The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-08-19
THE GUERRILLA BROTHERS.
A SPANISH TALE.

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shed lustre over the name Of the unhappy
Spaniard, seemed TO rekindle for moment
in the day Of their degradaton--when the
giant tread Of Napoleon echoed along the
track in which the Roman, the Goth, and the
Moor had successfully preceded him--and
the annals Of those desperate struggles which
ensued, afford examples of high enthusiasm
and heroic valor which seem to belong rather
to the history of former times than to the
dark and blotted page of the present.
Among the desperate adventurers of Mer-
da's band were two brothers noted for their
daring courage, if courage it may be termed,
which sets every calculation of danger at de-
fance. They had volunteered into the band
at the same time; following the same for
tunes, sharing the same dangers, and reaping
the same glory, it may be supposed that un-
known and unfriended as they were, the
children Of the same cradle would have
clung to each other with warm and conf
ding regard; but in its place a strange mys-
ferrous reserve seemed 10 govern their mutual
intercourse. A superficial observer might
sometimes have believed them TO be enemies;
but there was nothing of the bitterness or the
hypocrisy of hatred, either in their silence or
their looks: Once or twice aburst tfnatural
feeling was observed, but such exhibitions
seldom broke in upon the habitual calm de-
meanor they had assumed.
There sngularities of disposition were
ascribed by their comrades TO different causes
some attributed it to blighted love others
to the conflict Of religious zeal with patriotic
enthusiasm. BY degrees, as they pursued
the dangers of war, their confidence appeared
TO forsake them, their ardor became different
from that instructive impulse which prompts
on young and fearless hearts 10 court danger
for the very honor of opposing il; misirnsi
and suspicion usurped the place of fraternal
affection; cold reserve locked up in their
bosoms every kindred sympathy; their noble
emulation degenerated into desperate and
unnatural riyalship; even in the mad career
Of victory their enthusiasm seemed to bear
some reference to the impenetrabe thought
which governed their destiny, and at length
the fact became certain from repeated obser-
vation, that the one only rushed into danger
that the other might be forced, by some Sc
cret compact, TO follow.
In one of the widest solitudes Of the Sierra
Morena had the followers of Merida stationed
themselves to harrass the march of the French
general. A desperate and bloody struggle
was the result, and among those who most
distinguished themselves in the fearful con-
test, were the Guerilla Brothers. One of
them appeared to be the directing genius Of
the slaughter; wherever the fight was thickest,
there was he foremost; at every cessation OF
actual struggle, his eyes were turned towards
his brother, who, although severely wounded
in the beginning of the engagement. was
still seen sometimes by his side, but more
frequently toiing after him in his furious
career, vainly struggling TO gain the place
where the fierce and naughty glances of the
other seemed to dare him to take. The
signal for retreat had now sounded, and the
Guerillas were suddenly beginning 10 se-
parate, each taking different route TO their
common rendezvous, thus melting away at
once before the eyes of the baf1ed enemy,
and eluding his grasp, just at the moment
when fresh reinforcements from the glen as
sured him of being able TO annihiate their
slender force at one blow.
The foremost Guerilla, still unwounded,
relinquished his prey at the sound, and, dash
ing into the trees, begun to reascend the
mountain, when the clash of arms induced
him to turn out of his path. Who can paint
the contending feelings which at this moment
burst upon his mind-the mingled feelings
of love, friendship, hatred, hope, fear, pity
all things that can warm, or chill, or melt, or
madden the human heart, were there pre-
sent. A single blow could yet save him
but one bound, and his interposing arm
would preserve the life of the son of his own
mother--a single shout from his lips would
scare away the slayer from his purpose.
II was but moment-but one moment
the next the living statute started from his
trance of honor--the blade quivered in his
grasp-the blood rushed into his guilty face
land he sprung with shout to the rescue.
1t was too late; the blow had descended; /;
the dying Spaniard turned his face towards
his brother, and they exchanged one look
the last.
The Guerilla's eyes were still fixed on the
lifeless body of his brother, when their COM
rades came to bury the dead, and it was by
main force that the living was separated from
the dead. He now held in his hand a
miniature portrait, suspended by a pichly
wrought gold chain, which he had apparently
taken from the neck Of his brother, and which
corresponded with one he himself wore.
These relics appeared, even in his present
state, to be objects of the most jealous care;
among many incoherent words he muttered
Guzman and Leonora, the former addressed
to his brother, and the latter to some phantom
Of his federed brain; but nothing transpired
which at that time could lead to the know
ledge of his family or story.
The diEracted Guerilla was taken TO one
of the few remaining converts amongst the