Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-11-07

prolonged lumber, she opened her eyes which
were bright with the light Of returned conscious
ness and signed to one of her watchers to approach
her bed and in feeble voice asked for her father
'The woman, overjoyed to hear once more thu
voice of her mistress, informed her that her father
had not for an hour left her side till that morning
when his presence had been required at the rancho
of his neighbor, whittier he had gone.
"sAh, yesl remember it all I exclaimed the
invalid, with bitter sigh. But ,Juana, tell me
where is that fatal weapon that drank the life blood
Of my Jacinto? I dreamed that it was found upon
his bodyl r... ..,..a..-.& ~.
1T was, senora,' answered the woman, and i
in the possession of padre Eusebio.
" Bring it to me- I would see it. \
'The woman hesitated a'a7i a'a.:r. -. =. }
"'Nay, nay, Juana-trust me, 1 shall return
it to the good father unstained with other blood
than that of my Jacinto. Bring it to me- Va
@eThe girl spoke with determined tone, which
satisfied the woman of her sound mind; and leav
ing the room, soon returned with the dagger, the
bright blade of which had been dimmed by the
blood of the murdered youth still adhering to it.
'The girl received it with shudder; and .afte,
examining its silver handle for moment, cast il
to the floor, exclaiming:
Yes, I knew it tits has, '-% 1
''From that time Ana Ziminez rapidly recover.
ed her physical health But the memory Of that
awful night of the wedding fiesta, .preyed contin-
ually upon her mind. Yet, withal, she seemed
stayed by some inward strength, some steady pur-
pose, which, once resolved upon, impaired to her
character an almost masculine quality. -
Scarcely had three months passed after the
murder IF her lover, than, laying aside the garb
of mourning she had assumed, she once more re-
ceived the attentions of her former admirers But
to none did she extend 80 much apparent cordiali-
ty as to her old suitor, Pedro Canales He was
her almost constant attendant; and scarcely did a
day pass, that the enamored guerilla was not either
riding or walking by her side. -, -
Zone evening, Ana proposed ride to the
gloomy Pass She had been during that day unu-
sualy cheerful and her sales Of mirth 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 en-
couragement and as he pressed his suit, promised
to 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 paor spread over
his face.
"'I know it, replied the girl, laughing loudly.
Tt has heretofore witnessed only scenes Of blood
and crime. Butt have become wild, whimsical
creature, you know, Pedro, and so for once let us
change the character of the place, and make the
dark cliff bear witness to your lover VOWS
$50 saying, she dashed down the valley toward
the fatal pass, singing merriy as she rode, while
her lover followed after her with mingled feelings
Of admiration and terror, for ever since the muir:
der of Jacinto Sanchez, he had not ventured with
in the shadows Of the ghosthaunted place.
Darkness had closed down upon the fair valley
and yet the young people had not returned and
as hour after hour passed away without their re-
turn, the people of the rancho, fearful that some
evil had befallen them, went out in search Of them.
"Within the narrow gorge were found the hor-
ses they had ridden, tethered to the rocks. Light
ed torches were with the party; and there by the
cross that had been erected upon the spot, stain
ed by the blood of the murdered Jacinto, fear
full sight met their gaze It was the body of his
affanced bride, his now forever, in death
with smile of triumph now upon her lips,
the beautiful Ana Ziminez had let out her own
life as was evident by the small stiletto grasped
in her hand ... ..r.
s'But she had not died alone-for at little dis
lance lay the corpse of Pedro Canales, in puddle
of clotted blood. He had evidently met his death
at the hands of the girl; and deep-punctured
wound upon the neck had let outhis 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 in its grasp
had been nailed firmly to the wooden cross, where
it has ever since remained. -, -..,
"such, Senor," said Jose Maria, as he again
crossed himself 'is one of the stories of the Pass
of the Evil One. But if those sad memories Of
crime could speak, they each, perhaps, could tell
as sad tale" ... ....-.. .,