Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-07-03

ssSanta Maria 20 she exclaimed "another blast Oh,
Manuel how long do you continue in this dread
full duty2"
..Unt can find better, my ife," replied the MINER
gaily "Woud you have me to go back to my old employ
men Of barretero-of simple miner-at SIN dollars week.
when here, as pegaoy as the sole and trusted match-lgh
er, | am earning sixteenW
"Aas!" returned Margarta, "ot what use Will the mon
ey be- ft happen to you as to Pedro Bravo only 'hee
months ago? Ah | think see the mangled body, as 1t
was carried by our cottage with poor luesa crying over It,
And then here is Juan Valdez, blind now for hive
wears And old Anton, cripple from his YOUTH VI what
advantage was their high wages TO them ?''
oNone, sweetheart" replied Manuel, "because what
thew won by bodness and skill they lost by
IF man will persist in firing matches when his brain is
mudded with aguardiente he must expect to suffer Tor It,
However shall not be pegador always. In good lme
iii please San Francisco, shall be captain of mine
And who knows but Of these days may be an ddnn
srador-an oveseer and rich man. as well as others!'
"To be sure" replied Margarita, eagerly. "Nhy not
vou as well as MIGUEL Gomez? Don Miguel, forsooh. as
he must be called now! And yet remember MIN "ne"
he was only poor buscon common mine huner' ana al
ways in debt to my father for aguardtente ana 'ooacco
Yet because he happened to light on good ven and sold
to the English company for ten thousand dollars and was
made overseer he thinks himself great gentleman,
and that every body must give way 10 him."
s.Poor Don Miguel" said the miner, laughing "You
are too hard upon our administrator Margarita First,
YOU refuse his hand and heart not TO speak of his dollars
and then YOU abuse him behind his back"
"Ah!" said Margarila, hastily, "if you knew" and
then stopped suddenly if she had said more than she In
tended.
"What is there that you know, nugercta-my lille
wife that do not q? asked Manuel looking up in surprise
I. was something that happened before our marriage
replied Magaa seriously 81 promised then to conceai
H. but have often been troubled since with the thought
ofmy promise If sin in breaking ii now, will beg Pa
Dire sdo to absove me- for know there should be no Sc
crets between us two 1t Anita, the wife OF Juan Pc
draza the poor drunken cagaOr, who told me what she
heard from her husband. When you and Miguel Gomez
were ouareng for the love Of me-" continued the young
woman with naire gravity 'Juan said that Miguel pro-
missed him the place Of captain of the gatera, with twenty
dolars 4 week. if he would commit dreadful crime. IL
was to follow you when you coming down the noun
push YOU off the precpce at the Rnconada SO that
YOU mqht seem 10 have fallen by accident Juan would
nat be quty Of such horrible for the world, hut he
WAS So afraid of the overee that he dared not speak OF 1t
to any one but his wife, did not know it till after we
were married, and then would not tell you because it
could do no GOOD fr Gomez knows now that if were free
to morrow would jump off the Rinconada myself rather
than take him with all his money"
..rhe Villain! ~ said Manuel while his eyes sparked
taod his hand cutched instnctvey at his knife sit was
well for him, Mar!aria tha, you did not tell me this
wear ago But perhaps he has repented OF 1t snce he
has been very good .na,ued to Of late. However,
! pha Itch dirocto I'm
came this morning from Mexico and very much dis
satisfied with the working of the mine. IL is Whispered
among the men that the certain to lose his
"Ah, that good indeed" said Margarl'a' clasp
ing her hands.
.'And so this was the reason," added Manuel gai'y
"why you preferred poor bretero, with only his mi
nes pick and his dollar day, to the rich administrator
"Of what good is money! returned Margarita, earnest
ly "without happiness Riches fly away, but the good
: heart remains"
'hat is as true though Padre ido had said it." re-
Joined Manuel as he hastily from his seat on the turf
but time flies roo my dear little preacher and they will be
waiting for me at ;he NINE"
The young couple separated, with many aeclIonae IN
functions on the part Of the wife, to which the miner laugh
ngy promised puncua attention. Margara, as she re-
placed the basket on her head heard the clear manly voice
of her husband far above her. singing the refrain OF bal
lad once very popular among the miners OF Acetecas
which described the good fortune of poor adyenurer In
" that town in former days:
Si las minas de San Bernade
No dcron buena ley,
a No casaria Tuan Barra
e Bon la ha del vrey.
IS Which may be rendered:
S fSant Barnabas's mine
> Had yielded fine,
. Juan Cara neer had welded
A maiden OF the viceroyS line.
g Manues voice ceased when he reached the Rinconada
sharp angle the PATH beside which the precpice sanE
plump down. sheer descent Of more than five hundred
feet The recollection of what his wife had just told hin
sent cold shudder through his frame, and he had moi re-
covered his usual gaey when he reached the mouth of the
shaft Here in the galera great shed surrounding tho
pit he found the English director, Don Jayne, the
seer Miguel Gomez and several clerks, miners, portes
and mule drivers. Don Jayne seemed TO be in a bad hu
i NOR, and the overseer looked black and sulen.
"Enhorab,,eaa lin good time, my man." said the di
rector. ..We are all ready for you and let every
here be attentive to his duties There has been too much
careessness heretofore particularly in the blasting Many
complaints have been made among the ownspeople ant
propreors of the accidents which occur here You, am
It told are very skilful and quick wed workman" he
continued addressing Manuel. "l is well we have some
i. on whom rely"
Gomez listened to this significant speech without venur
= ing to reply but his swarthy face grew vid and his eyes
flashed with baleu fire. Two horses specially trained
TO the duty, were attached the mGacde, machine
by which the buckets were raised and lowered in the shaft
Manuel then placed upon his head conica cap having
socket he top, which held lighted candle. He took
in one hand small rope, of which the other end held
BY the oveseer and by shaking which the match lighter
was to give the signal when he was ready ascend On
r the pomptitude with which his ascent took place. depend
.oEno -