Miss Fairfax of Virginia: A Romance of Love and Adventure Under the Palmettos

by St. George Rathborne

  CHAPTER XX.

  A RENDEZVOUS AT THE TOBACCONIST'S.

  Some men have a passion for the uncertainties of chance--they delightin wagering all they possess in the shape of filthy lucre on the turnof a die.

  Doubtless such inveterate gamesters might have found some satisfactionin Roderic's position when, upon turning from the friendly balcony hepitched himself and his fortunes through the open window of the house.

  All was uncertainty before him, and the seventh daughter of a seventhdaughter would have found it extremely difficult to declare just whatturn fortune's wheel was about to take for him.

  Roderic himself experienced no pleasure in this groping in the dark,and would have been much better satisfied could he have known just whatlay before him.

  However, there be times when one must accept philosophically whateverfavors the Fates choose to toss us as they go swinging past--times whenaction is the only resource left, and even at that one needs be wideawake in order to take advantage of the opportunity.

  When he burst into the apartment Roderic heard a feminine shriek, buthis only thought was a door of some sort that would give him egress.

  Fortunately he found this, more through good luck than anything else.

  It brought him to a hall.

  Few though the seconds had been since his departure from the balcony,he could already hear the lusty blows that were being delivered uponthe door of the house, which, unless of far better material than theaverage doors in San Juan must speedily succumb before the vigorousassault.

  This meant that should he descend to the lower strata in search of anoutlet by way of court or garden or rear exit of some sort he might bejust in time to be overwhelmed by the inflowing tide of eager hustlingcitizens and soldiers.

  At the same time it would never do to stand still and lose what littleadvantage he had gained.

  Perhaps even now some of his enemies were clambering up to the balcony,since he had shown them the way.

  Roderic had at least retarded pursuit from that quarter by closingthe door after quitting the apartment from whence the dismal shriekssounded in a high pitched female voice, and the others might not proveso successful in finding the opening as he had been.

  He knew the peculiarities of Spanish houses.

  In all probability there was some means of reaching the roof, thoughhe hardly expected to find an _azotea_ with its flowers and place forlounging, as in the better class of more isolated dwellings.

  Thus it came to pass that Roderic found himself crawling through anopening at the top of a ladder, and thus reaching the outer air.

  His enemies were giving tongue with all the eagerness of a pack ofhounds, and the quick and thrilling pulsation of blows announced thatas yet the stubborn door had failed to yield before their vigorousassault.

  Just then, however, a crash followed by a chorus of whoops and muchlaughter declared that success had finally rewarded their efforts.

  Immediately the house would be swarming with the seekers after Yankeeblood--like rats they would dart hither and thither, leaving no stoneunturned in their eagerness to find that which was lost.

  Roderic gave them his blessing.

  He had surveyed the situation and laid out his plan of action like awise general.

  It was necessary that he crawl over a number of roofs before he couldthink of endeavoring to touch ground again.

  This he managed to accomplish without discovery from the street, andon the whole he had reason to be thankful that no curious eyes hadfastened upon him from neighboring buildings.

  Meanwhile the searchers were having a merry time of it in the housethat had been made the object of their assault--it sounded as if Bedlamhad broken loose in that quarter, and the shrieks of the terrorizedmaiden lady formed but a small proportion of the chorus that arose.

  Roderic had found his opportunity to leave the roof and reach afriendly deserted balcony.

  From this to the ground was but a small undertaking, and he managed toaccomplish it with the utmost ease.

  Thus triumph had followed his line of action.

  He was now free to return to the plaza or seek the humble abode of hisfriend, under the roof of which he could rest in peace.

  This should apparently have been his first thought, but his actionindicated that it was far removed from his mind.

  Not that he was in such a reckless mood as to invite a fresh attackfrom these desperadoes of the San Juan streets--Roderic had simplybecome impressed with a bright idea and was bent upon carrying it out.

  He had not forgotten that a wonderful fortune placed him incommunication with the very girl whom he desired to meet--the only onewho could tell him where to find Leon de Brabant, because she had fledwith him and was in all probability his wife.

  Such a golden opportunity should not be neglected.

  Fortune had been kind but the same chance might not occur again.

  To have a few words with her, to appoint a place of future meeting, wasthe magnet that held Owen to the spot even when ordinary discretionshould have demanded that he leave the dangerous neighborhood posthaste.

  It would not be the first time on record that a charming woman'spresence has nailed a man to danger's cross, and so long as the worldlasts will the story be repeated.

  He did not believe there was much chance of his identity beingdiscovered, especially if he could avoid the keen eye of that sameJulio who had penetrated his disguise before.

  In appearance he did not differ to any material extent from themajority of those to be seen in the streets of San Juan.

  Besides, all attention was at present centred on the luckless dwellingthat was being overhauled by a miscellaneous assortment of soldiers andcivilians. Some of these enthusiasts had even clambered out upon theroof and were eagerly searching for the fugitive in that quarter.

  Wise men have before this time been known to lock the stable door afterthe horse was stolen.

  Roderic was now among those who stood in the calle and chattering likea collection of magpies, kept their regards fastened upon the wretchedhouse whose balcony had tempted the Yankee and thus precipitatedtrouble.

  His one thought of course, was the girl--had she flitted from the spotbecause the clamor had alarmed her soul?

  Perhaps she was not so unfamiliar with scenes of confusion, since herfather had been the governor of famous old Morro Castle, under thewalls of which many a remarkable event has occurred since the days ofthe Virginius affair, when American filibusters were shot down by orderof the Spanish authorities.

  At any rate she was still there, watching the house where so muchclamor arose, twisting and untwisting her little hands in nervousanxiety.

  Thanks to Roderic's vandal hand her pretty face was no longer screenedby a veil, and more than one rough soldier drank in the outlines of hercharming features with avidity.

  She was evidently deeply concerned in the outcome of the search.

  Roderic should feel flattered at this evidence of approval from sosincere a source.

  It was no time, however, to indulge in any foolish speculations, orallow his masculine vanity a chance to arise.

  Julio was still on deck, and since his eyesight was apparently assound as ever, despite his rough treatment at the hands of the Yankee,it would be a wretched mistake to again come under his witheringobservation, for on this occasion no friendly balcony might offer himan asylum from the outstretched hands of the bolero dancer's excitedallies.

  So Roderic approached the spot where stood the girl--he must exchangewords with her, no matter what the risk or the consequences--at leastit was necessary that some rendezvous be appointed where he couldengage her more fully in conversation.

  With this set object in view he drew near, and watching his opportunitywhispered:

  "Senorita--Leon's sister--turn this way!"

  She must have heard him, for she immediately forgot to watch the housethat was being searched, and fastened her eyes on him.

  Roderic, fearing lest she
might by means of some unwise exclamationdraw Julio's attention to him, had a finger on his lips, indicatingcaution.

  He saw her start and knew she immediately suspected his identity.

  Time was most valuable, and it was utterly out of the question forhim to learn what he desired while laboring under such seriousdisadvantages.

  Besides, it was folly to run any more risk than was absolutelynecessary, and with such a good hater as the dashing _bolero_ danceronly three yards away, every second he remained there increased hisdanger.

  At any rate he could not blame Leon for falling in love with sucha charming creature as the governor's daughter--Roderic consideredhimself a fair judge of beauty, even if he were not a connoisseur,and he saw a vision of loveliness before him that might easily havedisturbed the sternest old anchorite.

  Another thing--he discovered traces of distinct resemblance betweenthis girl and the handsome Julio, so that a suspicion as to theirpossible relationship flashed into his mind.

  "Never mind how I escaped--I am here to speak to you. My object inentering this city is to find Leon--you must take me to him--it isthe price of my happiness with Georgia--when and where can I see youagain--appoint a _rendezvous_, I pray you."

  This is what he said hastily almost in her pretty ear--she was quick ofcomprehension, and by the look upon her face he knew she had graspedthe situation.

  One glance she shot toward Julio, who just at the moment seemed deeplyengrossed with the antics of the men who were running over the roofslike a lot of monkeys.

  Roderic pressed even closer, eager to hear what she might say, since itconcerned his future state as connected with Georgia.

  "At Senor Pedro Sanchez the tobacconist, on the Grand Plaza--at eighto'clock--to-morrow--_Madre de Dios_ protect you, senor! Do not longerdelay!"

  It was enough.

  He knew he could find the place and keep the appointment. Her warningwas well timed too, for just as he turned away Julio came to her side.

  It was a rare piece of good fortune that had kept him away thus long.

  Julio seemed uneasy and suspicious--he even glanced sharply at everyone near by as though some inward monitor warned him he was beingoutgeneraled.

  The bystanders were to all appearances quite innocent of wrongintentions, and he could not run after the man who walked away socomposedly, demanding that he then and there give an account ofhimself--those in whose veins bounds the hot blood of Spain stand nosuch peremptory challenges as that, and the answer just as likely asnot would be the drawn arm, the glint of polished steel, the thud of a_cuchillo_ striking home--ugh! he wanted not of that sort.

  Oh! yes, Julio knew all about this, for his education while neglectedin some other particulars was quite up to date when it came to the stirand danger of war--he had been through many a little engagement himselfduring his checkered career, and knew just what he would do undersimilar conditions.

  Wherefore his exceeding caution.

  It was the development of this trait that had given Julio so long alease on life in spite of his many entanglements.

  Roderic now made it his business to quit the stirring locality.

  Little he cared to what lengths the mob went in their vigoroussearch--they could tear the old town wide open; but he had good reasonto doubt whether they would receive any reward, since it was himselfthey sought, and he had high hopes of continuing to avoid theirclutches.

  The morning would find him on the plaza, with his eyes fastenedupon the tobacconist's jaunty little shop--did he not know it well,for had he not many a time in the past loitered in that same queerestablishment, selecting prime weeds from Senor Pedro's carefullyarranged stock, and discussing the affairs of the universe with thewhite bearded philosopher who guided the destinies of the rendezvouswhere men met and formed plans and sought advice.

  Ah! that was in the good days of long ago, before San Juan had heardthe deep growl of hostile Yankee guns, before it was a capital offenseto be known as an American in Porto Rico--halcyon days when Love'sbrush painted all around him a rosy hue, when life's horizon knew nocloud.

  Since then he had suffered much, but thank heaven it seemed as thoughthe old state was about to once more come upon him, and gold is doublyprecious when refined by fire.

  The clamor and confusion was left behind as he passed along variousnarrow streets, heading once again toward the Plaza Cristobal Colon.

  Minor things attracted him as in the happy past when he knew nocare--he even stopped where the sound of guitars announced someentertainment under a canvas shelter, and found his old acquaintancesthe gypsies in their weird dance, dark skinned sons and daughters ofthe warm Sierra Morena valleys.

  Other scenes, common enough in this section of the capital, drew hisattention, and he found a peculiar joy in watching two humble lovers,he with his sturdy arm about the maiden's waist, strolling along justbeyond.

  Well satisfied with what had come to pass on this particular nightRoderic reached the cottage home of his Cuban friend, and giving thesignal knock was admitted.

  Wearied in body yet with a mind relieved from all care he sought andfound rest in sleep.

  With the coming of morning he was astir.

  Every one rises early in San Juan, for there is life and vigor in thebracing air, a tonic that becomes a necessity to these people who livein a semi-tropical region that has never known frost, and where middayis stifling.

  Roderic had more than ordinary reasons for rising early on thismorning--one can look with considerable pleasure upon that day whosedawn promises to usher in the greatest blessing on earth for him, andthis was the extent of his hopes in connection with the governor'sdaughter who had saved Leon.

  When he issued forth he found that an unusual stir pervaded the town.

  Some military movement was on the _tapis_, and he presumed that itcould only be one of considerable importance, judging from the bustlethat pervaded even this portion of the town.

  Maneuvers were usually confined to those sections where the streetswere wider and a better class of citizens could enjoy the brilliantspectacle; for no soldiers like appreciation more than those of Spain.

  Curiosity might have led Roderic to look into this matter a little moredeeply, but just at present he had his time well occupied, and besides,it mattered very little to General Miles what the soldier garrison ofSan Juan did, since they were doomed to capture at no distant day,squirm and struggle as they pleased.

  Breakfast first, and this he secured at a cafe where many men hadgathered to drink their coffee and talk over the exciting events aboutto transpire in the Antilles. They had no hesitation in expressingsympathy with the American arms for this was not Cuba--even the Spanishsoldiers in Porto Rico had a leaning toward the Yankees--there wasfar less bitterness shown than in Havana, for the people were moreindependent. The sensation of liberty was in the air, and men seemedto feel the new strength that was soon to make them a section of theWestern giant--they had known for some time what Destiny had in storefor Porto Rico, and patiently awaited the glorious dawn of that blessedday, instead of the useless struggles of years, that would sap theirpowers, and blight their beloved land, even as Cuba had been, with theincendiary's torch and the bushwhacker's rifle.

  The day for their reward was coming, and once the stars and stripeshad been planted on Spain's colony's sacred soil, it was there to stay,whether that land be Cuba, Porto Rico, the Ladrones or the far awayPhilippines.

  It was now near the hour when he had agreed to meet the girl, soRoderic made his way toward the plaza. While this place lacked muchof the charm that is always associated with myriads of lights, movinggayly dressed throngs and stirring open air concerts, it was full ofpeople about this hour of the day since the summer sun would chasepeople indoors long before noon.

  He came down in the quarter where the quaint little shop of thetobacconist was to be found, and kept his eyes eagerly on the alert fora figure that would, as he remembered, remind him of Georgia's.