New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-19
TFrcm Tho September oyerland.l
TIE sACEsLEGE.

. ready Dcgililll,I 10 ioes "cIn anu "Si'tHei
stained, and usually called, by the keepers OF
the ground. the .'Stranger's Cross" erected
by-no one knows who, over Il body-no one
knows whose. The inscription on the cross
carved i'll cid English letters, so small as
10 escape any but very close obseryers-is
the saddest ever penned On earth: ''.Siae
sps"-''w without hope
Every ore acquainted with The history OF
Mexico under The reign of lturbide will recall
the name of the great banking firm of Earl &
Co., Mexico. William Earl possessed enor-
nous wealth, and welded almost unlimited
power. He apparently controlled the whole
commerce OF Mexico; posed countless silver
mines, and loaned millions to the Govern
ment. (when il suited him. millions to the
Church, millions to the planters-but always
on the best security, and at fabulous rates.
He nevc. forced you TO borrow from him, Gf
necessity did; , but If you signed the fatal
bond, he would have his pound Of flesh, coate
que coaae. lie had formerly lived in great
splendor; but since the death Of his wife,
contracted his establishment and lived very
retired, at his country villa, with his infant
son and only chiid-scarcely six months old
when he los: his life by the hands of the exc
cutioner: or, rather, was shot in the public
plaza of Mexico, having been convicted OF
high treason against his Serene Majesty Itur-
bide First.
Whether he was really guilty of plotting
against the peace and tranquility of the
GoyernInent-which he made no secret of
detesting-or whether his enormous wealth
was the object of such harsh measures, can
not now be discovered. as the State papers
Of the Mexican Government are utterly
valueless on the score of veracity, even if
thew were not regularly burned-say once a
monthly the last authority in power. At
all events, the estate was wholly coniiscated,
laft fol f,p
young Willie, his nursc--wife of the parish
priest-adopted him as her own. The strict
integrity of this padre had long been known
to the wealthy banker, who regularly advised
with him regarding certain financial negOtia-
lions with his Grace the Archbishop, and
certain wealthy abbots, who had loans to
raise on golden cruciiXes and silver statues.
The banker had been generous to the priest
though he, too, often relentleSsly sent the
plate of the superior clergy TO the melting
pot. The priest and his wife became eXtrava-
gantly fond of their foster-child, and brought
him up as their own eldest son. As he grew
up, he displayed extraordinary talent, and
was decided favorite with the whole circle
Of the priests acquaintance. Fond OF horses
and athletic exercises, the boy was allowed
to spend more of his time rambling over the
country in quest Of amusement than over his
books-for which he had q decided dstaste.
W
much from his high intellectual capacity; but
his incorrigibie gildiness. his wild but good
natured pranks, led them, at least, to consent
to his adoption of the profession of arms
As he wanted to be q soldier, j: was decided
to Weld to his taste; and it was settled that
soldier he should be. The pa;3re, however,
was no friend to the existing order of public
affairs; I:urbi,,e had been banished, and
anarchy reigned in his stead
ri f,.,I I,al !: ,f
with no settlement in life beyond a vague
purpose OF future military career. One
day he told his foster-father that but one
thing remained to make him perfectly happy
He had cleared the ground, and knew the
realization of his fondest wishes now de-
pended upon q mere formality. In short, he
was smit;cn with the beauty Of Senorita
Luscinda. daughter of 4 wealthy magnate-
Don Antonio-wiiose great estate and politi-
cal influence made his name famous through
out the country. The young mans suit had
progressed so Observation-Disclosures all unknown
to the parents OF the young lady-that
the lovers had decided that the next
step would be for the old pa,jfe to state the
case. sccure the license, and unite the inter-
ested parties in his own church without fur
Their delay.
Alas for lovers Things are not managed
in this rude world of ours from a rose -cOlored
point of view. The priest was evidently
very much annoyed at this news. He saw
il was TING to inform his young ward of the
real relationship between himself and young
William, or, rather, OF the total want of
relationship-the facts of which had not been
divulged hitherto, for the obvious reason of
saving the boy from feeling a sense of de-
pendcnee and misery - have not" con-
tinued the priest, ''saved anything from my
slender income, beyond what will prove a
who al chill
with whom you will share alike. Besides,
let me tell ven that your real iather--who
was ofEnglish dcscent-was never on friendly
terms with the proud old bon Antonio. Con-
sideriDg Guy poycrty. and The an;ipa.by am
sure the naughty old man feels for the name
you Should TightGuliy bear ! cannot think
of approaching him on the sRbicct. Ny adj
vice 20 Won is this: 20 into active service
win your OWE place III the world; carve out
your own forianc, and then seek the hand of
q lady in that position in life equal TO your
own. 4 fortUnc-liunter is q scoundrel. You
would not merely expose me to the emar-
rassmcnt Of being insultcd by a purse proud
aristocrat, who would iu.m no better oliinion
of Us than that we planned @n attack upon
his strong-box, but the very first question
he would ask, is. what income can Won
settle upon my daughter What could
answer" Is not the case a perfectly clear
one %
The effect of this sound advice upon the
impatient ba: as:onished ears Of the listener,
was precisely opposite 10 what had been in
tended by the padre. The Young man looked
upon himself rs = victim of misfortune; and
instead OF rising above what seemed caam-
itous position Of lie, sank under it. and be-
came moody, gloomy, and Respondent. lie
went, however, - Iuscinda, and told her
the exact truth, binding her to secrecy. but
promising tha; be would never desist till he
had gained his point. 'But," said he, 81
will marry you honorably, in broad'dayiigh.,
with the consent Of your father and my
friends. have a high sense of honor, and
will one day claim you, L hope, as an equal
in fortune"
Instead Of seeking worthy field To rise in
the world. through perscyefing industry, or
the pursuit Of some profitable object in life.
Yong Earl became more and more depressed /,
in mind, and was known 10 frequent company
ofpo reputable position in society, in spite of
the rencnstranee Of bis foster-father, the
good padre. Whether instigated By some
low associate. or OF his own motion, he con-
ceivcd the plan of influencing Den Antonio |.
to give him the hand of Dona Luscinda in |
marriage. through the confessional being