An American

of the United States a strong feeling of pity and compassion toward the inhabitants of the Island of Cuba who were u

of the Island Empire and many confusing circumstances combined to add to the confusion

ng King Alfonso XIII, who, in his far-away palace in old Madrid was as unconscious of what

nd those whom they had sent across the sea to govern them, but they found this a very difficult matter indeed, and between the fiery tempers of the nat

udious woman, while the boy King was as far from being the typical idea o

unt of certain ones among their number due to the opportunities afforded them of gratifying their lowest impulses and following along the paths that led, for t

ring in his hand a crucifix which he held before him as if to fend off something evil ... he was dressed, as is the custom of the Catholic Priests of Cuba, in the flowing vestments of his office and the long cord that was knotted round his ample waist had a

pt subconsciously, for Father Felix, as this Priest was known, was wandering among stra

s of the village, but, never in his life devoted, as it was to the consideration of holy, high and s

for it might lead to what they could not know of ways that might, as well as not, prove very winding and even thorn-strewn ways for those who followed along them. And Father Felix knew that he, alone of all that little company, was gifted with the power to reason out a fair and just conclusion from the premises presented to them all; he knew that he alone had enough of education to even understand the meaning of the words th

n at that time ... he knew that he could bend their wills to make them match with his own will for he had done this very many times before ...

be bent by anyone who had a strong and capable and domineering mind, and Father Felix had a mind like that ... a natural leader's most commanding mind ... he was a man to win respect wherever he might go ... a man to dominate the wills of those about him ... a man to lead the crowd ...

clamor that would come if all their bridled tongues should really become loose again, for, now, they only spoke in

ut to do," a beardless youth began, as he edged a little nearer to his mother's

her head at him, but, later on, when they had gone a

lagers are interested in, we would suffer for our temerity in doing this ... I almost wish we had not joined this mob, my boy ... I almost wish, at least, that

so, it seemed to her and them as well, that she was one of them and, so, must be among them even then, when they were casting in their lots, at Father Felix' instigation, with the ones who so violently opposed the rei

e crowd and, as the others jostled against her, her great blue eyes stared almost vacantly, as it seemed, ar

t, and she was taller than the rest of those who

ll enjoy the future that we are advancing to? What do you think will happen to us when we reach the prado, anyway? Do you think the Governor has found out what

so I must be scared the same as you say you are. Let us keep as close together as we can, so, if anything happens to one it will be sure to happen to u

and huddled just as close together as they could and marched along amo

e little company to assemble directly in front of him, when he stretched his arms out wide in silent blessing on their undertaking, and procee

alted ... battering rams were being raised and carried forward by the men and tears and flowers seemed to be the offering

oud to him who kept the keys to bring them forth and give them to him, or he would be, in case that his request should be refused, compelled, in spite of hi

minutes, but, as he received no an

me the keys so that I may open the strong doors with them, why, then, I'll be obliged to break down the barriers that are between the ones you hold within that prison and the freedom that is their natural right. Once more do I command you ..." he cried in a stentorian voice, using the quality of v

gloomy precincts of the edifice before him, he p

eapons, then he told the others to await his word but to be in readiness, each one, to follow where he led, then, holding high his crucifix and calling most

ou to the full extent of it! Follow me, my little children, God i

d many shuddered at the sound for well they thought they knew its cause ... it seemed to them that they would be too late ... that those they sought to res

to her dark little fri

o? How can we bear to go yet nearer to the horror that the prison hides from

pered back, "I know I'll die of fright alone if this keep

n that prison's entrance, that they had been, indeed, too late for him who lay at his full length across the entrance to the prison, for his body had been twisted in its fall so that his head that had been almost severed from it lay askew as if its e

the handsome head, she lifted it until it rested in her lap, and, then, she softly smoothed the dark and clustering curls that hung above the broad, full brow, and looked within the great brown eyes th

rison, and Father Felix lifted her and laid the senseless, almost severed head upon the floo

ones, but, here, he found his way was barred, for, just as soon as blows began to fall upon the doors of those narrow cells those within those cells began to call to them and caution them that, if the doors were broken down

ad been useless and his deep-laid plans of no avail until he heard a voi

alive if you but use the proper means to bring about that end. Call out to those yo

ed its mandates and reassured the ones within those narrow cells and gave t

... the kind of help that loaded guns would not affect. Then, he told them of the punishment that would await the ones who disobeyed the orders he was just about to give ... a punishment that would not only last thr

hlessly, were waiting for the orders he

e will break them down and those whose human bodies we will find, lying stark and cold in earthly death, will not be those of our dear friends who are your prisoners, for there are those within those cells of whose presence you are unaware but who are potent in the cause of right and truth and justice. I will now proceed to count ... one ... two ... three ..." at that, he heard a key thrust rapidly within a lock, but, as it was unturned, he went on counting, "four ..." he heard another key inserted in a lock, "five ..." he waited just a second