Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1879-01-23

se4tou was clearing the altar an(
locking up the holy vases in a lsrg
chest that was transported from plac'
to place commule-back, in the rear o
the expedition may forces, the curat'
I approached the prisoners. Their,
they stood-a dozen Republican car
bineers-worn out by days fight
ing and by the anxieties of a nigh
passed among the straw of sheep
fold in which they had been confined
after the engagement. Wan with fear
emaciated by hunger, thirst and ia
tigue, they huddlad together like a
d herd Of cattle in the slaughter-pen
of theshambles. With their uniforms
covered with hay and straw, theil
equipments IN disorder and displaced
during their flight and their sleep
the dust that covered them, from the
top of their pompons to the tips Of
their yellow shoes-all this impaired
to their appearance that sinister ex-
preston of the vanquished, whose
moral Encouragement is attested by
physical prostration. The Cabecllla
looked at them for moment with an
ironical sneer. He was not sorry to
see. the Republican soldiers humbled,
4--7ii.s.lss mSavas12rzFtne
well-fed, well-equipped Carlists, and
Of the Nayarrest,, who were brown as
berries and dry as locust STATES.
Vaua DiosI my children" said
he good humoredly, ':the Republic
feeds her defenders very sparingly."
You are all as lean as the wolves of
the Pyrenees when the mountains are
covered with snow. That is not the
way aOe treat the soldiers of the Good
Cause. Would you like to Judge for
yourselves, hernaanosp Dof those
infamus caps and put on the white
ones. AS sure as this is Easter Sun
day, to all those who will cry Long
live the King!' their lives shall be
spared, and they shall receive the
same rations that I give to my other
soldiers"
Before the priest had fairly uttered
the word ell the caps were tossed in
the air, and the shouts, "Long live
the Kingl" 'Long life to th Cabe-
cilla!" were echoed by the mountains.
Poor fellows! they had been in such
mortal dread of death and it was
SO tempting to smell the dainty viands
that were broiling nnder the shadow
of the rocks by the camp-fres that
looked so rosy in the sunlight. l
doubt whether the Pretender was
eve- hailed with such hearty ac-
claims.
"Make haste and feed them, said
tt pr'et, laughing. "When wolves
cIy So .ustily as that it shows that
their teeth are long and shard."
The prisoners moved off, but one
of them, the youngest, stood before
the chieftain, in a proud and resolute
attitude that formed striking con-
trast with his youthful features and
the slight down, scarcely tinted, that
covered his cheek. There was some
thing feverish in his large, lustrous
eyes Observation-Disclosures
lsh fanno.-Ss--l-tA iaAnAo- soou.od to
disconcert the Cabecilla.
"What do you want?" said he.
Nothing; I am waiting for you to
decide upon my fate
why, your fate shall be the same
as that of the others. l nar.ed no
one in particular. The pardon is
general one.
But the others are pack of trait
ors and towards. alone did not
Join in their shouts"
The Cabecilla gave a start and
looked the boy full in the face.
"Your name?'
"Tonio Vidal"
Where from?'
"Purcerda."
+. your age?"
Seventeen"
1.-The Republic must be hard-plsh-
ed to find men when she has to enlist
children"
"But 1 am not an enlisted soldier
padre, l am a volunteer"
You know, you scamp, that 1
could find more than one way to
make you shout "Long live the
Kingl'"
"Try me-
"Whould you rather die?"
"a hundred times rather
$50 be it, you shall diei"
The curate then made sign to the
platoon that had been detailed for
punishment parade, to draw nearer
to the doomed prisoner, who never
so much as WINGED. At sight of tlis
genuine courage the soldier-priest
felt a touch of pity. Have you no
request to make of me? Would you
like to eat, to drink
Neither" returned the youth;
"but am a good Catholic, and I
would not wish to appear in the pres
ence of God witisvNt~ having confess
ed my sins.
The Cabecilla still wore his sur
plice and his stole. "Kneel down"
said he, at the Same time seating
himself on rock. The soldiers NOV
ed off little, and the prisoner, in
a low voice, began his confession.
BLESS me, father, because have
sinned."
But in the midst of his confess
sion terrible discharge of mus
kerry resoLnded at the entrance to
the pass.
"To arms!" cried The sentinels..
The Cabecilla jumps up, gives his
orders, assigns positions, deploys his
men and seizes hold of blunder-
buss, without waiting to disrobe him
self Of his surplice, when, on turn
ing round, he perceiyes the youth still
kneeling.
"What are you doing there. you?"
~ am waiting for you to give me