Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-08-10

the object of Sarrazas vengeance he took no
measures TO protect himself from violence,
! but went and came at all hours, wherever he
could give aid, hope or consolation TO suffer
ing humanity.
Thus it happened that he one night neared
the bridge across the Traza as the bells of
the city towers sounded midnight. and saw,
! without apprehension, in the shadow, the in
/ distinct shape of man who leaned on the
| parapet. Juan de Nava drew near with the
hating steps of age and the man in the
shadow, sinsterly mutiled, moved forward
to the fUptpath, seemingly to await the
other.
Juan de Nava, accustomed to be hailed at
all hours and in all places, in behalf of the
dying or the distressed, paused and spoke to
the silent figure: THE peace of God be with
thee, son. Can do aught to serve thee"
"Ay" Domingo Sarraza answered. "thou
canst take myself and thy prating hypocritic
scruples where thou wilt Interfere no more
with the satisfaction of thy fellows and the
delights of youth and warm blood" and with
that he raised his arm and struck down
/ swiftly, and here was n horrible sound of
grating there crashed through bone and
brain the point Of his dagger, driven home so
deeply that all the force of Sarra1a could not
withdraw it,
The old man fell like a log at the feet of his
assassin.
Domingo Sarraza made a great effort to
detach the dagger, and finding it futile, gath
cred in his arms the body, so little of weight
in its attenuation, and hurled it over the
parapet into the canal beneath
At home Beatriz de MILAN waited for her
adopted father, who returned to her never
again.
Never had Mexico been so excited and
shaken as over the mysterious disappearance
of Juan de Nava. There was no system of
police, save the body Of serenos-the night
watchmen-who were shade worse than
nothing, since they never dreamed of inter
fering in the nefarious transactions of night
birds, whereas their lanterns often served as
auxiliaries to evil doors But volunteer
searchers turned out by hundreds and secured
every quarter where it was imagined the old
man might have fallen alone, victim of
sudden illness. For it was not even remotely
imagined that foul play could have touched
him, beloved as he was by all and known to
all the city. But the waters of the canal
were silent, and the echoes of the bridge and
Domingo Sarraza, too, knew how to keep his
guilty secret
Thus the matter passed among the unfath-
omable mysteries. Beatriz de MILAN, ever
mourning over the unknown fate of the
missing man, and left quite alone in the
world, took the veil at Santa Teresa. though
more than one home was open to her. for her
own sake and the sake of Juan de Nava.
Years passed The memory of the priest
had become a sort of legend of holiness, and
his adopted daughter was forgotten. Do.
mingo Sarraza lived, still kept his youthful
semblance, and still continued to enact the
anchorite in the churches-and the devil else
where As of old, he was won't to seek new
prey before the altar. and in the Sagrario
adjoining the cathedral he saw one morning
a woman who awoke in him the instinct of
pursuit and conquest more strongly than he
had felt it for wears past.
He saw not her face, for she was closely
yelled but the charming grace of her move
ments and the elegance of her figure gave for
Domingo Sarraza the assurance of great
beauty. He was hattered. too, by the CONT
nuity with which she cast upon him stolen
glances that burned through the lace of her
yelling. and the mystery of this behavior
heightened the charm of her He followed