Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-01-18

Ere Jose could repeat the saucy deed,
faint cry of g murder. = was heard pro-
! ceeding from below. They listened in
J tently. Again the cry of murder rose on
}, the night air, aud at that moment tie bell
of neighboring convent tolledl the hour
of midnight. - ls.sfeaias as $.
rai;t It Twas Thomaso's voice. = said, Alme-
da. "Whatcen have happened g. ss
g Robbers, perhsps, atsthe old mans
strong box cried Sose unsheathing his
lrapier. Let me hasten to his assis-
tance. sliiiE III
i f" l will show you the way exclaimed
Almeda seizing the lamp. --a5
She unfastened the door. and they de-
scended the staircase cautiously together.
A faint groan made them quicken their
steps. They gained the miser's sleeping
apartment and paused at the half open
Hdoor. Tse6fa ri q
Two rufians had dragged the miser
from his bed, and held him between
them on his'knees with cleaning daggers
4 at his throat from which the blood was
/ trickling in small stream, trying to
make him give up the key to- his strong
box g.aa ia} grs} -
The old miser was deadly pale and his
! limbs shook with terror, yet he would die
before he would give up his treasured
gold. -a v Ne
Jose took one glance and then sprang to
the rescue. He passed his sword through
the foremost robber, who fell writhing to.
thefAoor, and with horrible imprecation
expired. The other haying no desire to
share the fate of his companion, fed, and
was suffered to escape uniniured.
Jose and Almeda raised the old man in
their arms. He was very weak, but more
from the effects of fright than from any
bodily injury lie had received. They
supported him to chair.
Young gentleman, said he when he
had recovered sufficiently to speak, "you
have saved my life, how shall reward
you 2"
Thomaso," replied Jose, "you sec
this maiden, your ward, give her to me. !"
"My wife !" exclaimed the old man.
opening his eyes. =" 1t cannot be-
Thou shalt have tho gold but not the
maid"
Keep thy gold. old man want it
not"
" Thomaso," cried Almeda, "I will
never marry you. SO you had better nd
yourself of needlesScxpense."
I" There is wit in that--thc girl has
sense" muttcred Thomaso TO himselE--
(" Let me see what this gallant is made Of.
Hark ,ye, young gentleman, dost see
yonder box? II is filed TO tue brim with
doubloons Take it and think no more
of the maiden"
/" Gold cannot buy Almeda from me,
replied jose -
+" Then take her, said the old man,
joining their hands. did but try you.
You can have her'and the gold also, but
no. till am dcad-you cannot have the
gold until am dead" .rsm .g..5
e We can wait, >, answered Jose as he
clasped the blusning Almeda in his
| arms.
A week passedby. TWAS the last day
of grace which was TO decide the wager.
The house of Don Jose was brilliantly il,
Illuminated. Every preparation had been
made for magnificent fctc. The deco
rations were of the most gorgeous de.
scriptiorl9 The choicest wines and fruits
had been procured Ali the beauty of
Madrid had been invited. Nothing else
had been talked of for the lest three days
but this unexpected fete, and now it had
come. a-.l ..H nEs fg
"Don Jose's two friends, Manual and
Rupert had been invited an hour earlier
than the rest. l ~
Jose was prepared to receive thom, clad
in magnificent costume. u
e Do tell us. Jose," exclaimed both
/ his friends in breath, "what is all this?"
:'' Simply, that am gOiRgto be mar
| +" Married Why, then the wager is
lost?"
" And you have not succeeded in win
ming the unknown beauty
" Not SO fast, gentlemen allow ne to
present my BRIDE
lie led Almeda from mn adjoining
apartment. clad in the spoiless raiment Of
a bride, and introduced her in form 10
his friends. y. s.-sr,;.s s.,
" The unknown !" exclaimed both ST.
4 multancously. ,g. .-sa y-,
Well, Manuel eI-vell RuporE whst do
you say now ?"
{. You have won-Don Jose !"
A Tc1ns Caravan.
4 1t may astonish many of our readers,
in remote and far away localities. to read
of caravans here. They are historically
and geographically the idosynocrasics Of
another land and another ciime-separated