Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-12-18
[cop.inued from first page.

GCortinued from first page.l
the forest, the girls prayers hover around
him.
As the first grey streaks OF dawn grow
light upon the horizon, little army
descend noiselessly upon Santiago a
motley collection of warriors, unuDiformed
and equipped. but marching in compact
orderly botiy, superbly armed with rifles.
and in their midst small piece Of ord
nance, Of sufficient size TO be effective
against any ordinary. building.
Good fighting material, since they obey
without question; are fierce as tigers once
they have seen blood flow. and will fight
until the last man is cut down if they have
q leader
Entering noiselessIy the maine stree. OF
the city. Don Miguel Gonzales rides at
their head. and as they advance up the
street, with eager gaze he looks 10 the
right and left. The houses are firmly
closed and barred. and apparently the in
mates are wrapped in slumber. But the
keen eyes of the chieftain have discovered
that one single sentry is posted in the city.
Suddenly he sees in the dim light before
them a barricade thrown across the street
His face blances for an instant. then his
features work with fendish rage: he
meant to surprise the enemy but they are
prepared.
1--WE are betrayed o'' he exelaims in a
clear ringing voice. Charge the barri-
cade -
As they obey his order and rush with
wild cheer upon the breastworks the fire
and shot bclch forth from the artillery con-
cealed behind it, and at the same moment
the houses on both sides Of the narrow
street. moment before apparently 80
peacefully wrapped in slumber, suddenly
swarm with soldierv. who open fire upon
them from aboves With the cannon plow
ing deep iurrowsEin their ranks. AMI the
harrassing fire of musketry raiDed upom
their heads from sihe housetops on both
sides of them: tl1 " waver for momen,,
but Gonzales mclurt and in front. urges
them on with the e;desperation of man 10
whom death is preferable to defeat.
There is the n; rrow street, in the dusky
light of the morning. they fight shoulder
to shouIder-they mount. they dive, and
hide and charge. They shout, and sing,
and swarm up over the barricade, while
the muskctry rattles and the deep roar of
the cannon shakes the surrounding build
ings.
The stones OF the strets are slippery
with blood. and they stumble over the
corpses of the slain as they reel to and fro.
driven this way and that in the horrible
struggle. They stoOp and raise them up
on the timbcrs Of the barrieade to build it
higher. In the thick of the fight the tall,
straight form of Gonzales is ever and
again visible, grimy with powder his
broken sword east away and welding n
dubbed rifle with the strength OF desper-
alton
Meanwhile in the chapel OF the convent.
to which the rattle of the musketry and
the booming of the cannon but family
penetrate, Manuelita prays before the
shrine of the Virgin. Her eyes are swol
len and dim with weeping. her hands are
convulsively clasped on her breast. but
the tireless lips still move in prayer.
The fight grows yet more deadly in the
narrow street till suddenly the cannoneers
from behind the barricadc, abandoning
their guns, now useless with heat, and led
by the athletic form of Antonio, sally forth
with rush over the barricade. Two men
grapple and close in an embrace of death.
Their muscles are strained and knotted as
each trles to force the other backward and
prevent his using his sword. which at such
close quarters is impossible. From under
their feet almost there raises on his arm
a man with great ugly gaping hole in
his breast. from which, rs he moves. the
crimson blood rushes forth. but mt that
instant the opportunity he seeks is pre-
sented; Gonzales is near and above him
he raises his ~evolver. it explodes in the
air. and Mignel Gonzales falls across him.
Before Antonio can stoop to them the slay-
er and the slain have met in another
world.
Gonzales having fallen; his followers
take refuge in flight.
Antonio has kept his vow. Miguel Con
zales will never rule the State.
And as the triumphant cheers penetrate
to the convent chapel woman's form is
stretched senseless across the foot of the
altar.
Out into the golden glory of the sunset
sails n white-wnged ship. Upon its deck
stand Antonio and Manuelita. Her tears
fall softly rs she looks her last upon the
vineclad hills OF her birth land.
''In that land to which we 20. the sun
will never shine so sweetlv rs it does up
on these hills she SAYS softly.
Nor the blood of your children How so
freely in its streets" he replies.
The good and kind Santo Antonio and
the Holy Mother have indeed been good
to u.s. she says. after long silence.
'and while their presence is ever with us
and your strong right arm about me. oh.
my darling, neither princes nor powers.
nor even death itself shall part me from
yonr'
And the ship goes on and on till it is |
lost in the golden haZe.-Neg YORK. star. |
The midnight marauder should not be ban
ished from our dwelling any more quickly |