Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-12-04


There was the sound of struggle. A sweet tn
der voice-the voice of a woman-cried; Z"
will pass; will see him. and the next minute
there burst into the presence OF the chief female
and threw herself in a supplicating attitude at
his feet.
Pardon, pardoni" she cried, pardon for
himi He meant no wrong. 1t was for me he
incurred the penalty. Save him-O, save him
Santa Anna looked upon :he woman and saw
that she was yonng and surprising beautiful
Large and dark were her Spanish eyes. and he
gazed into their jettY. sparkling and mournful
depths. a feeling came,cyer Kim Ike memory
of something half forgotten, half realized. It
was with surprise that the sentinel who had fol-
lowed the lady into the tent, found himself mo-
toned back.
- 1 have We. to learn f-r whom it is you plead"
remarked Santa Anna,
. For Rodrigo-for my husband! !" calculated
the lady. g He is no traitor. His colonel offer
ed me insult Rodrigo struck him. The lash
was ordered for his noble back. But l cut his
bonds, and we Aed to the mountain. For me he
did unworthy me. Pardon him or kill mel"
Santa Anna essayed TO raise the lovely WON
an. She slipped from his grasp and clasped his
knees,
- No, no." sic exclsinled. " not till you par
don him. Let ne Gle for him if need be. 0aly
sct him free. He IS brave-he is true. You
must not kill him!"
Santa Anna felt distressed But his voice and
look were as cold as the SHOWS Of Popocatapetl,
lie shock his head and said:
Though you plead till the break of the last
dawn, it will not save him. His fault is too
great for pardon II is midnight now-the hour
Of his doom While you wait here, the bullets
that are 70 take lis life may be driven home in
their deadly tubes. You may see him if You has
ten.'
The LADY spEang to her feet with 4 shrek Of
despair. She looked into the unchangng and
relentless eye # Santa Anna, aud became hope
less.
Let NE q 70 him :" she cried in agony
'sTalze me to hiJnl Ny hushand-0, take me
20 my husband!'
Santa Anna spoke to the guardsmau.
." Il Is well, let her see him. Half al hour
more or less, is Of small account. But see to it,
that the man Is dead when the clock strikes
cae ~
The lady wruu- her hands. The generals
luerciless words had hardly lied away, when he
was again alone. The guard, eager and earnest,
had departed with the lady and in Santa An
1a's bosom there was left the memory Of her a8-
ouy Ike a haunting spirit
In the ravine. half al hour after, down among
The dense shadows Of the bushes. half dozen
torches threw hurled light on score of glitter
ing bayouets, prisoner stripped for execution,
and q f.iuting woman. The prisoner was Rod.
rizo. standing there with folded arms.
Quick - ne cried, quick cannot witness
her agony! Let the blow fall, before sorrow un.
mans mel"
0. the despairing iirmness OF that voice! The
parting words had all been sad-tLe parting
kisses had all been given, and, fainting with deS
pair, the lovely Inez had been torn from her hus-
bsud's arms. Now she lay there upon the
ground. her head supported by kneeling soldier
while another was bathing her hands and brow
with water.
"Wby this delay - calculated Rodrigo. It
is torture to me. Let me give the word-readyi
aim, hTe!''
The soldiers did not obey the prisoner. Itwa:
only when their lieutenant repeated the word
Ready % that the musket barrels dropped from
their shoulders 10 their hands, and the sharp
click was heard as they cooked their pieces.
.Aiml" and up the dozsn muskets went, and
the soldiers eyes gleamed along the tubes to see
that the muzzsIes pointed full at the bosom Of
Rodrigo.
Just then the prisoner spoke-a last ejacula-
ton
! my wife. Iuez de Riplenas, farewell! Heav
en- keep you ."
/ 1t was the maiden name Of ais wife that th'
| doomed man had uttered. The word fire. wa
/ Just trembling on the lieuteuant's lips.
( Hold! command you, on pain of death !
/ thundered rev voice. cloaked form. whcl
/ had hitherto been concealed in the shadow of
tree, came forward. : am your gsnerAl-s Pla
( toon, shoulder. arms ~
! Tue pieces, undischaTged. were thrown to
perpendicular position again, and All presen
/ stood in fixed surprise.
Prisoner cried Santa Anna. "-you calle'
Rmenas. Where was your wife born 2''
In the hacienda of Los formio." returne
the astonished prisoner. :" Her fathers nam
was Juan.''
Thank the Lord, th.nk the Lordl" erie
the chief = 1t is the daughter of Isabel de RI
menas. Isabel was ny benefactor years ago.
have debt OF gratitude 10 pay. Inez-inez q
Rimcnas. wife cf Rodrigo, arisei" and he stoop
ed and tenderly took the lady's hand. '' You
husband is parloned."
The glad announcement was potent charm
A minute only elapsed, and husband and wife
were in each others arms, Inez weeping wit