New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-03

up at one end by two pine torches sending forth
clouds Of reslnous smoke and casting nlckerny
shadows of light on an enormous cross that stood
between them, was 30 intense that II was I'M
possible to distinguish the features of the place
the people collected there, unless in that end
where iiared the torches. Inez had been sepa-
rated in the procession from her husband, and
hudded in corner among the women, now q
mass of bleeding WOUNDS, she tried in vain TO
seek him out. her heart sinking within her as
she remembered that the terrors Of the day would
not be till midnight.
Amid an appalling silence, broken only by
the sharp swish of the scourge welded by saw
age hands, renewed the blood-revel that had
taken place in the enclosure, only here the terrors
were all only felt nothing was seen. Occasionally
lncz would receive from whip an involuntary
blow which passed almost UNDECIDED She was
busy making promises to God that she would
return to him if He would but let her and Man.
uel he happy together; in Penitentc fashion try
ing TO buy God. ~ before the scourging was
brought 10 pause by the beating OF the drum.
and Simon Drall rose and took up position be-
fore the great cross. between the tiarlng torches
In low, whining voice, the tones of which toward
the end of his address grew strident, he told the
people that this night there was 10 be a cruel
ilXiOn. lie reminded them of their blasted crops,
their homes made desolarc by pestience, OF thetf
broken VOW that every third year, at least, a man
from among them was 10 peril his life on a cross
and how many years il was since there had been
"A crucliiAlon. Not sound from those who heard
him greeted the period with which Drall ended
his discourse. Amid a silence, in which was
audible The Spntter of the burning pitch, rude
board table was placed before him set on IL a
pottery jar and little bag of corn Removing
the cover from the jar, he emptied the contents
of the bag into H. and the jar being recovered was
handed 10 an attendant, who gravely shook II,
then handed il To a second he to a third, each in
turn shaking its contents. This ended, it was
returned 10 lis place the table and covered
with black cloth. After dismal chant record
ing the advantages that would accrue 10 the FAM
ily from which the victim would be chosen, Drali
announced that at a secret meeting of the Head
Brother and his familiars the names Of twenty
young men bcSt-ttted 10 undergo the pains or
cruciiXiOn had been chosen together with the
names of the oldest and youngest female MEM
beers of the lodge Juana Perez and lnez Anchieta.
The men would row advance a. their names were
called and drsw grain of corn. II a white one
he 20 retire 10 his place If n red one, he was
TO stand within the shadow Of the cross. Should
il So happen that one of the men drew red
grain then Juana Perez would draw one of tie
two remaining grains. leaving the last for lnez
Ancheta. and Whichever Of the two women drew
the red grain her best beloved among the twenty
mon would take the place within the shadow OF
the cross. There were twenty-five 10 draw, and
in the jar grains to the number of twenty
ore.
An attendant began 70 call the names. Manuel's
the first. For the first time since entering this
antc-chamber of hell Inez saw her husband She
could scarcely restrain the cry that rose
to her llpS as Manuel placed bis hand within the
jar. Leaning Tor support on the woman next her,
She watched the result. From her place she could
not the color Of the grain he chose, but
when she saw him hand it to one Of the attend
ants and move aside. that the next called might
have his turn, She gave 4 gasp Of rellcf-relief
TO lie followed by fright and fOrebodlnG thai
she felt were driving her mad. One after another
of the chosen Pcnitentes drew n grain from the
jar, and every man white one. While Juana.
mumbling her ragged Jaws, came forward lnez
fell back in an uncONsciOus heap among the hud-
died group Of women. Juana, too, drew white
grain. There should now be but one grain left
in the jar, a red ore.
Inrl Anchieta Diego" called the attend
ant. No response Inez Anchitta Diego
was repeated Then some one whispered Drall
that she had tainted Her husband must draw
for her said Drall and the attendant called on
Manuel to come forward.
Manuel, breathing hard. strobe mp 10 the table
and had seized the jar, when Dral laid hama
on his arm, and said in low tone Of voice:
! Patience. brother patience: lot the familian
hand tie jar. according to the ritual
Unnecessary said Manuel curly, and was g
about t thrust his hand into the jar when Drait
trici to wrcst il from his Grasp In the scuna
the iar fe to tie earthern floor. where it broke
to pieces revealing thar il was emptyIas lacy
quickly Whispered through the assembly. Manuel
stared suspiciouSlv at Drall. and he saw thai ms
Head Brother held one hand closed as II conceal
ing something. The knowledge of the trap thns
had been laid for HIM stirred tempest in Manners
sluggish brain He turned sharply, snatched
scourge from nechhor. gave one swift blow
| Of the Head Brother, Dali uttered the howl OF
! an anerv beast hut his hand nnclenched and
something that in the uncertain liaht looked IKE
a drop Of blood fell to the gronnd-lt was the
Traitor, troitor.' screamed one Of the attend
| ants Pedro Corlas. The assembly caught up me
|
no; Manuel Men and women snrged about the
Head Brother and one woman, holder than the
rest plucked him by the halr. Years or accumn-
lated hatred stimulated them. and in another
moment they would have had him on the ground
had he not drawn 4 pistol from belt hidden under
his skirt and pointed il at them They ielt
back the torchlieht casting fantastic shadows
of bluiSh7crean and yellow over their blood
stained bodies. their pallid. Scowllng faces Man.
mel alone did not fall back. Showerng a tor
rent of imprecatiinS on the head II Drall: he
rushed forward 10 snatch The pistol from him,
wlcn-clicI. a trigger drawn. flash. n sharp
rcport ana Manucl fell, shot through the brain.
I'm an instant they had hustled simon Drali ont
of The lodge: beating him frantically, they threw
him among the cactus plants rolling HIM among
the sharp thorns leaving him there 10 die :,
The setting moon sent siverv beams through
the omen door of the lodge 10 purify the red horror
within Lit BY the haring flame OF one taso
nynirinr torch Incz knelt beside the body OF her
husband By her side, his bent form stopping
over her stood the old priest OF san Miguel. One
had called for him so repeatedly that one woman,
more thoughtful than the rest, had fetched MN to
hc- Looking up ut the old man with fearless
owes i'm The voice Of one who agonizes. lnez sald
/" II is not yet one year, padre. since you IeluSe"
10 bless me hor ora
His feeble eyes Looked pityinglv on her' ana
he answered. " bless Vou nov. my niue lhez,
i'm your sorrow" The woman fell a-sobDlng on
her busban ds bosom and the old priest utterlhS
n praycr with trcmulous lips, bert down alit
belpcd tho women To remove Ter. speaking w3rus
of I,mpatlv and Of religious comfort 10 her broken
heart-tIlarold Dion IN The Catholic World