The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-03-07


"An evil day, Corso," said Diego, csressing |
his horse, which lowered and then lifted his !,
beautiful head as if to assent to his masters
! word, and say to him, What matter slhce
have saved you ~
81 treat thee shamefully, my SOD" continued
the chief who loved his horse the more fondly
because be loved no other creature. The horse,
as if he had understood, Weighed gaily, snd'
rising on his hind feet, balanced himself, and
then dropped down upon all four beside his
master presenting his head to be caressed.
What will become of thee if am taken y
r said the robber, leaning his head against the
neck of the animal, which now stood notion
less.
Truly" said Diego, seating himself by the
fire in front of Perico sit is to you we owe our
escape to-day with so little loss."
ITO me 7" asked Perico surprised.
"Yes," answered the captain "the troop
was commanded by brave officer, who knew
the country, and did not mean child's play.
The son of the Countess of vilaoran. He
would have given us work if you had not kill
ed him"
"God have mercy on me ~ exclaimed Perico,
8 spripg iug to his feet and raising his clasped
] hands to heaven. what are you saying 7
|
j him :"
what shocks you 7" replied Diego. Per
| haps son thought we were firing sugar plu ms :
d Heaveus"' he added mpatiently, you exas-
' perate me. One would take you for travel.
y ing player, with all your attitudes and extra
c yasapces By all that's sacred, the convict is
right. You missed your vocation ; instead OF
II choosing life of freedom you should have
ol ha ,l2 Cd
B. wrapping himself in his mantle, and lying
10 down with stone under his head and hi
% sarbne between his knees.
His words were lost upon Perico. The I'm
ID happy man tore his hair and cursed himself il
"a his despair. He had killed the son of tn
ID mistress and benefactress of his unoles, his owl
to com panion of childhood.
~ cEAPTER XVIII.
"a. How wildly, during that gloomy night, d.
be the tranquil scenes of his lost domestic happ
70. ness present themselves to Perico! And fc
ii. what had he exchanged them His preser
-, frightful existence. All around him was mt
- tionless. He saw in the sad mouotony of tt
h. night the chapgeless monotony of his misery
D.. in the fire burning before him, his consumin
~ conscience and in the cold and impenetrab
' obscurity beyond, his dark and cheerless fl
80, ture.
wa "Power of God :" he cried, lean ar
49,, remember, and feel all this, AVID yet live"
The red and wavering flame threw from tin
to time glare of light across the strange wi
,oh forms of the ruins, presently leaving them
90, deep shadow appearing to take refuge With
. - as dying memory flashes up and then burr
itself in the oblivion of the past. He heard
own breathing exaggerated by the silence,
saw horrible shapes in the obscurity. Fingt
i'm threatened him-eyes glared at him-reproac
GUS full voices accused him, And no, he was III
c of taken, by the clearer light of the flames, NJ
to a blown by the wind, he saw, beyond remua
but of wall! u t'sl,r Of hard black eyes fixed up
rior him. Startled, and dpuptful between the i
her aginary aud the rrai, Perico did not KIN
rico whether he ought to put himself under
de protection of heaven, by making the sign
of the cross or to call for earthly help by givl
IVY the signal of alarm.
the Before he coula act there came from behi
re it the stone ruin ruin of humanity from
At hind the degradation of time a wreck of
nder man degradation-an old, filthy, and disgr
end ing qipsy woman The tint of the bro
p to woollen skirts which covered her heshl
y to limbs blended with that of the ruin she W
ated about her neck kerchief, and over her fa
1t he locks black cloth mantilla.
ton. Perico was struck motionless as q stone
hose as if the repulsive face had been that of
good Medusa.
lego "Don't be uneasy" said the vision,
not preaching, "there is nothing to be afraid
evil, 1 have not come with bad motive, and
need not be the watch. knew that
had were here, and have caused it to be rumo
y ar that you were making your way in the direct
Hing of the Sierra de Ronda, and that people
diery seen you near Espera and Villa-Martin."
ction But why have you come here y exclaiI
BOUTS Perico, instinotively alarmed at the aspec
j. the woman
olive "To put You in the way of securing, a
they stroke, fortune that will last you your
dead time" she replied.
these THAT which you are likely to offer does
with inspire much confidence said Perico.
"Why should wish to harm you 7" said