Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-21

!ns Tie city, they found themselves IN.
tore q cabin which stood in tho 49, y.
a dense thicket. "ios' "a
Francisco Knocked at the door
ano young and beautiful Girl
let them in. On q rude bed 1ov
a pale, emaciated man ,bo,,t
my years OF age. His large, dark
eyes were preternaturally bright, and
MS thln, slender hands worked snas-
medically at the rough blanket which
covered him.
An old negress came forward and
look Don Andres and the priests wet
cloaks, and the two approached the
bed. ~e
Don Andres!' exclaimed Don Bal
tasar' as his eyes fell upon the young
man. Am I dreaming? I thought
you were in Spain"
i heard you We're in Guatemala. and
came here, hoping to find you," said
Don Andres. "This," he added, intro.
ducing the priest, lis Padre Duenas."
The sick man gave his hand to Padre
Duenas, and while they we're exchange
ing a few words of greeting, Donna
Berta crept to Don Andres side.
i cannot tell you how glad 1 am that
you have come tonight" she MUIR
INJURED. "This forest has been so
dreary! Every day that I have been
here L have prayed that I might see YOU
again. For nearly a year father and I
have lived here in this cabin, and seen
no one but our two faithful servants
Francisco and his mother, old Dolores
who came with us from Spain"
MY darling" said Don Andres, as he
drew her to him and she nestled in his
arms, nothing shall separate us again."
Don Andres" said Don Baltasar,
you and my daughter were betrothed
nearly two years ago, and would have
been man and wife ere now, had I not
been forced to fly from my native land.
kneel here at my bedside and let me see
you married before I depart from this
life, that [ may die happy, knowing that
my only child will have a protector
when 1 am gone. Padre Duenas will
perform the ceremony"
And %kneeling there at the death-bed
of Don Baltasar, Don Andres and
Donna Berta We're joined together in
the holy bonds of wedlock.
Padre Duenas then administered the
last holy sacrament to Don Baltasar, and
an hour later he had calmly breathed
his last.
The last sad duties to the dead had
been performed, and o stiffness, such
as is only felt in the presence of death,
reigned in the cabin, when suddenly
there came q long, loud report, like the
roar of heavy artillery, and the cabin
was shaken to its very foundations.
Francisco and old Dolores cried out in
terror, while the Dona Perta de Gal.
legor clung to her husband in alright.
cit is an earthquake" said Padre
Duenas, when it was over. "Do not be
afraid, my children-we are in the
hands of God"
The sun next morning came out full
and clear; and after laying the body Of
Don Baltasar at rest in a grave which
they made for him in the forest, oul
party set out for the city Of Guatemala.
But what a horrible sight met theil
gaze when they reached their destina.
ton!
The site of the city was almost en-,
tirely covered by an up-rooted primeval
forest, the tangled trunks of which were
mingled with large stones in wild con.
fusion; the fertile fields around the city
were buried many feet deep with mud.
On the previous night while the
storm was at its height, the earthquake
had broken down one OF the sides Of
the crater of the mountain, letting loose
q vast torrent Of water, which, carrying
before it q mingled mass of earth, rocks,
and trees, swept down on the city bury.
ing 600 of the inhabitants beneath the
ruins, and among them the unfortunate
Dona Beatrice herself. The survivors
of the catastrophe had fled from the
spot in terror.
Neither Don Juan de Carmono nor
any of his followers who had accom-
panied him to Guatemala were ever
heard of again. They, too, had been
buried beneath the ruins of the i'll
fated city.
INSTANT LOSS OF SIGHT.
A middle-aged man, with slightly
gray hair and m%ustache, standing in
the Post counting-room last evening,
his crippled legs reinforced by a pair OF
crutches, was suddenly, without,
a moments ~premonition, stricken
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