fainting with fatigue and nervous strain, she was borne into the presence of Pena. "Dios mio!" he exclaimed, as he listened to her story, and then gave the signal for his command to mount. "You poor little thing, you should tie abed and asleep." Wrapping his coat around her little, trembling, wet form, he jumped into his saddle and had an officer pass the child up to him. The order to given to march, and in his amis the fighting Colonel of Camaguev carried the little heroine back to her home in Rosalia. " Take her," he said, as he handed her over to her half crazed mother. " She brought uh the news. I'll speak of her to General Ijomez. She deserves the rank of a majorgeneral. She hxs saved her brothers life, and her brave deed may win the day at Saratoga." ' .

\ curious case came before the Judge of the Shorediteh C'mintv Court lately. A tenant of one of the "flats" owned by the London County Council went mit to attend to some business, and during his absence the Council's representatives gained access to the man's room by means of a duplicate key, took the money out of n penny-in-the-slot gas meter, and" left a receipt on the table. The tenant naturally objected, and sought legal redress, but did not get it, Judge French being against him. There was, it seemed, a clause in the plaintiff's agreement which gave the Council's officers the right to' enter the premises at any time ; but this seems, to, have been construed by them to mean any tijae when the tenant was at home, liinoe they sent a postcard announcing the coming visit; but by an accident it was not delivered until after the infraction of domicile. It is injopssible not to sympathise with this outraJfi tenant, since his rooms were littered which had been got together in anticipation of his marriage.