Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-22


JOY purer atmosphere than could be inhal-
ed in the dusty streets of Logrono, at length
gathered so much courage from his example as
to accompany him out to the Retro, and eat
his excellent dinners, and empty his cobweb
covered bottles, without allowing their fear of
| the Carlists to diminish their thirst or disturb
their digestion.
Upon this occasion, however, the only guest
| was a young and handsome man. whose sun
burnt countenance and military gait bespoke
| the soldier, while double strip of gold lace
on the cuff Of his blue frock coat marked his
rank as that of eutenant-coonel Although
not more than thirty years of age, Don Ignacio
Guerra had already attained grade which is
often the prize of as many years service but
his rapid promotion was so well justified by
his merit and gallantry, that few were found
to complain of preference which all felt was
deserved. Both by moral and physical quail
ties he was admirably suited to the profession
he had embraced. Slender in person, but
well knit and muscular he possessed extraor-
dinary activity, and o capacity of enduring
great fatigue Indulgeut to those under his
command and sef-denying in all that regarding
himself personally, his enthusiasm for the cause
he served was SUCH that during nearly two
years he had been the accepted lover of DOuna
GertrudS Diana, this was only the second time
he had left his regiment for q few days visit
to his affianced bride He had arrived at Lo.
ono the preceding day from town lower
down the Ebro, where the battalion he COM
manded was stationed and Don Torribio, with
whom he was q great fayorite, had lost no
time in taking him out to the Retro nor,
perhaps, were the lovers sorry to leave the
noise and hustle of the town for this calm and
peaceful retreat.
Ii was about al hour after sunset, and Don
Torrho sat doing in an arm chair, with his
old black dog Moro coiled up at his feet, and
his nece, Teresa, beside him. busying herself
in the arrangement of q boquet of choice
flowers, while at the other end Of the balcony
GertrudiS aud her lover were looking ont upon
the garden, The silence was unbroken, save
by the splashing noise Of the fountain rs it fell
back upon the water lilies that covered its
basin The moon was as yet concealed be-
hind the high ground to the right of the house
but the sky in that direction was lighted up
by its beams, and the outline Of every tree aud
bush OIL the summit Of the hill was defined and
cut out, as it were, against the clear blue back
ground Suddenly, Gertrudis calle her com
panion'S attention to the neIghhorlnS monn-
tam. "Sre, Ignacio ~ exclaimed she, yon-
der bush on the very highest point of the hill!
Could not one almost fancy it to be man
with gun in his hand and that clump of
leaves On the top housh might be the 60anG OF
one of those horrid CarIiSts =
While she spoke the officer ran his eye along
the ridge of the hill and started when he caught
sight of the ohject pointed out by Gertrudis
but before he could reply to her remark, she
was called away by her father. AT that mo-
ment the supposed bnsh made sudden move
ment, aud the long bright barrel of mu>ket
rlittered in the moonbeams. The next instant
the figure disappeared as suddenly as though
it had sunk into the earth.
The Christine colonel remained for mo-
ment gazing on the mountain, and then, turn
iny away, haStened to accompany his host and
the ladies, who had received Il summons to sup
Der Oa reaching the foot of the stairs, how
ever, inst cad of following them into the sup
per-roon, he passed through the house-door,
which stood open. and, after n moments halt
in the shade Of the lattice portlco, sprang lor'
ward with light and nOiseleSS step, and IN
three or four bounds found himself under one
of the large chestnut trees that stood Oh either
side of the fountain. Keeping within the
black shadow thrown by the branches he cast
a keen and searching glance over the garden
and strawberries, now partially lighted up by
the moon. Nothing was moving, either IN the
Garden or as far as he could see into the ad
iacent country. He was about to return to
rho hopse when blow on the back of the
head stretched him stunned upon the ground.
In an instant q slip knot was drawn tight
round his wrists, and his person securely PIN
| ioned bv strong cord to the tree under which
| he had been standing. cloth was crammed
into his mouth to prevent his calling out, and
the three men who had TINS rapidly and dex
terionsIy effected his capture, darted off IN the
| direction . III house
| Desnprate were the efforts made by Don IL
nacio to free himself from his bonds, anu MS
| struggles became almost frantic, "hen tne
souud of scuffle in the house, followed Oy the
percny shrieks of women, reached his ears
| He succeeded in getting rid OF the handkerchief
! that gagged him. but the rope with whch MS
arms were bound, and that had afterwards
been twined round his body and the Tree, WIN
stood his utmost efforts. In vain dld he thro"
himself forward with all his strength, striking
his feet furiousIv against the trunk OF the tree,
and writhing his arms till the sharp cord cut
into the very sinew The rope appeared rain
or frightened than slackened by his violence
The screams aud noise in the house continued ;
ne was sufficiently near to hear the hoarse vol
ces and obscene oaths of the bandittl-tht
PRAYERS for mercy of their victims. Atlength
the shrieks became less frequent and ialnter'
and at last they died away entirely.
Two hours had elapsed since lgnac'o mad
been made prisoner, hours tlat to hum appear
ed centuries Exhausted by the violence OF
his exertions, aud still more by the mental
agony he had endured, his head fell forward
on his breast. cold sweat stood upon his
bis forehead, aud had it not been for the cords
that held him up, he would have fallen to the