Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-10-16
Surrounded by her attendants, she watched
for his coming through the pass.

{" He was to make his appearance after the
assemblage of the guests; accompanied BY his
relatives and the poems of his fathers estate.
"The dancers were in the height of enjoy
ment, when q ringing of the chapel bells an
nounced the coming of the expected caval-
cade Of the husband-elect. All fastened to
join the escort, at the outskirts of the village.
But scarcely lad they left the plaza when
few scattered horsemen dashed up the road,
instead of the party for which the welcome
peal WIS echoing along the valley, who were
the heralds of q terrible catastrophe! Jacinto
Sanchez had been murdered in The Pass!
"Horseman after horseman now rode into
the plaza, confirming the fearful intelligence.
The young man, on his way to the marriage
altar, had been suddenly struck down in the
Pass of the Evil One, by the knife of an es.
sassiu, and instead of the warm embrace Of
his waiting bride, the grave was now openfor
his lileless body ett 13
'sWhen the terrible intelligence was COM
municated to the waiting bride, a wild, ,cpierc-
ing cry broke from her, and was heard above
all the sounds OF grief that rose upon the air
from that agitated crowd, and exclaiming-
81 knoio his nlurdererP the broken.
hearted girl sank insensibe into the arms of
the attending women.
"For days and weeks she remained balan.
cling between life and death. During this
long period not word was heard to pass her
bloodless lips. She lay in state of apathy,
without indications of either pain or remem-
brance of the terrible event OF that night.
sBut one day, after awakin- from gentle
and prolonged slumber, she opened her eyes,
which were bright with the light Of returned
consciousness, and signed to one of her watch
ers to approach her bed, and in feeble voice
asked for her father.
The woman, overjoyed to hear once more
the voice of her mistress, iDfoi imed her that
her father had not for an hour left her side
till that morning, when. his presence bad been
required at the rancho of his neighbor,
whittier he had gone.
"Ah, yes! remember it all ! exclaimed
the invalid, with a bitter sigh. But, Juana,
tell me where is that fatal weapon that drank
the life blood Of my Jacinto2 | dreamed 1t
was found upon his bodyr
".Is was, ecnora,' answered tie woman,
sand is in the p, secession of padre Euseblo.'
"'Bring it IL me. l would see it,
"The woman hesitated,
WNay, nay, Juana,-,rust me. shall re.
turn il to the good father unstained with
other blood than that Of my Jacinto. Bring
it to me-
"Tbe girl spoke with determined tone,
which satisfied The woman OF her sound mind;
and leaving the room, soon returned with the
dagger, the bright blade of which had been
dimmed by the flood of the murdered youth
still adherins to it.
"The girl received it with shuddcr; and
after examining its silver handle fer mo
ment, casLil to the floor, exclaiming:
"'Yes, knew ii !-'tis his"
"From that time Ana zninez rapidly re
covered her physical health. But tie mem
.ry-of that awful night Of the wedding fiesta,
proved continually upon her mind. Yet,
wilhal, she seemed stayed by some inward
strength, some steady purpose: which, once
resolved upon, impaired to her character an
almos: masculine quality.
"Scarccly had three months passed after
the murder of her lover, than, laying aside
the garb Of mourning she lad assumed, SIZE
once more received the attentions OF her for
mer admirers. But to none did she extent
so much apparent cordiality as to her old
suitor, Pedro Canales. He was her almost
constant attendant; and scarcely did day
pass that the enamored guerilla was not
either riding or walking by her side.
"One evening ANA proposed ride to The
gloomy Pass. She had been during that d'y
unusually cheerful and her sallieS of mlrth
and wit had emboldened the young officer to
declare his love and lay his heart at the feet
of the beautiful girl. She had received the
avowal with apparent encouragement; and as
lie pressed his suit, promised 10 give him an
answer at the Pass of the Evil One.'
"sBut that is strange, wild spot to'make
love in said Canales, while ghastly pallor
spread over his face.
~ knew it J replied the girl, laughing
loudly. 1t has heretofore witnessed only
scenes of blood and crime. But | have be-
come wild, whimsical crcsture, you know,
Pedro, AMI so for once let US change the
character of the place, and make. the dark
cliff bear witness to your lover yowsp
$50 saying, she dashed down the valley to-
ward the fatal pass, singing merrily as she
rode, while her loyer followed after her with
mingled feelings Of admiration and terror,
for ever since the murder Of Jacinto Sanchez,
he had not ventured within the shadows OF
the ghost-haunted place.
darkness had closed down upon the fair
valley, and yet the young people had not re-
turned; aud ss hour after hour passed away
without their return, the people Of the ran
cho, fearful that some evil had lelalIcn them,
went out in search Of them.
Within the narrow gorge were found the
horses they had ridden, tehcrcd to tie rocks
Lighted torches were with The party; and
there by the cross that had been erected upon
the spot, stained by the blood of the murdered
Jacnto, fearful sight met, their gael Ii
was the body of his affanced bride, his now
! forever, in death
With sl;lile of triumph now upon heI
lips, the beautiful Ana Aiminez had let ou'
her own life, as was evident by the email stI:
letto grasped in her hand
But she had no. died alone-for at lit
tie distance lay the corpse Of Pedro Canales
in puddle Of cloltcd blood He bad evi
IDENTITY met his death at the hands Of the girl
and decp-punc:ured wound upon the neck
had let out his hearts blood: a knife lay
upon the ground near the body of the young
man, the right hand of which had been dis
severed; and with the identical dagger found
in the breast Of Jacinto Sanchez confined II
its grasp, had been nailed firmly to the wooder
cross where it has ever since remained.
"Such, Senor" said Jose Maria, as he asa'l
crossed himself. I" is one of the stories OF th'
Pass OF the Evil Onc. But if those sad mem
orics Of crime could speak, they each, perhaps
could tell as sad tale"
BpscarSllPes's LAST OFFICIAL Acr.-