Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-13
THE JEWELLERS WIFE.
A Passage In the Career of Empeciuad,

IONS reached Castrillo. AS they entered the
town: an old mendicant, who was lying curIed
HP IKE dog IN the sunshine under the porch
of house, lifted his head at the noise Of tho
horses. As his eyes rested upon Diez, he made
esund forward with an agility extraordinary
an one Of his years, and fell almost under the
feet OF the Empecinado's horse, making the
startled animal spring aside with violence
and suddenness sufficient to unhorse many a
Iess-practised rider than the one who bestrode
him The EmpecinadO lifted his whip in anger;
but The old man, who had now risen to his feet
showed no sign of fear; and as he stood in tue
road, Immediately in the path OF the Empeci.
nado, the latter recognized the wild features
and long grey hair of old Gutierrez.
"MGLdItO seas" cried the old man, extend
ing his arm towards the guerilla. Murderer.
the hour OF vengeance is nigh. / saw it in ny
dreams. My Pedrillo showed me his assassin
trampled under the feet of horses Asesigo,
FeHgG Ia bora de fU Btuerte'''
Aud the old man, who was half crazed by his
mistortunes, Telapsed into an incoherent strain
Oi lamentations for his son, and curses on him
whom he called his murderer
The Empecinado, who, on recognizing old
Gutierrez, had lowered his riding wbip and
listened unmOved to bis curses and predictions
rode forward, explaining, as he went, to the
astoniShed cOrregidor, the scene that had lust
occurred. A little further on he parted from
his companions, giving them rendezvous at 10
o'clock at the house of the ayuntamiento. Pco-
ceeding to his brothers dwelling, he paid
visit to Madame Barbot, breakfasted with her.
and then prepared to keep his appointment.
lie placed brace Of pistols and a pognard in
bis belt, and taking loaded trabHco or blum
der6uss In his hand, wrapped himself in his
TO the town hall.
He found the tribunal already installed. and
everything IN readiness. Saluting the corregi-
dor, he began pacing up and down the room,
without taking of his cloak. The correcidor
repeatedly urged him to be seated, but he re-
fused, aud continued mis- walk, replying to the
questions put to him, his answers to which
were duly written down. About a Quarter of
an hour passed in this manner. when a noise
of feet and walking was heard in the street.
and the Empecinado, as he passed one OF the
windows that looked out upon the plaza, saw.
with no very comfortable feelings, that a num-
Der OF armed peasants were entering the town.
hall. He perceived that he was betrayed. but
ms presence OF mind stood his friend; and with
his usual promptitude, he in a moment decided
how he should act. Without allowing il To
appear that he had any suspicion of what was
going on, he walked to the door of the audience
chamber, and before any one could interfere
shut and locked it. Then stepping up to the
eorregidor, he threw of his cloak and presented
his trabuco at the magistrates head
"Senor COrregidOr," F" said he, "this is not our
agreement, but base act Of treachery. Com
mend yourself to God; for you are about to die -
The cor-egidor was 30 dreadfuIIy terrified at
tnese words, and at the mennacing action of tie
EmpecInadO, that he swooned away, and fell
down under the table; the escribano fed into
an ADJOINING chamber, and concealed himself
under bed, while the alguazls, trembling
with fear, threw themselves upon their knees
ana peutloned for mercy. The Empecinado,
hnding himself, with 30 little trouble, master
of the field Of battle, took possession of the pa
Pers that were lying upon the table, and, un-
locking the door, proceeded to the principaI
staircase, which he found occupied By inbabi-
.tants OF the town, armed with muskets and
towlIng-pieces. Placing his blunderbuss under
his arm, with his hand upon the trigger, MAKE
way" cried he; :" the first who moves a fnger
may reckon on the contents of nv trabuc0 :,
HIS menace and resolutc character produced
ths desired ehect-a passage was opened and
he lett the house in triumph. On reaching the
street. however, he found a great crowd of men.
women and even children, assembled, who CO.
eupied the plaza and all the adjacent streets,
and received him with loud cries of Death to
the EmpecinadO! MHeTa sL kq6TOU n mol
CTtSftGHO," The armed men whom he had
lett IN the town house fred several shots at him
from the windows, but nobody dared to Law
hands upon him as he marched slowly and
steadily through the crowd trabucc in hand and
casting glances on either side that made those on
whom they Tell shrink InvOiuntarily back
On the low roof OF one of the houses of the
plaza, that formed the angle of tho Gale de Ia
Cruz, or street Of the cross, old Gutierrez had
tsken ms station. With the fire Of insanity in
his blOOdshot eyes, and a grin of exuIta,ion
upon his wasted features, he witnessed the per
secGtion Of the EmpecinadO, and while his ca rs
drank IN the yeHS and hOotings of the muIr;-
tude, he added mis- shrill cracked voice TO the
uprOar. When the shots were fired from the
town hall, he bounded and carered on the plat
iorm, claPped his meagre fingers together in
hut o ha Eu,v, l.
from the house, and the firing was discontinued,
an expression Of anxiety replaced the look of
triumph that had lighted up the old maniac's
face. DieZ still moved on unhurt and was
now within few PAGES of the house On which
Gutierrez had perched himself The old mans
uneasiness increased. g Va a escqpqr ~ NUT
tered he to himself; they will let him cscape
Oh, II L had gun, my Pedrillo would soon be
avenged,''
Tho EmpecinadO was passing under the house
sudden thought struck Gutierrez. Stamp
ing with his foot, he broke two or three of the
Tiles on which he was standing, and snatching
up large heavy fragment, be leaned over the
edge OF the roof TO get full view of the En-
PecInado, who was at that moment leaving the
plaza, and entering the Gala de la Cruz In
hVe seconds more he would be out of sight
As was, 1t was only by leaning very far for
ward that Gutierrez could see him, walking
calmly along, and keeping at bay the angry
a
parcel OF villagers pursuing bloodhound, whose
look alone prevents their too near approach.
Throwing bis left arm around chimney, tie
old man swung himself forward, and with all
the force that be possessed, hurled the tile at
the object Of his hate. The missile struck tie
Enpecinado upon the temple, and he fell,
stunned and bleeding, to the ground
=" Vira :" screamed Gutierrez but a cry OF
agony followed the shout of exultation. The
chimney by which the old man supported him
self was loose and crumbling, and totally unfit
10 bear his weight as be hung on by it, and
leaned forward to gloat over his vengeance Ii
totiered for moment, and then fell with a
crash into the street. The height was not great,
but the pavement was sharp and uneven the
old man pitched upon his head, and when lifted
up was already corpse.
When the mob saw the Empecinado fall. they
threw themselves upon him with AS much ferO-
city as they had previously shown cowardice
and beat and ill-treated him in every possible
manner. Not satisfied with that, they bound