Breakfast first, and this he secured at a cafe where many men had gathered to drink their coffee and talk over the exciting events about to transpire in the Antilles. They had no hesitation in expressing sympathy with the American arms for this was not Cuba—even the Spanish soldiers in Porto Rico had a leaning toward the Yankees—there was far less bitterness shown than in Havana, for the people were more independent. The sensation of liberty was in the air, and men seemed to feel the new strength that was soon to make them a section of the Western giant—they had known for some time what Destiny had in store for Porto Rico, and patiently awaited the glorious dawn of that blessed day, instead of the useless struggles of years, that would sap their powers, and blight their beloved land, even as Cuba had been, with the incendiary's torch and the bushwhacker's rifle.
The day for their reward was coming, and once the stars and stripes had 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 away Philippines.
It was now near the hour when he had agreed to meet the girl, so Roderic made his way toward the plaza. While this place lacked much of the charm that is always associated with myriads of lights, moving gayly dressed throngs and stirring open air concerts, it was full of people about this hour of the day since the summer sun would chase people indoors long before noon.
He came down in the quarter where the quaint little shop of the tobacconist was to be found, and kept his eyes eagerly on the alert for a figure that would, as he remembered, remind him of Georgia's.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE MONSTER COMES AGAIN.
At first Roderic only met with disappointment, for while people were continually passing, and some even went in and out of Senor Pedro's little shop, none upon whom his observation fell seemed to bear any resemblance to the one for whom he sought.
This suspense only increased his eagerness.
No doubt it would have been stronger had he expected to meet Georgia; but his business on this August morning was closely connected with her after all, since in the governor's daughter he saw, not a beautiful girl who had fascinated him but a messenger bringing hopes of a bright future.