The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-03-14

the executioper turns the screw, ana a fimul-
famous cry, cave Maria pnrisslma" soonos
in the plaza With this invocation to the
Mother of Cod humanity takes leave OF the
condemned at the moment that he Is separs''u
from it by the hand Of the law.
The executioner covers the face of the victim
with a black cloth, and the black shadow of
the wings of death falls upon the hushed null
titnde.
Some passionate persons carried Rita
away senseless. Her situation terrible
beyond expression. The convu!sions which
, .book her left her but few moments of con-
seriousness, and in these moments she gave
way to her despair in q way 80 frightful that
.hey were obliged 10 hold her as ii she hao
been mad For some daysi was Impossible 10
move her At>length her relatives brought
cart to take her away. They laid her in It
/, upon a mattress, but not one of them would
accompany her for shame. Maria went alone
- with her child, sustaining her head upon her
= Ian. Rita's long black hair fell around her
f like veil, covering her from the glances OF
e the ipdiscreet and curious. There goes,
e they said as they saw her pass, " the wife OF
l. the criminal, who by her indiscretion sent him
to the scaffold." But the oxen did not hasten
&c their deliberate steps 1t seemed as II they
y also had mission to fulfil, IN prolonging the
IT punishment of Reproduction to her who had
5, nroyoked it with SO much audacity. Maria
=, went like a resigned martyr. Her gentle heart
NJ had been made as i5 were elastic, in order to
T. contain without bursting an immensely OF sui
d, feriug From time to time Rita shuddered and
ID broke into lamentations, pressing convulsi7ely
her mothers knees. The latter said nothing
ne for even she found no words of consolation fol
ne such grief
ai They reached the village night was coming
ID on. The cart stopped before their house, ant
hs Rita vas lifted out.
hg She sees a window wide open in her mother
'so in-law's house through this window an IN
usual light is shining. She breaks away fror
W the arms that sustain her, and PUSHES to tn
III grating In the middle of the room which sh
VI inhabited in happy times stands bier F"r
WI wax candles throw their solemn light upon tn
ase calm form of Evra. She is as white as he
shroud; her hands are crossed, and throug
On her right arm passes palm branch-emble
na' consecrated to virginity. Thus in simple grac
and in the attitude of prayer, lies the pio'
100 village maiden.
oo' In the front part of that melauc holy roo
W.; were still seen the withered plants which on
happier day had formed the mimic Bethleher
At the extremity of the room sits Anna, as pa
and motionless as the corpse itself. On OIL
side of her is Pedro, and on the other the prize
who accompanied Perco to the scattod
year. Years after the events we have related, t
avn MARQUIS of - went to spend some days
Ugh one of the haciendas Of Dos-HeImanas.
,om- evening, when he was returning from t
hich estate of a relative, he noticed as he pass
to be near an olive tree that the overseer and t
Cos guard who accompanied him uncovered th
and heads. He glanced upward, and saw nailed
iffer- the tree a red cross.
,hold "Has there been murder in this gu
ride place Z" he asked.
an "Yes, sir" answered the guard, " here v
E de- killed the handso NEST and bravest youth Il
for ever trod Dos Hermanas."
this "And the murderer" added the overse
de to twas the best aud most honorable young m
wing of the place."
7ould "But how was that Z" questioned the m
has quis
tho is "Through wine and women, sir; the ca
d nv of all misfortunes," replied the guard.
were And as they went along they told the at
9 fate we have repeated, with all the clrcumstat
and details.
sobs do any of tho family still live in the plat
IF the asked the marquis, extremely interested In
been recital.
crates "Uncle Pedro died that year; Perico's
other. would have let herself die of grief, but
ii life priest that assisted her husband persuaded
atural to try to five to fulfil the will of God and
ithout husband, by taking of her children ;
vessel TO stay here, where every one knew and lc
her husband, she must have had brazen
nts to indeed she went with her mother to
W hose sierra, where they had relatives. One
souls, came from there awhile since, and had
bit her, her, says that she does not look like the
tempt person. The tears have worn burrows in
,, they cheeks; she is as thin as the scythe Of de
gath and her health is destroyed. Poor Aunt
umnlt, died only the day before yesterday. She lo
ave re like a shadow, and walked bent, as if she
them seeking her grave as bed of rest"
,g; all They had now reached the village, al
IT boy they were passing large gloomy building