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Ballou, Maturin Murray, 1820-1895

"The Heart's Secret; Or, the Fortunes of a Soldier: a Story of Love and the Low Latitudes."

Besides this, there was an indifference as to life, existing
in his bosom at that moment, that led him to experience a degree of
apathy that it would be difficult for us to describe, or for the
reader to realize. He felt as he did when he exclaimed, in his
lonely cell in prison, as he was left for the last time by her he so
loved--"Welcome, welcome, death! I would that thou wert here
already!"
How it was accomplished, of course he knew not; nor could he hardly
surmise in his own mind, so very strictly is the care of such
matters attended to under all like circumstances; but one thing he
felt perfectly sure of, and indeed he was right in his
conjecture--Ruez had drawn the bullets from the guns!



CHAPTER X.
THE BANISHMENT.


LORENZO BEZAN had hardly reached his place of confinement, once
more, before he was waited upon by the secretary of the
governor-general, who explained to him the terms on which his
reprieve was granted, viz., that he should leave the territory and
soil of Cuba by the next homeward bound packet to Spain, to remain
there, unless otherwise ordered by special direction of the
government. His rank as captain of infantry was secured to him, and
the usual exhortation in such cases was detailed, as to the hope
that the present example might not be lost upon him, as to the
matter of a more strict adherence to the subject of military
discipline.


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