The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-02

YOU will not refuse me the favor of dividin
this doubloon between you. And now obhg
me bv returning with your prisoner to the spo
where the murder took place"
The officers did not hesitate to obey com
mand so agreeably enforced, and immediatel,
led the way back to the place in question. 4
number ofmen of the lower classes, were still
collected about it, pursuing their various oc
equations and amusements of gambling, gos
siping, or chaffering, as calmly as if nothing
importance had taken place among them
Some sensation, however, was created by tn,
return of the alguaziles with the Indian, fol
lowed by Don Vicente-especially wheE tn
latter rode into the crowd and inquired for thu
witnesses to the fight and homicide. 1t sooI
appeared that, though almost all bad beer
spectators of the quarrel, very few had actua
ly seen the man killed. OF those who had be
fore been loudest in asserting the guilt of the
Indian, the greater number now held theii
tongues, or disavowed any positive knowledge
of the fact. Two only, both Of whom were
carboneros, stood out stoutly for the truth o.
their former testimony; and although Vicente
had little doubt that the accusation was vii
famous plot, concocted to screen the real Grim
inal by the sacrifice of a despised and friend
less Indian, yet as he had no means OF prov
ing the innocence of the latter, he was Obliged
to allow the alguaziles to convey him to prison
lie promised the poor fellow, however, that
he should not be forgotten 4; and, with this as
surance, Paquo Tormes-for such, it appeared
was his name-suffered himself to be led a.
way, without another word of remembrance.
Don Vicente was much annoyed to find that
while he was engaged in this act of benevo-
lence, the time had slipped by during which
he should have been upon the Alameda. Any
one, indeed, could have seen at glance, that
the handsome young cavalier was equipped for
an appearance on that rendezvous of the Mex
lean beau monde. His wide brimmed, gold
laced hat, his embroidered jacket, trimmed
with costly fur, his Guadalagara boots of
stamped leather, his enormous silver spurs, of
more than pound weight each, his superb
manga, or riding mantle, thrown over the front
of his silver-plaied saddle, the dnquerd, or
housings, of stamped leather, fringed with sill
yer, which nearly covered his horse, were all
in the highest style of the native fashion. 1t
was now, with some modification, that he be-
held several of his acquaintance returning
from their accustomed ride, and was greeted
by them with inquiries as TO the cause of his
non-appearance. 1t is but fair to say. howev-
er, that his yexation had little or nothing TO
do with disappointed vanity, but originated
in feeling of gentler nature. A particu-
lar carriage was expected to be seen that day
on the Alameda, containing, at least, one pair
of the brightest eyes in Mexico and it was be-
fore this vehicle that Don Vicente ALBANIA
had intended to make his handsome brazeador,
or prancing steed, display its most graceful
caracoles, in the hope, or, sooth to say, the as
suIance, Of attracting an approving glance
from the said sparkling orbs. His friends, in
decd, did not fail to inform him that the car
riage of the Condo de Loyzaga had passed
three or four times up and down the Alameda;
that the eyes of Donna Catalina had been
seen in it as bright rs ever, but rowing about
very uneasily while the pretty face to which
they belonged wore a very unusual expression
of gravity and displeasure; all of which facts
they related for his especial qualification
Don Vicente, however, did not consider the
information ir the least satisfactory. until it
suddenly occurred TO MIN that the incident
which had detained him would form an excel
lent reason for a visit on the following MORN
ing, in order TO request Donna Catalina's adj
vice on the subject, and to solicit her interest
with her father on behalf of the Indian for
the Count of Loyzaga was known to have great
with the viceroy, the Marquis of
Mendoza, who then governed Mexico. Con-
graduating himself on this bright idea, Don
Vicente felt able to retort the raiery of his
friends in a corresponding tone, and took his
way homeward in joyous spirits.
Vicente ALBANIA was the descendant of a
fortunate companion of Cortez, who had trans
mitted to his posterity large possessions in va
rious parts of the new land which he had help
ed to conquer The father Of Vicente had
been reckoned among the wealthiest proprie-
tors of New Spain, at time when the gentry
of that country comprised the richest individ-
uals in the world. But, in one fatal night, he
lost, at the gambling festival of San Augustin,
six of his seven great estates, and the next
morning he was found dead in his room, with
a pistol in his hand and a bullet through his
brain-a selfimmoleted victim to the evil d.
vinity that has tempted so many to their ruin.
This dreadful catastrophe had, at least, one
good effect-as it gave to his son, then youth
of fifteen, then salutary horror of the gam
ing table, which he never afterwards approach
ed The income of his remaining hacienda
was sufficient to enable him to live in hand
some style, both in the capital and at his coun-
try-house, between which-hke most Mexi-
can proprietors-he divided his time pretty
equally. Now it happened that the estate of
DOn Vicente was Situated At l0e easy visiting
distances it is there considerable about
six leagues from the seat of the wealthy Con-
de de Loyzaga; and, as the Count had been
a friend of his father the young man, was ac-
customed, occasionally, to ride over, for the
purpose of paying his respects to his noble
neighbor. As he grew older, and better able
to appreciate the lessons of wisdom and expe-
rience that flowed from the lips of the Count,
it was very natural, in the opinion of the lat
ter, that the visits of the youth should become
more and more frequent. The rest of the
family, however, including Donna Catalina,
the noblemans bright-eyed daughter, ascribed
these continual re-appearances of Don Vicen-
tie to a very different cause of attraction. And
even the Count himself-conceited old fool
as he was began to have his suspicious.
This stale of affairs will account for the ankle
ty and trepidation with which Don Vicente, on
the day after the occurrence of the incident just
related, presented himself at the stately town
mansion of the Count. The young lady, who
was alone, received him with cloud on her
brow; but the shade of displeasure instantly pas
sed away when her lover related the accident