Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-02-28

Il
course they arrived. The elder was
fine, handsome youth, with frank, en-
gaging manners; the younger, though
handsome also, was reserved and I'M
Sociable, and the regards of the whole
household were quickly conferred in
the former, whose gayety soon dissi-
Ipated the gloom IN the mansion
The younger brother, Don Albert,
saw with concealed jealousy the de-
cided preference felt by his uncle and
aunt for his elder brother nor was
this sentiment likely to have been
lessened by a fact that before they
had resided year at yhe mansion it had
by some means come to his knowledge,
viz, that the whole of the property
had been left to his brother, with the
exception of a sum just sufficient to
start him in any profession he might
select in which TO earn his bread.
TO the great regret of Senior Jaure
gui and his wife. Fernando, the elder,
conceived a passion for the naval SER
vice, and, carrying his point, quilted
the mansion, taking with him all the
light and mirth it contained.
At first his letters were frequent,
teeming with affection and merriment;
then long intervals of silence would
excite the apprehension of his loving
friends. The second winter after his
departure was unusually severe, and
the health of the old people began to
fail.
Don Albert, entering with counte-
nance of assumed grief, communicat-
ed the heart-rendering tidings receiv-
ed, he said, through a shipmate of his
brothers, that Fernandez had died at
sea. Already weakened by illness, the
shock was too much for the kind old
people. Sonora Jauregui died within
few weeks, and before the close Of
the year the husband joined her in
the grave, having previously settled
all he possessed upon his surviving
nephew.
The latter now at the height of his
ambition, lorded it grandly over his
dependents, and profound was the re-
greet that the kind, mirthful Fernan-
DEE had not lived to occupy the mas
ter's position.
One bright evening Don Albert was
sitting alone, moody and out of sorts,
slipping his solitary wine, when be
was startled by voice speaking with
out the window, which looked upon
the garden. Advancing with caution
Don Albert demanded who was
there.
1T is |, Fernandez replied voice
that blanched the hearers cheek; but
with trembling hands he opened the
window and bis brother, radiant with
health and happiness, bounded into
the room. He had intended a surprise
for his relatives, of whom Don AL
bert having intercepted the correspon
dence ON both Sides he had not heard
for many months.
In onh instant Don Albert compre-
hended his position, and took his res
olution. To his brothers eager inquir
les he answered that their uncle and
aunt not being quite we'll, had dined
upstairs, whittier, after Fernando had
refreshed himself, they would present
~ proceed.
Cautiously, while Fernando was
divesting himself of his overcoat, Sc
curing the door, Don Albert returned
to his brother, and affecting the great
est JOY at his arrival, encouraged him
to drink and tall. until, wearied with
excitement and his journey, the latter
sunk into temporary Gose.
1t should be mentioned that at this
time some confusion reigned III this
mansion on account of alterations
that were making in the house, and
which necessitated the removal of
portion OF the wall of the corridor.
During this operation most of the do
mestics We're quartered in an ontbuld-
ing some distance off.
No human eye ever witnessed the
manner in which the scoundrel
completed the preparations for the
murder OF his brother He presently
quilted the room after securely lock-
ing it,
When all was still he crept forth
and made his way to the lodgings of
the boss mason, who lived but short
distance from the mansion. What
passed between them was never eX-
actly known, but on the following
morning the mason, assisted by his
tempter, c0ntrived to wall up the re
mains Of the victim, where they were
subsequently, discovered.
his brother ever before him, the
wretched criminal in a fit of delirium,
brought on by excessive drinking, cut
his throat one night, and the next
morning was found by a servant dead.
Singularly, among some papers after
ward discovered in the house, was
found a full confession of the murder,
signed by Don Albert himself.
The mason never recovered from
the shock received by the finding of
the skeleton of the murdered Fernan-
DEE, and died a raving maniac some
months after the above discovery was
made
The remains of poor Fernando
were decently inferred, and Senior
Mendez's family continued their res
idcnce in the mansion up to a few
years ago. when the building was
struck by lightning and totally con
sumed by fire.