The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-03-07

ard watched over her brother, supply
ing him with all the pocket money her
indulgent parents granted her, and faith
fully keeping all the appointments of
which her brother notified her through
one of the field hands devotedly attached
to him.
Anxiety for Juan, was the first inducement
for her visit to San Francisco. He had
been long time away without any news
Of his whereabouts reaching her, and she
had proposed the journey to her father
in the hope of meeting him somewhere
in that city. just before they were
ready to set out, however, he had appear
ed again with the same carpet-bag about
which had questioned her, requesting
her to keep its contents securely for him
till he should call for them. She looked
up in my face wistfully as she told this
saying meekly:
b" don't understand about that bag.
| know there was some sad mystery con-
nected with it. l have always been
afraid of what Juan might do. | never
examined the package in it, but put it
just what l needed, and | took it iuno-
Gently, when We left for San Francisco,
but the moment you inquired for it,
| knew there was some wrong deed, and
recalled the look on Juan's face when
he bade me keep it secret, and | was
frightened lest | had done something to
criminate my own brother. And | was so
afraid should bring him into trouble
that / burned the bag. Don't blame me
too much. If you knew how good and
kind Juan was before he was led away,
you wouldn't wonder 1 cling to him
still"
Poor child how longed to kiss the
sweet pleading lips, and dry the wet en-
ploring eyes Well, after our circle had
broken up that merry evening, so quickly
followed by the night of horror, Juan,
who had been lingering about for several
days to find his sister, came to the window
and called her name softly. Carlota heard
him, and taking the fatal package in her
hand, was stealing cautiously down the
stairs, after giving him notice that she
was coming. But Romez had heard the
creaking of the upraised window, and
looking out from his own room, recognized
his son in the bright starlight of the
cloudless night.
Indignant at this clandestine meeting
and disobedience of his orders, he called
Carlota away and commanded his son
to enter the house and account for his
presence there. Juan obeyed and listen
ed in sullen silence to his fathers angry
reproaches. Becoming more and more
exasperated, Romez accused him of dis
gracing the family name by deeds of
shame and crime, and pointing to the
glittering barrel of revolver protruding
from his coat pocket, inquired if he had
turned highwayman or bandit yet. This
aroused Juans fiery spirit, and drawing
out the pistol, he raised it threateningly,
replying that he had grown bold and able
enough to prevent insult from any one.
With contemptuous sneer, Romez
raised his arm to strike down the weapon,
when Juan, shrinking back, somehow
his fingers caught the lock, the pistol
went off, and with that fearful cry his
father fell dead at his feet.
The shrieks of his mother and sister
aroused him from his trance Of astonish-
ment and dismay, and as the reality of
the dreadful deed rushed upon him, with
remorseful entreaty for pardon he turn
ed the pistol to his own forehead and
fired again. This was the sad explana-
tion of the scene.
! The unfortunate son did not speak or
seem in any way conscious throughout
the night, but just before sunset on the
day succeeding the woful tradedy, he
opened his eyes and whispered with his
ghastly lips to the trembling woman by
his side:
Mother-Carlota, | am going. I've
been wicked son and an ungrateful
brother Forgive me if you can, for |
have loved you through it all, and began
to feel remorseful consciousness Of my
own guilt Send for witness and write
down what | am going to tell you. 1t is
the only such affair have ever been in,
and it has haunted me like ghost. The
package in the carpet-bag is gold, Carlota,
Thank heaven, dared not touch the ac-
cursed stuff before. 1t is all there. We
robbed passenger on board one of the
San Francisco steamers. Manuel tracked
two of them from the mines and inveig-
led me to help him, and this one was my
share of the booty, We sent poor ne
gro on board after it. got the negro
out of the city by sending him with a