Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-10


unceremonlous summons.
The old LAWYER bowed and Don Carlos
still maintains that, happening to catch a
glimpse of his own face In a great mirror in
the room. be saw himself man of 25l
For an hour all was quiet in that chamber
save Tor the whispers OF the dying man, the
quill scratching of the notary, who, at the
dictation of the lawyer, was putting in shape
the words of the testator.
Propped up by his sons strong arms, the
old man took leave of his family, and they
retired TO the remoter part of the chamber
while the will was read in a dry tone by the
notary, the dying man asserting by mods.
He then feebly traced his name, and the no.
tary, drawing up table, had the witnesses
sign their full names and rubricas.
This concluded, a painful silence ensued,
broken dismally bv the sick mans gasps for
breath. Suddenly he became silent. One
of the sons announced: "He is dead"
The family, save the sons, retired, and there
remained, in a little space, no one in the
apartment but the bookseller and the young
men mentioned. Don Carlos was partly
hidden from view by the angle of a huge
wardrobe. The sons seemed oblivious of
his presence.
To the intense horror of the old booksel-
Ter, one of the young men approached the
bed, bent over his father, and. suddenly
drawing dagger of slender blade, plunged
it in the breast of the PROSTATE man. So
horrlhed was Don Carlos Bsltasar that he
could not speak; his tongue Glove to the root
of his mouth; his flesh chilled. Still un-
aware of the presence OF the bookseller, the
young men withdrew, their faces sternly
sad, their lips tightly pressed. Don Carlos
did not move. He waited, petrifed, as it
were in the shadow of the wardrobe till
some old women entered and began prepar-
ing the corpse Tor burial. They crooned
among themselves at the task. Don Carlos
found curiosity conquering terror. He
came out from his lurking place, ap-
preached the bed, and found strength to
utter: He was stabbed in the heart; he
was murderedp'
One of the old women turned to him (she
was wonderfully like the snuff peddler) and
said briefly: Not so, senior; it was our
masters wish; he feared burial alive
Somehow Don Carlos managed to get out on
the corridor, where, feeling sudden faint
ness, he fell into large chair. One of the
sons came 10 him and said: care you still
here; the rest have gone. Are you ill?" and,
hurrying off he called servant. Wine was
brought and given the bookseller, quite as
pale now as the dead man within. Don
Carlos partook cf the wine, and was soon
able to stand.
its foot the old woman of the SNUFF She ac-
companied him to the street door, near which
many servants were discussing in low tones
the circumstances of the death scene up
stairs. The great door opened, apd Don Car
los found himself outside in the glare of the
thorOughfare Somehow the glare of an cleo
tric light post brought him to himself as
with shock. He muttered: "But this is
strange; seem to have been in time7 far
gone" But be did not slacker his pace till
he regained his familiar shop, in whose win
Gows translations in Spanish of Herbert
Spencer and Draper jostled Santa Teresa |
and the latest novels OF Valdes.
His assistants thought the old man little !
upset. he was pale, unusual circum- |
stance, and all that day and the next he ap- |
peared as in a dream. Not a word OF his ad- |
venture did he breathe to his friends or to |
his assistants in the shop. He seemed to be |
waiting FOR somebody, because, contrary to
his habit, he would stand for hours in the
doorway, instead of sitting behind the coun-
ter, where he might stroke the black and
erCdite cat
On the morning of the third day the snuff
woman appeared at the door of the shop, and
found Don Carlos standing there. She was
by queer old fellow clad in the
cos ,UIne OF times agone. Don Carlos noted
that his feet were shod with sandal He car
ried canvas bag, which he placed in Don
Carlos hands, the old snuff woman saving,
and with a steady voice: |
Amigo you have earned your fee. Adiosr"
And she disappeared around the corner
Don Carlos hastened to an inner room of |
the shop. carefully closed the door, took out
his pocket knife cut the cords around the
mouth OF the little bag, and peeped in.
"Onzas de ore!' he exclaimed, and then:
81 had thought perhaps was going crazy,
but here is ocular proof tnat l am sound in
mind, and that my memory does not fail me
Dor nv brain play me fantastic tricks" He
counted the onzas. There were 209-his wit
ness fee. Next ne locked the bag in his safe |
Golden ounces of King Philip" he NUT
tered Then he went out among his shop
people, his face care free, his eyes bright
once more.
That night he gave a dinner to his init
mate friends, and told them at table his
strange story. They thought the dear old
fellow a bit turned in his head till he
showed them the golden ounces of the
Spanish King. All agreed they would 60 |
with him on the morrow to see the house.
The day came. The banqueters assembled
at the shop, and accompanied Don Carlos to
the house in Monteaiegre street. Don Car
los trembled little us he lifted the knock
er. The door opened. A servant in mod
Ell uTCSS dShtu lu64I NlSu 4H6 DOOkSelleT |
begged permission to see the master of the
house.
HE is not at home" said the servant
''The family have been in Puebla for two
weeks, and only l have been lett here. !
am glad to see some one, for have been i'll, |
but did not dare TO leave the house for fear
Of thieves entering. A few days ago 1 was
out of my head Tor many hours, and L do
not know if 1 should have come to myself,
but lor an old woman who came to me and
gave me some aguardiente and queer med
icine. II made me- well in an instant But
how the woman entered the house, which
was locked and barred, do not know"
"Did she wear a black dress of wooden
stuff, aud q little cross on a black bead
chain?"
"Why, yes, senior; that is what she wore;
how did you know?''
But Don Carlos did not vouchsafe reply.
The patio, or courtyard, was entirely mod
ern. Surely it was the house of the rich
lawyer. his old customer. He hesitated to
ask, out now he inquired:
SIS this not the house OF Don Pedro Ala
.orre, the lawyer"
Yes. senior; and why did you not ask for
him at first, pray?"
because / was trihe confused. Is he
well?''
''Oh, yes, perfectly so; only his daughter
IS i'll, and the family went to Puebla, so
hat she might take the sulphur baths &"
Don Carlos and his friends withdrew, but
be could not resist asking one more cues
ion: docs your master use mules in his
,oach?''
"He has never mad mules in the house.
enor, but it seems to me that was one of the
binrs that trouhled NV ponr head whom |