held from her until the last that the trial meant certain condem
nation for him, Oh, those sweet, sad moments, in which he
lifted himself out of the universe of worry and fear into that of
her true love! What had she sacrificed to be near him! Hers
was a love to brace a. man for death. How she met him after the
trial has been told, and when the soldiers pulled Rodrigo away
from her, she was almost insane with dread and terror. To be so
near her lover during his last few hours on earth, and to be
denied the privilege of seeing him and saying a last affectionate
farewell it seemed must kill her.
She tried frantically to see the general, but uselessly. It was
six o’clock. Twelve niore dreadful hours for Rodrigo! The
strain was terrible. She walked the corridors wringing her hands.
She implored every officer she could find to help her, but all to no
avail, and soon she was led back to the hospital where she spent
the night in crazed, convulsive appeals to the Virgin to save her
lover.
At last a feeling of hope begins to spring up in her breast. Was
her prayer to be answered? Oh, God, that it might be! All
night she paced the floor of her room in fearful agony of mind,
until finally the faint tinges of rosy dawn began to light up the
east. With haggard eyes she watched the color grow brighter
and brighter, praying silently, hoping, dreading. The sun! the
sun! The golden rim was just appearing. Every nerve was
strained to its utmost. Higher—higher it rose, “he lives ! ” she
cried, “ he lives ! ”
“ What! O, Heaven !”
Boom ! A horrible, thunderous roar, and twelve Spanish rifles
from the court yard of Morro Castle spoke the summons which
called a noble soul into eternity.
With a shriek which awoke many a wounded soldier in terror,
she raised her eyes with a cry of horror; ' 1 God! ’ ’
The cry ended in a wail, and then she fell to the floor —her
heart had broken. And as the sun burst in all his glorious tropi
cal splendor and brilliancy over the sleeping city two souls
winged their way silently together to a land where cruel war can
never be, where peace is eternal.