Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-03-21
TIRE BELL OF SAN MARCO.
4 wild Tale Of ssr.ns. spanish Murder.

= Wild Tale OF Strange Spanish kurdel
ls tell you the following story as
:. was told me by Spanish lady nc
u long ago, and, improbable as it ma
= seem in this age OF gentler and NOR
humane principles, it ID nevertheless
- true, and the leading facts so wei
authenticated that feel obliged &
conceal the real names of the person
and places concernd therein.
!. Hard by the beautiful old church O
San Marco there dwelt, at the begin
ming of this century,an honest brick
layer, Marco Gomez by name. III,
was poor, excepting in an upright an6
sunny disposition, ever ready to share
what he had OF this worlds goods wifi
his neighbor, and day after day con
tentedly eating his Saspacho and prais
!. ing God and his patron saint for theil
manifold mercies to him, poor sin
ner-a guileless, happy nature, such al
one often, and perhaps only, find.
among the lower classes in Spain.
One sultry morning in May, Marco
was awakened by sharp knocking al
the door of his tile rooted cabana and
Fastening to answer the summons he
started at the appearance OF two mask.
ed men, who told him hurriedly, in
courteous, though peremptory tones,
!, that they desired his services in de-
molishing and rebuilding brick wall
and babe him take the necessary i'm.
plements. Having then blindfolded
; him, they led him to carriage sta
toned few yards off. The carriage
set forth at first slowly, and gradually
at brisker pace. Marco had by this
time partially recovered his equanim-
ity, and the promise of a remunera-
ton, which TO him sounded like un-
bound wealth, further tended to re-
store his courage.
"Ah," thought he, Il am to aid in
concealing treasure-perhaps bags of
precious stones-they say such things
are often done Well, what care / for
precious stones? shall be rich, and
Maria In Citanilla shall have bright,
new pair of earrings to sport at the
fair" Thus buried in his pleasing re-
Elections, Marco hardly noticed how
far they had driven. Very far, though
for it was fully half an hour since they
had left the cabana. At length the
carriage drew up. and he was helped
out by his mysterious companions
and led into what he thought must be
a patio, for in the silence he could
hear the murmur of a fountain, and
the air was laden with the fragrance
| of orange blossoms. How came it
that to Marcos fancy the gentle ripple
and low murmur of that fountain
were as the weeping and wailing of
one in sore distress? He followed his
guides blindly across the patio, through
massive gateway which elanked
and at last he was allowed to uncover
his eyes.
They are in a large square room,
destitute of furniture and but dimly
lighted by an oil lamp standing ON the
floor in the corner. BY this imperfect
light Marco is able to note the dress
and carriage OF his companions
cabaHero, nndoubtedly-perhaps no
bles of high degree. One OF these
came forward, while the other left the
room, and drawing line on the bare
white wall, showed him where he was
to tear it down. Marco went cheer
fully to work, and, in spite OF its great
thickness, in less than half an hour he
had opened space about five feet
square, according 10 instructions
Albeit little. surprised at the size OF
the opening, Marco suspected nothing
until the door opened to admit the
man who had previously left the room
but not alone, for this time he hall |
carried half dragged young girl,
clothed in black and so closely veiled |
that her featutes we're scarcely discern !
ible. The poor girl was but half con- |
scious; undoubtedly she had been
heavily drugged, but nevertheless she
made some faint resistance. The men |
strove to smother her moans-one
holding her fast while the other COW
cred her month with his hand-and
thus, with many muttered oath. they |
thrust her into the space just opened.
The helpldss victim fell back appar-
emily lifeless. The petrified spectator
of this cruel scene was reused by a
threatening voice commanding him to
rebuid the WM The wretched man,
frozen with horror, fell upon his knees
and implored niercy-mercy for him.
self and the poor girl In vain. Their
hearts were callOus they knew no
mercy. Raising him roughly from
the floor, the two men forced him to
begin his terrible task.
"Oh, senors, for the love of God, kill
me, but spare me this terrible crimew
Have pity-if not upon me, upon
her~
Fool! do you not see she is dead
Do you wish to join her ?"
But why prolong this frightful
scene ? The devilish work was ac-
complished, and the hapless victim of
mans inhumanity consigned to a
living tomb. Like one in dream
Marco submitted to be once
more blindfolded and led down to
the court yard but bark What was
that? The bell of San Marco striking
one! Yes, there was no mistake; it
was the familiar sound Marco had
learned to love-the great hour-bell of
San Marco. Was he dreaming? Here,
SO far from his house-and yet it rang
out hope; and the poor bricklayer
ALI San Marco had heard his agoniz-
ed prayer in the fatal chamber above
his patron had heard and answered! I
All night long Marco PAGES his little
room; no rest for him tonight; he
must not sleep-sleep might bring
He must remember
remember-Ah! what is this strange
dizziness AT length day dawns.
One hour more and Marco is standing
before the alcalde relating his tale of 1
horror. Eyes, Senior, they once more ,
led me down TO the p,ttio. We were
not without the gates of the city, as I
had supposed, for at that moment
heard Ali what WAS it heard Oh,
my headw and Marco falls bac k sense
less. All day and all night do the
make fruitless search
house after house, all oyer the city; in
vain, they must needs give up in de-
spair, and leave the poor girl to her
fate. Marco lies dangerously ill, in
delirium, tended by his faithful niece,
Maria la 5Gitanilla, who sits by his
side listening to his incessant rawlings,
and from time to time moistening his
parched and feverish lips Not IA
word does he say OF the event in which
he has just but played SO important a
part. Has he forgotten? d,
Midnight Suddenly Marco is silent
the rawlings cease. He rises from
his couch, and, with firm step and set
face, crosses the threshold of the door
Maria follows; there is look in his
III 30 ~. 1