Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-16

them any protection against the consequences
of her detention, and accused the ayunamiento
and the priests of encouraging the Empecina.
| do to hold her in captivity He himself had
been sent to Ciudad Rodrigo to beg General
! Cuestas advice, and the general had declared
| himself unable to assist them to restore the
/ lady and treasure if they did not wish the
French to lay waste to the country, and take
! by force the bone of contention.
/ The Empecinado suSpecting that General
! Cuesta had not used all due frankness with
! him in this matter, handed to the lawyer the
! letter that had been given him for the corregi-
| dor of Penafel, and compelled him, much
! against his will to open and read it. It's con-
! tents coincided with what the AVOCADO had
told him: the general advising the corregidor
! to use every means to compromise the matter
rather than wait till the French should do
| themselves justice by the strong hand
! Perceiying that, from various motives, every
! body was against him in this matter, the EN-
, pecinado bethought himself how he should get
ont of the sctape
AS an old friend and countryman. and
more especially as lawyer" said he to the
AVOCADO, lyon are the most fitting man to
give me advice in this difficulty. Tell me, then,
what ought to do, in order that our native
! town, which is innocent in the matter, should
suffer no prejudice"
"You speak now like sensible man" re-
piled the other, and as friend will I advise
you. Let US Immediately set of to Penafe
deliver the generals letter to the corregidor,
and take him with US to Castrlo. There, for
/ forms sake, an examination of your conduct in
the affair can take place. You shall give up
the jewels, the carriage, and the lady, and set
of Immediately to join your partida."
To the greater part of that | willingly
agree said the Empecinado. The jewels are
buried in the cellar, and the carriage is in the
! stable. Take both when you list Bat as to
the lady, before | give her up, will give up
my own soul. She is my property took her
! in fair fight, and at the risk of my life"
! You will think better of it before We get
to Castrillo," replied the lawyer
The Empecinado shook his head but led the
: way TO the inn, where they took horse, aud the
next day reached Pensfel, whence they set
out the following morning for CaStrillo, which
is o couple of leagues further, accompanied by
the corregidor his secretary and two alguazils.
/ The Empecinado was induced to leave his eS-
cort at Penafel, in order that the sort Of pro
! f0rml investigation which was to be gone
/ "a =
under circumstances of intimidation The avo-
! gado started q couple of hours earlier than the
rest of the party, 10 have things in readiness
SO that the proceedings might be got through
as rapidly as possible.
1t was about eight o'clock on summers
morning that thc Empecinado and his compan-
ions reached Castrillo. AS they entered the
/ town an old mendicant, who was lying curIed
! Ia ha tho
of house, lifted his head at the noise Of the
| horses As his eyes rested upon Diez, he made
| bound forward with an agility extraordinary
in one Of his years, and fell almost under the
feet Of the Emrecnado'S horse, making the
startled animal spring aside with q violence
and suldenneSs sufficient to unhorse many q
| less praclised rider than the one who bestrode
him. The Ernpecinado lifted his whip in anger
but the old man who had risen to his feet.
showed no sign of fear, and as he stood in the
middle Of the road, and Immediately in the
| path of the Empecinado, the latter recognized
the wild features and long grey hair of old
! Gutierrez.
| HaLiito ssasl' cried the old man, extend
ing his arms towards the guerilla Murderer!
the hour of vengeance is nigh | saw it in my
dreams. Ny Pedriilo showed me bis assassin
+, Tfuga Ia hora ds tu mu.rteP'
And the old man half crazed hy his miSfor-
tunes, relapsed into an iucoherent strain Of lam
/ entations for bis son, and curses upon him whom
| he called his murderer
! The Empecnado, who, on recognizing old
/ Gutierrez, had lowered his riding whip, and
/ listened unmoyed to his curses and predictions,
rode forward, explaining as he went, TO tie as
tonished corregidor, the scene that had just oc-
Cured 4 little further on be separated from
his companions, giving them rendezvous at ten
o'clock at the house of the ayuntamiento. Pro
eeeding to bis brothers dwelling, he paid a
visit TO Madame Barbot breakfasted with her
and then prepared to keep his appointment
He placed brace of pistols and poniard in
I his belt, and taking q loaded tTabuc0 or blum
derbuss in his hand, wrapped himself in his
cloak so as TO concea! his weapons repaired to
| the town hall.
He found the tribunal already installed, and
everything in readiness. Saluting the corregi.
dor, he began pacing up and down without tn
/ king of his cloak The coEregidor urged him
repeatedly 20 be seated, but he refused and
continued his walk, replying 10 the questions
that were pnt 70 him, bis answers to which
were duly written down. About quarter of
an honr passed in this manner, when G noise Of
/ feet aud walking was beard in the street, aud
! the EmpeciDado, as he passed oGe or the win
dows that looked out upon the plaza, saw,
with no very comfortable feelings, that a num-
Der of armed peasants were entering tire town
hail lie perceived that he was betrayed, but
Z his presence OF mi@l stood bis friend. and with
bis usual promptjtale, he IN "a moment decided
how lie should act Without allowing il to
. appear that he had any suspicion Of what was
going on, ha walked 30 the jo0r0t the audience
chamber. and before any ole coU.l interfere
sha! and locked 1t. Then stepping Up 10 the
caLreE.l1r. he threw OF bis CLOAK. aud present.