Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-20
EVENING STAR.
THE RAEsoMED BRIDE.
ATale of OuayaquiI.
CHAPTER 1

deserted thoroushfarcs OF the City of Guava.
qull. lie wore no tale-besring counter ance
which spoke of country, nor from his dress
could his rank be judged. The echoes Of his
heavy tread aNoke the sleeping vultures.
with graceiess swOop, and awkward wing,
they abandoned their perch on tree and ,use-
! top; while ever and anon the drowsy house
! dog from portal to gateway. with appraised
head, groWled his disapprobation
| Lengtnened shadows betnkened the near
! approach OF evening, yet, save the menial
6usled In removing the curtained awning in
| the plaEzT, most tenements seemed deserted.
Not SO the mansion of Don Xavier Portal
and corridor, kitchen and hall, were alike
| crowded; while the courtyard was filed with
| carriages, whose fashion and embellishments
were those of times past. The white dresses
OF the ladies', and the orange flower conspicu-
| Gus IN the head-dress Of the maidens, spoke
| oi fete or festival; but the flower had lost its
| freshness, and the habiiment5 its neat array
| Not one face spoke Of joy or .ontentment for
| ali felt Ill at ease. The stately Dons stood
| ai0ot from their danes in knots, conyersiDg in
undcItoaes; now and then a suppressed oath
| struck the ear SIS il poisoned the air and the
hand could be seen clutchIng the haft OF the
stuetto But one alone paced the corridor
! and al every turn his piercing eye was fast
encd on the entrance. No one interrupted
| him In his silent path; for hours he had trod
| that beat like sentry on a post, neither by
/ word or look holding communion with those
| about him. 4 liVeried menial crossed his
! path, and, raising p wand, requested the pres
ehce Of the assembled guests in the ADJOINING
| nail In the name OF the mother Of Slints
/ tE's shall not be - he exclaimed and grasr-
! ing the Sword-hllt, strobe foremost into ia.
apartment.
The daughter-in-law and ward Of Don Xavier
! was to be given in marriage, and it was his
| son who, Invoking the aid of the Virgin.
! swore 1t should not be. The rays of n settiny
! sun lent melancholy aspect to the scene a.
through the stained lattice they fell into the
! apartment. SObs ard sighs were heard from
/ trembling girls, who. with cheeks tear be-
/ deWed, hung upon the arms of their fat hers
/ as If In dread Of similar sacrifice. Hours had
I passed since the appointed time of the cere-
mony. Twice had the reluctant girl been
! dragged forward, and twice had she been car
! Tied, ere the cerer1 my could commence faint
! III and iIfeless in her own apartment
itunor whispered, IN under tones, strange
! tales Of Don Aayler. a wife had died under
| my ySterIOus circumstances. HIS widowboo6
was Of short duration. Don Xavier was no.
| bic and reputed wealthy The second wife
was long since dead, and now her daughter.
| at a tender age, was taken from 4 convent
| where from infancy, she had been immured
| To be forced 10 wed renegade ard villain
| WcddeG no to be sold ,-bsrtered for =
| specified sum; and that to one who's caarae-
| ter knew 10 one redeemiEy trait. The prop-
| erty OF the second wife, at her demise, was
! settled upon the daughter, 10 become nom.-
| naIly hers upon her marriage, when il became
| the husbands.
| Between these cold hearted and urfee!ing
| wretches s-the guardian upon the one part.
/ and bridegroom upon toe Other-waS the con-
/ tract drawn up, by which The bridegroom
| once married, paid stipulated portion Of his
wife doWry to her guardian; the latter to
| bring the ma ,riage about Ia what manner
| he would eject Lis purpose you have seen.
! They were not alone in the plot No, the
/ master-hand VINO planned and penned the iu-
strument stood by, his villany disguised ia
/ The ho'y robes of the church
suppressed whisper ran through the a.
sembiy-tnere was a stir in the ante-room:
and in silence was VOrne, rather THAI led, the
IaInuAS gIri INTO the apar jHleLt i0r the third
| time. Beautiful 10 the viCw-hers was the
beauty of one not Of earth, and yet OF one
whose soul light had teeu 50 recent, taat
, the spiritual lOveliness Of the mind had not
! Dadc adieu to the silent clay; like some fair
Hover cut On ere lis prime-dead. Evt ye,
( blighted.
The ceremony WAS about to commence: me-
/ UonIess stood guardian and priest, pale, yet
URmoYed, and save that the IersDiration st1t,l
heavily on her guardians brow, there was
nCug 1t that betokenod Of emotion The harGi-
hood Of the bridegroom failed him al this mo-
ment, lis eye was downcast, and his bearing
that OF guilt. Profound was the silence, and
the rustic Of the dresses, as the parties noise
lessly closed around the priest, seemed a rs-
lief. A moment and the sacrilpse would have
been perpetrated. Hold Ia the name of
heaven, hold - shouted a voice ia the c0rri-
dor. The menialS were proS;rated; and with
. drawn sword and the bound OF a tiger, the
way yfarGr. before alluded 10, confronted the
: parties. Steel met steel, blow followed blow
a IA n
| for the moment and then Cne com batants were
held at bay. How changed the scene-fathcr
| and son, the bridegroom and the intruder
! between the former some half dozen had in
teryened, though not before their swords had
crossed; between the latter the priest and SOME
others, while wives and daughters Joined III
the melee. Prayers and entreaties, lmprcca-
tiOns and curses, cries OF fOrbesrance, aud de-
Tying shouts, arose In one; and adding horror
TO the scene, was heard the hysteric laugh OF
woman half bereit Of reason.
said the parties were held 1T bay; the
sword remained unshcatned, while vengeance
and the desire for combat reigned in the as
pect If those before engaged
The stranger stood calm and collected; q
proud smile of conscious Tig int and 4 noble
look of daring animated his features All
eye were turned upon him-his cry as he
came to the rescue still rang in their ears;
turning his head, he proudly met their inlu-
ers, sisters, one and all of you, as you hold
humanity, honor, or virtue sacred forget
ting ali ties or pleas, in the name OF heaven
aid me to prevent this PROCLAMATION Of sacred
Office
Amen responded the son.
Again flashed the angry Steel the father,
finding his son or his guard. renewed his
murderous assault. His vantage was short. a
moment scarce elapsed ere, PROSTATE and un-
armed, he lay defenceless at the feet of bis
son. The jar caused by his heavy fall dashed
the image of the Virgin from its pedestals,
and shivered to atoms its fragments Strewed
the floor. The younger Xavier shuldered at
the narrow escape which he had made, in the
heat of the struggle from the crime OF parri-
cidc and while the elder, foiled and exhaust
ed, remained prostrate, the stranger who had
So Unexpectedly arrested the nuptials, con-
tinued:
"Spaniaris, he to whom this lady was about
to be sacrificed, wed i5d a sister of mine fair,