The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-26
Select Storp.
A QUEER FATHER-IN-LAw.

a Quhhk fAIhhh-lN-LAW'
The viceroys of Spain. who ruled in
Mexico, welded almost regal power.
They lived sumptuously, and had about
them miniature court who yielded them
an obedience that at all times amounted to
servility. Happy was he who basksd in
the favor of one of these grandees. These
were the palmy days of the aleaides. If
they were friends Of the Vicoroy, no
amount Of fraud, tyranny or extortion
could effect their removal. These magis-
trates, like their great superiors, were held
In awe, but sometimes with little respect
by the population over which they ruled.
Yet the people in those days were prudent;
they did not have the tomeri.y to grumblc,
so prevalent in these latter times and no
one would have thought it safe or polite
proceeding, to have made complaint against
his alcalde Such proceeding would, no
doubt, have consigned the uhlappy person
to the confines of the Castle of San Juan !;
that is, il the magistrate stood high in
official favor The alcaldcs grow rich
apace, even faster than their masters, for
the field in which they fattened never had
anything left behind after their cleaning
In the city of Jalspa lived and ruled
one Don Sebastian Alvarez. He had at
the time Of our story been alcalde for a
number Of years. He was very rich, very
vain and very eccentric; If Spaniard
can be considered TO possess that peculiar
ity. He was also very tyrannical, and few
there were who would have ventured to
dispute point with him, particularly If
the matter was Of an official nature. Don
Sebastian had an only child, a lovely daugh-
ter Of sixteen years. Il was q matter Of
surprise (secretly expressed, Of course) how
such vicious old tyrant could be the
father Of so gentle and lovely a creature
as Senorita Rosa. Everybody loved her,
and she could not walk abroad without re-
ceiving the SMILES and salutations Of the
population composing the city.
Don Sebastian lived in beautiful resi-.
dence, surrounded with orange and lime
trees, aud his house was a wonder Of
luxury.
In Jalapa also lived poor clerk named
Pablo Montex He received very small
salary, but he always appeared coutentsd,
and contrived to make respectable sp-
pearance on bis meagrc pay. He possessed
the confidence Of his superiors, and was
beloved by his equals seemed to be happy
with his sphere, and always cheerful. If
he did not despisc wealth, he could at least
dispense with il.
One day Pablo was sent by his employ
er, Don Ramon Hernandez, (who was a
wealthy man. to the Alcalje Don Sebas-
tian Alvares. As the errand was not i'm
portant, the visit was soon ever, and Pablo,
having left the alcalde, was proceeding
through the grounds of the house, with
the intention Of returning to his home,
when he was suddenly interrupted by a
half-dozen servants, who seized him and
began beating him with sticks. At first
he made very vigorous defence, but fnd
ing he was powerless against 80 great
odds, he cried out and told them they were
mistaken; he had just come from the
alcalde, and gave them his name aud
residence. They, however, never desistod
until they had given him sound beating,
when they all scattered and ran away.
Furious with rage, he hastened back to
Don Sebastian's residence, with the pur-
pose Of complaining to the alcalde at such
treatment on his premises. He was met
at the threshold by an old servitor, who
took the young man BY the arm and whis-
pered in his car:
"Draw not upon yourself the hatred Of
80 powerful man as Don Sebastian Al
varez. Do not tempt fate. Begone, and
as quickly as possible, for unless you do SO,
nothing win save you from his vengeance. /"
"But / must have satisfaction on these
s..... " - nh