Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1901 — THE TEXAS CRUISER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE TEXAS CRUISER

BY T. BURLINGAME ROSS

CHAPTER XVlll.— (Continued.) i 'Clarence saw Father Rondo several jtimes, but he learned nothing more concerning Irene. One day the youth was in the church to which Rondo was attached, and had been conversing some time the subject of Irene and the Ipeeaiiar circumstances under which she teas placed, when his attention was artrested by two men who had been hidden behind one of the massive pillars. They seemed to be natives—lndians; but their :T»9vements were auspicious. Clarence was sure that he had seen them several Aimes before, and though he had taken previous notice of them, yet until the (present moment he had not thought of (their dogging him. ■“Do you not see them?” he whispered. '“Ah—be careful and make no motion by fwhich they can suspect that we see ♦them.” “I, do see them,” returned the priest. “‘They are Indians.” • “Or appear to be,” suggested the youth. “But may they not lie some who have tbeen engaged to watch you? They ap|pear to be-Totonaques—the same as those where Irene and Cassandra stopped. Antonio St. Marc is missing—or, at least, I have not seen him—and may he not Jhave got these fellows to follow your steps?” “But why should The have done it?” .asked Clarence. “I hardly think he would have gone to any such trouble, for surely he can hope to gain nothing by watching me.” * “O, I do not say that it is so* only I 'hinted at the subject so that you might (be on your guard. There may be some jhope of revenge. At any rate, you had ’better keep your eyes open. See —they are moving away now, but they cast a (Very sharp glance at you before they /turned away. You had • better watch them.” “I will,” returned Clarence; and shortly after this he took his leave. The young officer had not gone a dozen .-■rods from the church before he saw the two Indians upon the opposite side of the street. He spoke to Peter, who was by his side, and asked him if he saw them. “Do not stare at them so' that they can .’know that we mistrust them,” he said. “ “I see them,” the boy answered. “Be sure that you get a good view of ■ them. Examine them so that you will know them again wherever you may see them.” “I have,” said the boy. “I shall know them, sir, anywhere, and at any time.” “Very well —we must watch them. If •■ever you see them, hereafter, about us, let me know.” Peter promised obedience; and in a few moments more the two Indians turned -into a narrow alley. As Clarence passed <the entrance he saw that they had stopped, and were gazing after him.

CHAPTER XIX. At length, as April opened with its warmer breath, Scott sent forth the order for which the brave troops had been so impatiently waiting, and the city was alive with the tramp of armed men and the notes of martial music. The American army, not much over ten thousand ■strong, were starting for the very center •of a great nation. They were to meet .and encounter one of the most bold and ■experienced generals of the age, at the .head of troops nearly double their own number, but they quailed not. The very spirit that animated them was as a double self to each particular man, and they went boldly, confidently, upon their way. In their leader they saw a man in whose .-skill and judgment they could fully rely, .-and while he looked /hfeitjessly on they -/eared not to follow. First on the way came the stern and rugged pass of Cerro Gordo, where the Mexican army, under Santa Ana in person, was drawn up to dispute the passage of our troops. Nature had fortified it. On one hand dashed a torrent down through a deep ravine, and upon the othct arose the abrupt and seemingly, im-passable-mountain. But the stout place fell before the iron crash of Yankee steel, and the doughty Mexican fled like a frightened child. The Cerro was pass•ed, and with souls burning for another meeting our troops pushed on. Gen. Worth moved on in advance towards Puebla, and met the enemy at Amozoque. After a sharp conflict he .routed them completely, and when he Puebla that city surrendered •without resistance, and shortly afterward '.Scott joined him there. The heart of •Clarence sank when he learned that the army were likely to remain at Puebla for some time. Negotiations were to be opened between the two countries, and hence .active hostilities ceased for the while. At first the impatient youth held the thought of pushing on alone, but it was a wild, fugitive thought, and he quickly came back to reason. One day, while Clarence was sitting ■alone in one of the apartments of the house where he had taken up his quarters, his boy Peter entered with a look of more than ordinary import upon his countenance. “What is it?” asked our hero, as he ■noticed Peter looking around as though to assure himself that no one else was

present. “Don't you remember those two InJiang that you pointed out to me at A’era Cruz?” the boy returned. “Ay—certainly,” replied Clarence, eag«erly. “Well, they are here in Puebla. 1' have seen them to-day.” “Then be on the lookout for them. I wish—but it may not be too late now. You can lead me to the spot where you ;«aw them?” “Yes, sir. It was not far from here.” K “Then come!” cried Clarence, seizing jus hat and sword, and slipping his rewrfeer into his bosom. “By my soul, I’ll arrest them if I see them; and then we’ll fflnd out who they -are.” So Clarence and his boy went out—but •though they searched for a long while, yet they could see nothing of the two Indlsiut The captain felt very sure that hoy was mistaken, but Peter was so yrwinot and energetic in his assurance be could not dispute him. However, felt sure of one thing; if the two To-

touaques had come thus far, they would be likely to show themselves again; and he was determined to apprehend them on the first opportunity. At last the heart of our hero was made ■ glad by the announcement, on the seventh of August, that the army was to move on. The bugle sounded once more, and again the impatient men commenced the tramp. Who, that has ever heard the account, can forget the brilliant passage at Contreras on the twentieth of August? History does not record a more wondrous victory than the one our noble soldliers gained here. The American eagle soared aloft over the hordes of Mexico, and the day was won against such odds as would have made many a stout general quail and falter. Immediately afterwards followed the battle of Churubusco, where Santa Ana commanded in person, and where he had opportunity to employ his whole force. The American army had many natural difficulties to encounter; but with a confident impetuosity that was irresistible, they swept into the valley, and after a sharp engagement the day was won. The Mexicans fled in wild dismay, and sought shelter in the strongly fortified places in and about their capital. And now followed another armistice. Scott gave the Mexican general another opportunity for peace. But ere long it was evident that Santa Ana was playing the traitor; and when it was fully proved that he. was employing the time of the armistice only in treachery, Scott gave the order for the capture of the great city. Then followed the' brilliant feats at the Molino del Rey, and at the Casta Mata. These strongholds were captured, and then our army swept on to the hill and castle of Chapultepee. This was on the twelfth and thirteenth of September; and though here, at the last stand-point, the Mexicans fought with all the bravery and recklessness of despair, and though they outnumbered our forecs two to one, yet they were routed —horse, foot and all; and the most valuable of all the munitions of the nation weredeft in the hands of the victors. On swept the noble army to the city. During the night Santa Ana fled in the carriage of a friend to Guadalupe Hidalgo, and at midnight the rest of the officers and troops commenced their flight to the north. On the following morning the American army marched into the city, and over the ancient halls of the Montezumas waved the Stars and Stripes of our glorious republic. It was a strange hour for the victors, and no wonder that they should feel a proud emotion as they reflected upon the work they had performed, and beheld the consummation of their patriotic endeavors. On the sixth day after entering the Mexican capital, Peter hastened to his master’s presence and informed him that he had seen the two Indians who had been pointed out to him in Vera Cruz. Clarence hastened out with him, but nothing more of the Indians could be seen.

“My dear boy,” said Clarence, after they had wandered through two or three squares, “I do not like to dispute you, but are you sure you saw those men?” “Just as sure as I am that I’m alive,” was the boy’ sconfident answer. “I saw them pass our quarters this morning, though at that time I was not sure. But I followed them as quickly as possible, and when I got near -enough I knew them. They were watching your house very narrowly when I first saw them.” “It is strange,” murmured Clarence to himself. “I cannot imagine what they are up to.” “Of course I cannot,” returned Peter, unless ” „ “Unless what?” inquired Clarence, as the boy hesitated. “Why—l have thought that some one might have sent them to follow you, thinking that you would find Irene at the end of your journey.” The young man started at this. The thought had not before entered his mind. “There are some who would gladly know where the maiden is, I suppose,” the boy added, as his master did not speak. "Certainly there are,” answered Clarence. "And I suppose these two Indians to be chief among them.” “The Indians?” uttered Clarence; in surprise. “Why—what should they want w r ith Irene, unless they have been hired to find her?” Peter gazed into his master’s face with a look of wonderment. “Why did you bid me watch those two Indians?” he asked, at length, in a strange tone. “Because I wanted to find out, if possible, why they followed me.” “But don’t you remember, at Vera Cruz you bade me look at them so as to be sure that I might know them again?” “Certainly,” answered Clarence. “Well —what did you mean?” the boy asked, in the same peculiar tone. "What did 1 mean? Was not my meaning evident?” “I thought it was at the time, but I am led now to think 1 was mistaken.” “What do you mean, Peter?” “Why—when you first told me to look at those men, so that I might know them again, did you not know who they were?” Clarence gazed into the face of his boy, and a strange gleaming was visible upon his countenance. “I saw two Indians, Peter; and from their manner I was led to fear that they had been employed to follow me. I knew they looked like those whom the priest had pointed out as Totonaques, nnd I also knew that those were the ones with whom Irene had stopped awhile near Veqi Cruz. Now, what more did you see?" “Why, sir—l simply saw that Antonio St. Marc and Martin San Benito had assumed the disguises of Indians, and were watching your movements.” “Peter ” “Did you not know them, sir?” “Know them? By my soul, no!” “Why—l knew them the moment I put my eyes upon them, and I thought, from the way you spoke, that you knew them, too.” -

“And how,” said the captain, after some moments of thought, “of course their meaning is plain. They have discovered that I know where Irene is, and they mean to follow me. But I’ll give them the slip here.” . ._/ Our hero had now but one fear; and that was that St, Marc might mistrust where Irene was, and thus' steal the march on him. After all was quiet in the i captured city, Clarence went to Gen. Scott and obtained his discharge from further service. He then took leave of those officers with whom he had held the most friendly intercourse, and after this he prepared for his departure. He obtained the dress of a Mexican haciendo, and a common attendant's garb for Peter, and having got all the necessary trappings for his horse, he was prepared to start. It was on the midnight of Sunday that Clarence Howard and his boy started They had gone to a house at some distance from their usual quarters, and thithe.r their horses were taken by two of their friends. It was a bright, starlight night, and the air was cool and balmy 1 . They had rocured two noble horses, and with high hopes they passed out through the city gate and struck off to the westward. The road was wide and plain, and the way direct. “I think we have given them the slip now,” said Peter, as they rode along oyer the even road. “I hope so,” returned Clarence. But he spoke dubiously, for the old fear was upon him. He knew" that St. Marc was acquainted in Valladolid, and he felt that ’twould be nothing strange for the unnatural father to push on for that city, even though it was only for a visit. But he feared that by this time that evil man .might have gained some clue to his child’s whereabouts. The thought gave him pain, and he put his horse swiftly over the road. CHAPTER XX. Ina small mansion, in the western part of the city of Valladolid, Irene St. Marc had found a home. The owner was a merchant named Carlos Mendrid, an elderly man, in independent circumstances, and possessed a kind and generous heart. .Calypso had introduced the maiden there, and there she had found a warm welcome. It was at the close of a warm and pleasant day that Irene and Cassandra sat together in their chamber. Irene looked beautiful now. Her health was unimpaired, and a pensive, thoughtful expression dwelt upon her handsome features. She was not sad, for a strong hope gave her courage. Only the day before she had learned that the American army had taken the capital, and that Clarence Howard was among the officers who accompanied the victorious general. This piece of intelligence had been brought by Calypso. “I should think he would come soon,” Irene said, gazing hopefully into her companion’s face. “Of course he will,” returned Cassandra. “I suppose he has some duties to perform before he can leave the army.” “But you think there is no doubt that he is with the army.” “Why—-Calypso says he is; and I suppose her information was direct.” “And yet,” said Irene, with a shudder, “he <ad many dangers to pass through.” “Yes,” replied Cassandra. “I hope Calypso’s information was correct. “I am sure it was, my mistress.” “And I do not think Calypso would deceive me.” “1 think not.” Thus had Irene spoken many times since she had received the intelligence of her lover’s arrival at the capital. Even the slightest assurance from her companion seemed to give her comfort, and she thus introduced the subject that those assurances might be given. Her highest hope of earth was to see Clarence Howard. Every thought of joy in the future was centered in him, and the holiest love of her soul was his. The long days of gloom that had passed threw all her joys into the future, and thus her very lifetime of peace hung upon;the hopes she now cherished. If she had a doubt it was of the real intent of Calypso. That strange woman had seemingly been very kind, and of course Irene was very grateful, but still she felt at times a secret fear that all was not right. (To be continued.)