The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-28

| the dying man, touched by his exhortations
confessed that two years before, in passing thro
a street in Granada female from window
had lowered to him a casket, telling him tc
| guard it while she descended-that he had fled
with the jewels, and that be asked pardon ot
God and the persons he had robbed. After
this recital he expired, and Celestine fastened
to the prison. a -'@f
How her heart palpitated as she advanced
She believed, after having heard of the rescue
of her jewels, that she should behold Don Pc
dro; but she feared to be recognised by him
Drawing her hat over: her eyes, enveloping her
self in cloak, and preceded by the jailor car
rying light, she descended to the dungeons
Hardly had she reached the foot of the stairs
when she recognised her lover At the sight
joy fora moment clouded her senses; she lean
ed against the wall; her head fell on her shoul-
der and tears flowed over her cheeks. But
soon rising, she sought to subdue her emotions,
and approached the prisoner. .s...
Stranger" said she, Disgusting her voice,
'you have Killed your companion. What has
led you to an act so culp pable?" '
Here her voice failed her, and sinking upon
stone bench, she covered her face with her
hands ....-
'Alealde, replied Don Pedro Il have not
committed crime: it was an act Of Justice
But | demand DEATH Death alone will end
the suffering of which this villain, whom have
SLAIN, was the first cause. Condemn mel have
no wish to defend myself deliver me of life
which has no joys for me since have lost all
hope of ever fnding--''
As he finished his lips pronounced the name
of Celestine.
Cclestine trembled in hearing him pronounce
her name. She was no longer mistress of her
self; she rose, and would have revealed herself
to her lover, but the presence Of the jaor re-
strained her
Co." she said to him, Il would remain
alone with the prisoner
She is obeyed. Then advancing to Don Pc
dro and extending her hand said, with much
emotion
"You have always loved, then, her who has
lived only for you?''
At the sound Of her voice, at these words,
Pedro raised his head, but dared not believe
his eyes
ooh, heaven! is it you? is it my Celestine?
Or is it an angel who has taken this fgure?-
All, it is she; can doubt no longer" he cried, l.,
and folding her in his arms, he kissed away her
tears. 1T is my love, my Celestine, and all
my mIsfortunes are ended.''
No. replied Celestine, after some moments
silence, "you are. guilty of murder, 1 cannot
break your chains; but will go to the city, re-
veal all to the governor, tell him my birth and
history, recount our misfortunes, and if he re-
fuses thee thy liberty, will return here to end
my days in prison.
Day had hardly dawned when Celestine, who
had revealed her story to her beloved compan-
ions, the Villagers, went, accompanied by them,
to the palace of the governor. There she be-
uayed her sex, told her adventures and in
formed the ruler of the crime which Don Pc
dro had committed, and of the motives which
rendered it excusable. All the inhabitants fell
at the feet of the governor, entreating that the
request of their loved Marce8o should be grant
ed. A pardon is pronounced, and they hasten
back to open the prison doors of Don Pedro.
AS the Happy lover pressed Celestine once
more to his heart, an old man advanced from
among the villagers.
'Stranger,' said he, eve have given you
your liberty, but you would take from us our
Marce]o; and our loss will be greater than your
benefit. Deign to become our alcalde, our mas
ter and our friend. Live for the future among
us, and permit US to reverence and admire you
as your wife here. who, as noble youtls first
won our afections.''
Don Pedro and Celcstine touched by this
new proof of affection, could not refuse the re-
quest Of the inhabitants of Gadara. They re-
turned to Granada, where they converted their
wealth into money, and after their nuptials had
been solemnlsed, they chose for their future
home domain among those friendly peoples
who never ceased 10 bless the day when the
youth Marcelio first sought an asylum among
them.
THE ANGEL OF THE HoUsE.--There is an an
gel in the house. No matter how fallen the in
mates, how depressed the circumstance, there
is an angel there to pity OF TO cheer 1t may
be in the presence Of a little child, or it may be
enclosed in STOPPING and wrinkled body, tread
ing the downward path to !the grave. Or, per-
haps, in a cheerful spirit, looking upon the ills
of life as so many steps towards heaven, if only
braveIy overcome, and mounted with sinless
feet. We knew such an angel once, and it was
a drunkard' child. Or every side, wherever
she moved she only saw misery and degrada-
ton, and yet she did not fall. Her father was
brutal aud her mother discouraged, and her
home comfortless. But she struggled along
in angel endurance, bearing with an almost
sanity patience the infirmities of him who gave
her existence, and then hourly embittered her.
Night after night at the hours of ten, twelve,
and even one barefooted, ragged, shawl|ess,
and bonnetless, has she been to the den of the
drunkard, and gone staggering home with her
arm around her father. Many time has her
flesh been blue with the mark Of lbs hand, when
she has stepped in between her mother and vio
lence. Many time has she sat upon the cold
curbstone with his head in her lap; many time
known how bitter it was to cry for hunger, when
the money which should have bought bread was
spent in gin.
And the patience that the angel wrought with
made her face shine; so that, though never ac
in the courts of this world, in the
kingdom of heaven she was waited for by as
sembled hosts of spirits and the crown of mar
tyrdom lay ready waiting for her young brow.
And she was martyr. Her gentle spirit went
up from couch ofanguisl-an anguish brought
on by ll-usage and neglect. And never tiltIen
did the father recognise the angel in the child;
never till then did his manhood arise from the
dust of it's dishonor. From her humble grave he