The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-08-14

curate refused the rendered gold, with |
emphasis. GAS you please-farewell." D."
So saying, the stranger departed, TAX
ing with him the loaf which Margarita
had so unwillingly brought at her
mistress's order. Soon his tall figure
disappeared in the foliage of the wood
which surrounded the village.
An hour later, the report Of firearms
was heard. The stranger reappeared,
bleeding, and wounded in the breast.
He was CHASTITY, as if dying.
Here" said he, presenting to the
old priest some pieces of gold. My
children-in the ravine-in the wood
near the little brook"
He fell, just as half dozen soldiers
rushed in, arms in hand. They met
with no resistance from the wounded
man, whom they closely bound, and,
after some time, allowed the priest to
dress his wound but in spite of all his
remarks on the danger of moving
man so severely wouaded, they placed
him on cart.
"Basta," they said, she can but die.
He is the great robber, Don Jose della
Ribera." Jose thanked the good priest
by motion of his head, then asked for
a glass of water, and as the priest stoop-
ed to put it to his lips, he family said,
You remember ?"
The curate replied with a nod, and
when the troop had departed, in spite
of the remonstrances of Margarita, who
represented to him the danger of going
out in the night, and the inutility of
such a step, he quickly crossed the
wood towards the ravine, and there
found the dead body of woman-kil-
led, no doubt, by some stray shot from
the soldiers. A baby lay at her breast,
and by her side little boy of about
four years old, who was endeavoring to
wake her, pulling her by the sleeve,
thinking she had fallen asleep, and call
ing her mamma. One may judge of
Margaritn's surprise when the citrate
returned with two children on his
arms.
Santa Madre what can this mean
What will you do in the night? We
have not even sufficient food for our
selves, and yet you bring two children.
[ must go and beg from door to door
for them and ourselves. And who are
these children? The sons of bandit
"A gypsy; and worse perhaps. Have
they ever been baptized?"
At this moment, the infant uttered a
plaintire cry. "What will you do to
feed the baby? We cannot afford
nurse We must use bottle, and you
have no idea of the wretched nights we
shall have with him."
"You will sleep, in spite of ALL re-
piled the good curate.
go Santa Maria, he cannot be more
than six months old Happily have
little milk here must warm it" and
forgetting her anger, Margarita took
the infant from the priest, kissed it,
and soothed it to rest. She knelt be-
fore the fire, stirred the embers to heat
the milk quicker, and when the little
one had enough, she put him to sleep,
and the other had his turn. Whilst
Margarita gave him some supper, I'M
dressed him, and made him bed for
the night of the priests cloak, the good
old man related to her how he had
found the children, and in what man
ner they had been bequeathed to him.
"Oh that is fine and good said
Margarita "but how can they and we
be fed?"
The curate took the Bible, and read
aloud-"Whoever shall give, even a
cup of cold water, to one of the least,
being my disciple verify L say unto
you, he shall not lose his reward"
Amen p responded the house
keeper.
The next day, the good father ordered
the burial of the poor woman, and he
himself read the service over her grave.
Twelve years afterward, the curate of
&c
was warming himself in the sun in front
of his house. 1t was winter, and there
had been no sunshine for two days pre-
viously.
Beside him stood a boy, ten or twelve
years old, reading aloud the daily pray
ers, and from time to time casting
look of envy on youth of about six
teen, tall handsome, and muscular, who
labored in the garden adjoining that of
the priest. Marga1ita, being now blind,
was listening attentively, when the
yougest boy exclaimed" what a
beautiful coach !" asasplendid equipage
drove up near the door.
A domestic, richly dressed, dismount-
ed, and asked the old priest to give
him glass of water for his master.
"Carlos," said the priest to the
younger boy, "give this nobleman a
glass of water, and add to it a glass of
wine, if he will accept it. Be quick "
The gentleman alighted from the
colch. He seemed about fifty.
"Are the children your nephews 2
inquired he.
"Much better" said the priest /;
they are mire-by adoption, be it un-
derstood."
How SOP"
81 shall tell you, as I can refuse no.
thing to such gentleman, for poor and
inexperienced in the world as L am, /
need good advice how best to provide
for these two boys"
Make ensigns of them in the kings
guards and in order to keep up suit
able appearance, he must allow them a
pension of six thousand ducats."
II ask your advice, my lord, not
mockery."
"Then you must have your church
rebuilt, and by the side of it pretty
parsonage house, with handsome iron
ratings to enclose the whole. When
this work is complete, it shall be called
the church of the VaSa d'agua, (Glass
of Water). Here is the plan of it will
it suit you?"
"What do you mean?"
"These features-thls voice means
that L am Don Jose della Ribera.
Twelve years ago was the brigand
Jose. 1 escaped from prison, and the
times have changed. From a chief OF
robbers, I have become the chief of a