The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-11-03
DIEGO, 1HE NetITlIN PATRIOT
CHATTER I.
THE MOUNTAIN HOME.

Mexico. He had the reputation of being
the most cunning, daring and mercless
chieftain that had ever quartered upon
the Popocatepctl mountains.
But it was the Spanish aristocracy of
Mexico who particularly feared him, for
he appeared to hold an especial spite
against them.
An ardent advocate Of Mexican Inde-
pcrdence, he had become so obnoxious
TO the Spanish authorities, that 1t was i'm
possible to live in peace with them. So
he waged a fierce warfare against the
whole class from the mountains, and re-
ceivcd from them in ret,lrn the unaeserE-
ed epithet of bandit and robher.
Corrientez was sleeping in his cave.
The apartment, or rather the apartments
for there appeared to be a long range of
connecting halls, seemed to be cut from
the very center of an immense rocky
ledge, but the regular walls were only the
result Of extensive chiseling, for the cav
erns were natural, although very much
improved by the hand of man.
To still improve the general appear
ance, heavy drapery hung on all sides,
and handsome chandeliers were suspen-
ded from the ceiling. while day and night
dozens of lamps were burning, render
ing the otherwise dismal abode light and
cheerful.
Upon sumptuous couch was stretch
ed Diego Corncntez. He was soundly
sleeping, while upon his handsome face a
smile rested. He was guiltless of crime,
or else all haunted spectres had fled from
him at that moment, leaving his repose
as peaceful as that of an infant.
He was alone, and there was no sign
of life anywhere to be seen.
Suddenly the form of q female came in
view.
She sped rapidly across the apartment,
while she evinced the widest excitement
Her head was uncovered, and her hair
was flying in wandering masses over her
shoulders, while blood stained her face
and her bare arms.
As she approached the couch she cried,
''Diego, awake! How can you sleep
at such time as this p
The man started up, rubbed his eyes,
and glancing at the woman, said:
us that you, Cora! am glad you
have returned, for you have been gone
so long that had really become uneasy
with regard to you
&But at that instant he caught sight Of
the blood, and leaping from the bed, he
continued
"My God, Cora, what is the matter p
"Our child, Diego" she answered.
"What of our little Cora:"
s.She has been torn from my arms and
carried to the city. Let me calm myself
and tell you the story, for We must act
promptly and with great caution"
For the love of heaven, let me hear
everything" as.
"Yes, you shall. While you were still
sleeping this morning, | took my little
Cora in my arms, and sailed forth to
breathe the pure mountain air. | wan
dered farther than was my wont, and
finally paused upon the cliff which over
looks the lake. Here saw some grapes,
and placing my infant upon the green
moss, went to gather some of them"
''Leaying her alone ?"
"Yes; | did not 90 but a few rods
from her, however, and / am sure that ]
could not have been absent more than
five minutes from her side.''
"And yet she had disappeared during
that timer"
'Yes When Ircturned my child was
nowhere to be found. called upon her
name, but no answer came back to me
Oh. what agony filed my soul at that
moment, as it struck me at once that our
darling had fellen from the ledge; and
had such really been the case, she would
have been torn into pieces upon the rag
ged rocks below. For some moments
| could not control my feelings sufficient
ly to approach the ledge and look over
it. But at length I did so. when away
down in the valley saw two men riding
towards the city, and they held our dar-
ling in their arms. I called with all my
strength The men heard me, and turn
ing, looked behind them They then
urged their horses forward at more
rapid rate"
"And you followed?"
"Oh, yes A mothers love lent me
wings, with which I almost flew down
that ledge. Over frightful rocks and
broken ledges passed, scarcely knew
how. l had no thought of danger; /
could only think of my child. And so
for miles ran, my strength increasing
instead of failing me. But | could not
overtake the men, for they rode onward
with great rapidity."
"They entered the city,"
'.Yes, and from that moment were lost
to view"
"And you could not find them Z"
Il have not seen our Cora since, but
I learned something terrible with regard
to her.
''Tell me that she is not deadr'
"No; but death is lowering over her"
"Oh, who would be inhuman enough
to injure that little innocent p
"You shall hear. AS soon as ! reach
ed the city, Wandered about in every
direction, making inquiries. .ButI heard
nothing until l reached the grand plaza"
"What did you learn there"
'.The bells of the city began to call
the people together, and iu an hour after
my arrival there, thousands of people
were assembled, all expecting some i'm
portant announcement or great event
And at length that announcement came. ;"
"W hat was it I" .=-. ...-
ut was that the infant daughter Of
Diego Corrientez had been captured.-
She was at that moment in the hands of
the city officials, and she would be be
headed in the public square at sunset the
next day"
"Oh, the cowardly wretches!'
"Do you think they would do this,
Diego!'
"They are heartless enough to do any
thing--eyen that, But they would not
dare do it, for they well know that there
would not be public official left alive
in the city three months after it. But
fall mn how thie announcement rac 70