The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-10-08

She was frank, free girl, without a par
ticle of prudery in her nature. She one
day laughingly warned me not to fall in
love with her, as she was destined for con-
vent life.
al should have taken the veil ere this"
she remarked; "but this unhappy war of
yours determined me to stay with my
mother until peace comes then l must leave
them ALL"
"But why do you adopt this life, dc you
prefer it?" / asked.
81 cannot say that it is my choice" she
replied; "but then you see l made VOW
when in great peril, and I must keep it."
ooh is that it?'' l answered. "Now,
it seems to me that you propose doing a
very foolish thing, and one, too, that there
is neither merit nor necessity for perform
ing"
"Ah, Senor, you are mistaken" she re-
piled, ga vow is vow; if was wrong in
making it, who shall absolve me? No,
must keep my promise. Sanctissima Marial
what miserable creatures we should be if
we all made VOWS and never fulfilled
them.'
"I don't say that we should make pro-
misses to break them" answered, "but
only this, when one, through terror or ia
naticism, or anything that momentarily
excites the mind, makes rash or hasty
vow, it is sometimes better to break it than
perform it. Your own heart will tell you
so, though you will not admit it,
"It tells me no such thing" she re-
piled; "if you we're Catholic you would
not reason as you do"
"What does that signify ?" I answered.
What's the use of calling names? l be-
lieve in the Trinity as well as yourself I'm
Christian, and when at home 90 to
church and try to behave myself To be
sure my religion don't call upon me to bind
myself with VOWS, nor hold me to them if
made them, but if did don't think l
should keep them if made improper ones,
and imagine I should be none the worse
for it,"
She shook her head increduously, and
then changed the conversation.
A few days afterwards Angel Garcia
came in the house with his face pale.
What's the matter, Angelo" we all
cried out at once.
The poor boy was so agitated that he
could not reply Immediately, but after a
few moments stated that he had seen some
American soldiers shot down by Mexicans
outside the city limits, where they had been
straying.
Putting on my hat went out on the
piazza, but no one seemed to have heard of
the affair. /, therefore, returned to the
house and requested Angel to show me the
spot. To tell the truth, did not believe a
word Of the story, but thought that the boy
had magnified the occurrence he profess
ed to Fave seen.
"Don't go, Senor," he exclaimed, "you
had better stay here"
"If you are afraid, I'll 60 myself" an
swered, looking at him reproachfully.
"I'm not afraid" he replied, "though /
uoh "iSn W 10 oAO1 VI seo you kllleu
either"
Perhaps you had better not go out,
Senor," said Antonia; "be content and re-
main where you are"
"To show you how little credit what
Angel has seen," replied, 81 here bestow
this upon you if do not return" and /
took the gold watch from my pocket and
threw the chain over her neck.
" I will pray for you,p she said as,
turned away from the house. CANCEL
don't leave the Senor," she cried.
After some twenty minutes walk we came
to the open country, and Angel pointed
little way ahead, remarking, That's the
place, though don't see any one now"
Scarcely had he uttered these words, ere
felt my arms pinioned from behind, and
was prisoner. In an instant there were
a dozen lancers by my side. They had
been secreted in the bushes, while their
horses were concealed in hollow near by.
Angel, poor boy, fled weeping piteously,
while my captors proceeded to bind my
hands, and placing me ON horse bore me
away.
! was fortunate in falling into the hands
of Captain vasquez, an unusually humane
Mexican, Or should probably have been
travelling on foot tied to the tail Of one Of
the horses. After little, the Captain him
self rode up .beside me and entered into
conversation.
"You are an officer?' he said, glancipg
at my blue blouse which was devoid of
shoulder-straps.