The story
“In one of the rural sections of Spain they tell a story, handed down from generation to generation, of the brave soldier, Pedro, and the sacrifice he made for his lady fair. Graves may be leveled by this time, and monuments molder and resolve into dust, but Pedro’s fame is not so perishable, for the story of his exploit can never be forgotten. He was only a humble soldier, stationed at a fort, and he loved a maiden who lived in a village nearby. The girl liked him, flirted with him, and perhaps someday might have married him, had not the ‘other man’ appeared. The other was a stranger, who suddenly appeared in the village, and secured lodgings with the girl’s mother. He quickly won the maiden’s love and they were planning to get married, when he was arrested. It happened that Pedro was the one who took him into custody, and then he learned for the first time that the girl’s heart belonged to the other man.
“At the fort the stranger was questioned, the belief being that he was a spy, but as no documents were found in his possession, the commander of the garrison simply ordered him detained, and did not lock him in the cell, never dreaming that he could escape, when every exit was closely guarded. The stranger’s case was desperate, for he really was what he was suspected of being, a spy. The girl determined to rescue him, and after informing him of her plan, shot an arrow over the ramparts at night. A light cord was attached to the arrow, and to this in turn was tied a heavy rope, by means of which the prisoner could escape. The plan worked successfully, until the stranger was just starting on his perilous journey. Then Pedro discovered what was happening, and with a cry of alarm ran forward with drawn sword. He raised his blade to cut the rope, but glancing down saw the girl he loved, her arms raised appealingly to him. He realized that his rival’s life was in his hands, and started to strike. Then like a flash he saw that upon him depended the girl’s happiness, and he could not. On the contrary, he held back the soldiers who would have killed the stranger, was denounced as a traitor and, finally, fighting to the last gasp, fell, supposedly dead, into the sea.
“Years later, in a religious retreat, an aged monk, loved and venerated by all who knew him, died. Then the story, long a secret, was told to the world. Pedro was not killed, but narrowly escaped. He was found unconscious, washed upon the beach, by a monk, who nursed him back to health and strength. Later he joined the order, and became one of its devout members. ‘And brother Pedro was not unhappy,’ said the monk who told the story. ‘Once on a pilgrimage, he saw the woman he loved. She was happy with the husband of her choice, and their child. He found, by cautious inquiry, that they loved and revered his memory, that the first prayer their child was taught was a petition for ‘brave Pedro, who died for papa and mama.’ No, he never revealed himself to them, and he never regretted what he had done for them. Pedro was buried in the simple graveyard of the monks. You cannot find his resting place, but his name is not forgotten, and never will be, by those who know the story of his sacrifice and devotion.”
Summary from The Moving Picture News · 30 March 1912
