The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-04-14

l knew my fate.
"While | looked the men started
forth, and | distinctly heard the
words: We'll first finish the guide
in the stable"
Rising to my feet, l softly felt
around the room until | found the
door | had observed, and after few
efforts it opened and | discovered that
it led down narrow passageway,
which following some distance, ]
came upon window opening out
upon q she'd, which slanted Off to-
wards the ground at the back Of the
house.
Here was a chance to escape, but
unwilling to leave nv guide in dan
ger without some effort to save him.
lit a match and glanced around me,
and to the right discovered n door,
which | judged led into a room com
manding a view Of the stableyard.
THE latch raised easily and /
entered and lighting another match,
what was my horror to discover The
forms of three men lying upon the
floor; but believing them asleep |
was about TO withdraw when a voice
said.
Great Heavens! You here2'
Instantly | turned the tlaze up
on the speaker, and with amazement
discovered one of the Young officers
| had met in the inn, bound hand
and foot, while by his side lay two
others, the one | was to meet the
next morning in deadly combat,
and he that was to have been my
seco.d.
"But no need had to dread that
morrow'a meeting, for both my enc
my and the one that was to have
acted as ny friend was dead
"Deads"
"Yes, Juanita, they had been
cruelty put to death by the very band
that was soon to seek my life; for,
like my guide and myself. the other
party had become lost in the storm
and had happened upon the same
house.
"This was quickly told me by the
young ogsceF, whose life the bandits
had spared to torture from him on
the morrow q confession as to when
a coumissary train was TO cross the
mountains,
Instantly severed the bonds OF
the young officer, and rising to his
feet he took the pistol offered him
and together we were consulting as
to save the poor gride, when, from
the stable came loud cry for mer-
cy few shots, and groan Of agony,
and poor Pepe; we knew, had been
cruely murdered.
Let US away fpow here, or our
fate will 30 such as his; see there
are q dozen of them" cried the Span
lard.
aAnd leading the way, dashed
the window opening upon
the shed, just as cry arose among
the bandits to seek me.
"0ut upon the roof. off upon the
ground we hastily scrambled, and
at full speed rushed on in darkness,
mile after mile, until my poor COM
panion was broken down and could
90 no further; but then daylight
broke, and | discovered small cot
near by, and aFoasing the inmates,
we asked for shelter, which was
carefully given, although death there
met our gaze; for on snow white
bed lay young and beautiful wO-
man. who had been thrown from
ber horse the evening before and
killed
"One glance and my companion
her. She was the wife of
the young officer with whom ! was
to engage N duel
"Her story had been told to the in
mates of the cottage, ere she died,
which was that her husband bad
gone to fight duel, and she was
Fastening after him to prevent it,
accompanied by guide, when her
horse had fallen and crushed her
beneath his weight
"Juanits, never did ! sa6eF as
then, and atone for ny having been
the cause Of az tRis misery. / had
the body os this beautiful woman
borne back to her home, and from
there buried in state, beside the
grave of her husband, for the follow
ing day the young officer had taken
with him a number Of soldiers and
gone to the house Of the bandits, aud
though be had found the place de,
serted except by the dead. ks had
brought back with hia the bodies
of bis friend sad my unfortunate
guide,
"And, Juanita, to atsOn yet the
more for my sin, l took to M heart
the baby child-a little girl of enc
year-of the dead parents, and
bringing her to America reared her
az my ward
".Aud am she that was that little
orphan girl!' asked Juanita in n low
whisper
"Yes, Juanita and each year you
have grown to womanhood, the ter
drills Of nv heart have eluag more
closely around you, until now my fu-
ture without you raust be dreary
blank but yet / fssr it mnst be so, for
now that you know the story Of yoar
life. feel that YOU will"
Love you ten-fold more my dear
dear, noble guardian. and never, never
leave you!7 Aud with the passionate
vehemenee of her nature, Juanila
sprung forward and elung closely
around the neck Of the man who had
so well endeavored to atone for the
past.
pYou will be my wife, then
Juanita?" asked Clarence Kane, after
pause.
Yes. Never have | known other
love than that | selt for you; and
mingled with it. has been that !
would hold for mother, father, brother,
all
My poor, poor parents, sleeping ia
far away Spain. ! know, | feel that
you would not blame your daughter,
and | pray that from Heaven you look
down in Kindness and give US your
blessing, IS | hope God will bless
us too y