Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-08-31


was its resemblance to an ordinary noun
tain spring, that this was, no doubt, the
main cause of the locality of the old Soco-
bon having fallen into oblivion; since no.
body, of course, dreamed of looking for it
in the vicinity of fountain. 1t was clear
to the young miner that he had made
discovery of great Importance to the com.
pany. With this thought in his mind, ami
eager to inform his friends of his wonder
full escape he set out at once up the noun
tair.
Don Jayne, after laboring for nearly an
hour in his useless search, and being eX-
cessivcly puzzled by the complete disap'
pearance of the body, which he could in
no plausible way account for, had left the
task for further examination to the miners,
and assembled the shaft in great perplexity.
Presently new cause of distress and
anxiety came to disturb him. The news
of the dreadful accident, as it was con-
sidered, had spread to the village Of San
Adrian, and reached at last poor Marga-
rita Hurrying in a frenzy of agonized
excitement up the mountain, she suddenly
presented herself before the director, as he
was walking up and down the golero, with
his hands behind him, in the true English
style of moody meditation.
"Where is my husband-my Manuel Z"
she exclaimed, in a peremptory tone. Tell
me, senior, for charity, where is my hus-
band 2"
"Dead dead" she exclaimed, as the
director was silent, "and how did he die Z
Who killed him? 1t never was his own
fault No, Manuel was not a drunkard.
Ny Manuel was not reckless. If he died,
it was not by his own hand. Show me
the murderer"
"My poor child" replied the director,
there is no murderer. There was care
lcssness, but no crime.
"Ncver tell me that, Don Jayne" "My
Manuel was no sot, no mailman, to throw
away his life like Pedro Bravo. If he is
dead, accuse Miguel Gomez Of his murder.
There stands the vilIain-look in his face
and Judge. 1t was only year ago, little
while before Manuel and | were married,
that he offered the cargndor Pcdraza the
post of captain of the gallery if he would
come behind Manuel and push him off the
Rinconada. Answer me, Juan Pedraza,
before the great God who sees and hears
us, is it not true"
Juan Pedraza, a miserable looking man,
with a face haggard from the effects OF
habitual intoXcation, hung down his head,
and made no reply. A gloomy silence
ensued, which was at length broken by
Don Jayne, who said:
Gomez, this affair begins to look Ser-
Gus for you. | am not your judge, but 1t
is my duty to see that the matter under
goes strict investigation. Perez-and you
Francisco give the accused into your
charge See that he does not escape, and
bring him before the alcadc tomorrow
morning, when all now present will attend
the examination"
The nervous anxiety which had been de-
pictcd on the coumtenance OF the overscel
ever since the explosion now suddenly
gave way to an expression OF ferocious de-
termination.
"Stand off p he exclaimed, drawing his
knife, "back, for your lives ! | am limo
cents of Manuel's death but | will not
stay to have my life sworn away by hereto
Jews, spiteful women, and drunken vii
lans. Out of the way, Perez Follow
me at your peril"
With these words he darted out of the
galcyn and fed down the mountain at a
pace which defied pursuit.
At this moment, Manuel, whose strength
had been nearly exhausted by his labors in
the mine, was painfully ascending the diff
fcult path. He had nearly reached the
Rinconada, and had paused for an instant
to take breath, when man suddenly
turned the corner at full speed. 1t was
Miguel Gomez He held in one hand a
drawn knife, and looked backward over his
shoulder, as if expecting to be pursued.
But when, on turning his head, he beheld
directly before him the figure Of his victim,
standing motionlcss, with palld face and
bloody hands, and eyes steadily fixed upon
him, he recoiled with cry of horror and
alright. Whether it was mere accident
from the dizziness of the sudden shock, OF
whether it was an access of suicidal frenzy
can never be known; but the unhappy
wretch disappeared from the sight of the
horror stricken beholder, one last scream
of despair ascending as tie criminal shot
downward to his frightful and inevitable
doom.
Manuel overcome by sickening weak
ness, leaned against the steep side OF the
mountain, and wiped away the cold perspl
ration which gathered on his brow ; then
summoning all his strength, he hurried
forward and managed to reach the gatern
His entrance, as may be supposed, was the
cause of great agitation. Most OF those
present recoiled and crossed themselves IL
terror, though not so excessively as that o
the miserable Gomez. One person, how
ever, sprang forward with laugh OF bys
tcric delight, and exclaimed:
"Ah, Manuelito, you are alive! knew
it was all Joke upon your poor LITTLE
wifew And with these words the over
ioycd Margarita fell upon her husband
neck, and tainted away in his arms.
| need only add to the foregoing nara
tive that Don Manuel Campos, the presen
resident manager of the new mine of Sal
Adrian, will receive with great hospitality
at his home in Zacatecas, any English trav
f elcr who may pass through that city, ant
will, if desired, relate all the particulars o
the remarkable accident to which he wa
mainly indebted for his rise in the world
bona Margarita, his very lady-like wife
will confirm the account by her own testl
mony, and by the additional token of
long haired, black-eyed urchin, some fiv
or six years old, bearing the identica
name of Adrano, in commemoration of tn
event which happened shortly before hi
: birth; so that the essential truth OF tn
! story may be considered as established
; beyond the possibility of a doubt.
: THE INDIANs.-General Sherman doe
7 NOT think the need for troops in tin