A PRISONER TO CUPID

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1681, 18 May 1904, Page 12

A PRISONER TO CUPID

(By Elizabeth -Spaulding.)

The dark -waters of the river Chagres were splashing quietly against the thickly wooded banks and their liquid music was unbroken, save by a light “dip. dip” ex muffled -oars.,and an occasional low spoken word. Far away .the rqggacl outline of the Chepo range broke the level of the horizon, and a single Taint .gleam betray >4 the locacion of the beautiful town of Buena Vista. Close along the banks, under the shadow of overhanging boughs, crept a small boat containing three men. The oldest, a bearded man in the early fifties, lounged m the Btorn, smoking and listening to the conversation of the two younger men who plied the oars, and who were evidently engaged in a somewhat heated, although goo u-nutured. discussion. "Comound it all,” one saw! at length, "I wish I were back in Boston, l am sick ana tuna ot doing nothuig but go off on wild goose chases like this one. or else loaf fu camp watting for the insurgents to make a move. What in the world do you find to laugh at, Phil ?” he asked impatiently, as a sudden glint of moonlight disclosed a merry smile playing around his friend's lips. “‘Just • thinking how anxious you wer© to come to the isthmus -about a. month t” was the reply. “Weil, Bob, you have to hold your patience, for all I see. Ido -wish, though, we could scare u,p a little excitement.” Then the eider man spoke quickly: “vv e are .almost there. Put in at the next cove on th© .left.” There was silence for a few minutes, and then the bow grated on the white sand. Alter mooring the boat safely, they crept stealthily through .an almost indiscernible path, led by the eldehmau. whom they addressed as “Colonel McHugh.” Suddenly they came nut on an open plateau and saw before them a clear sheet of water, gleaming .under the light of the stars. JL few rods: .away at their right a huge rock ratted into the lake, and on this firm pedestal was poised the figure of* a woman. Her dark hair streamed back over her shoulders, and in the silvery light her ( face was silhouetted .against the .sky like a delicately cut cameo. Her slender hands were clasped as if in siipplication, and her eyes were lifted to the heavens. Philip Armand stood ns in a dream, ■ entranced by her marvellous beauty. iJ ob Derry and Colonel McHugh exclaimed at the sudden .apparition. With the sound! of human voices she turned and -swiftly disappeared, in the deep shadows beyond. Philip wa® .silent for -the .rest of their midnight exploration, and could not shake off the - spell which that .fair face had thrown around him. A weak later a large body of the insurgents were defeated near Chagres, and the news spread in the ; camp That among the prisoners of war were several .girls and women, one of whom had been wounded by a stray bullet. Philip soon found his wav .to .the Hospital tent, hoping to be of some assistance in oaring for the sufferers. As he passed along the line of white caps he suddenly paused, for there'before him he saw the face that had haunted his dreams. As h© tenderly worked with the surgeon who dressed her arm. a pair >of lustrous violet .eyes opened and gazed questioiiingly at him. He returned the look with a reassuring smile 1 , and she soon sank into a peaceful slumber. Through an interpreter Philip learned that she came of -a royal line, having the blood of kings and queens in her veins 1 . Little by little she grew to understand the strange tongue she heard spo-ken oil all sides, and even more .quickly did! ‘ she learn the meaning of that magic langa-ge which speaks to the heart . instead of the brain. Before the winter rains came peace was declared, and as Philip toUl hep the hews he said, "Now, Leone, you can return to your own people and be free.” A sad, wistful expression stole into rer dark eyes, and a. great hope sprang up in his heart. "Are you not glad to go?” he asked gently, but her eyes filled with tears and she did not .answer. “Leone, Leone,” he murmured tenderly, .and then he poured out the story of his heart. A month later they were married by the army chaplain, .and the bride of the sunny south sailed -with her husband to her northern home. When the suhnner skies grow blue, and .the birds come-back to tell of their happy -sojourn in the tropics-. Philip and .Leone often go back to the isthmus for a brief stay; but their two soars are Massachusetts born and bred, and love best the land where their mot her found so haorar a homo.