Suddenly his newspaper ceased to print anything more from his pen, and directly it announced the reason.
By order of the notorious General Weyler, commander of the Spanish army, Rolfe Maxwell had been seized and thrown into prison for the news he had been sending to America. Accused as a spy, he had been placed in the terrible prison, Morro Castle, when each morning at day-break rang out the fatal shots that told off the lives of hapless prisoners.
Swiftly following the news of Rolfe Maxwell’s arrest his name appeared in the list of those who had suffered death in Morro Castle for his sympathy with Cuba, and his fearless recital of her cruel wrongs to a sympathizing world. The heroic young correspondent had been foully slain, and a nation mourned his loss.
It was barely five weeks since he had been sent to his doom by the relentless father of Viola, who shuddered as he read the news, muttering:
“He spoke prophetically when he said Viola might be a widow before she secured a divorce.”
CHAPTER XXVII.
VIOLA’S NEW ROLE.
“The lady whom I spake of rose again
From the red fever’s couch, to careless eyes
Perchance the same as she had ever been;