San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-23

cate tint was as that of peach ripehing
in the summer sun. All that loveliness
had decayed into-what? / shuddered
decentralization l knelt humbly be-
fore those two sad hollows in the cold
stone, and implored the blessing Of the
dead and gone beloved ones TO whom,
while they lived, my welfare had been
dear. While / occupied this kneeling
position the flame of my torch fell d.
rectly on some small object that gilt
tered with remarkable lustre. Invent to
examine it; it was a jeweiled pendant
composed Of one large pear shaped pearl
set round with fine rose brilliants! Sur
prised at this discovery, / looked about
to see where so valuable gem could pos
sibly come from. then noticed an un-
usually large coffin lying sideways on the
ground; it appeared as il it had fallen
suddenly and with force, for a number
of loose stones and mortar were sprink-
led near it. Holding the light close to
the ground, observed that niche
exactly below the one in which l had
been laid was empty, and that consid-
cradle portion of the wall there was
broken away then remembered that
when l had sprung so desperately out
OF my narrow box I had heard some
thing fall with crash beside me. This
was the thing, then-this long coffin,
big enough to contain man seven feet
high and broad in proportion. What
gigantic ancestor had irreverently dis
lodged? and was it from a skeleton
throat that the rare jewel which l held
in my hand had been accidentally
shaken?
Ny curiosity was excited, and bent
close to examine the lid of this funeral
chest There was no name on it-no
mark of any sort, save One--a dagger
roughly painted in red. Here was
mystery! / resolved to penetrate it. /
set up my candle in a little crevice Of
one of the empty inches, and laid the
pearl and diamond pendant beside il,
thus diSembarrasSing myself OF all ell
cumbrance. The huge Golfer lay on its
side, as l have said; It's uppermOst cor
ner was splintered; applied both hands
to the work of breaking further aSunder
these already split portions. As | did
so leathern pouch or bag rolled out
and fell at my feet. / picked it up and
opened tit was full of gold pieces!
More excited than ever, l seized large
pointed stone, and by the aid of this ex
temporised instrument, together with
the force of my own arms, hands and
feet, managed, after some ten minutes
hard labor, to break open the mysterious
caSket.
When had accomplished this deed |
stared at the result like u man stupefed.
No Wondering horror met my gaze
no blanChed or deCaying bones; no grin
Il. IL ,,vstL e. L,Il
eye-sOCkets. | looked upon a treasure
worthy of an emperor'S envy! The big
coffin was literally lined and packed
with incaIculable wealth. Fifty large
leathern bags tied with coarse cord lay
uppermost; more than half Of these
were crammed with gold coins, the rest
were full Of priceless gems-necklaces,
tiaras, bracelets, watches, chains and
other articles of feminine adornment
were mingled with loose precious stones
diamonds, rubies. emeralds and opals,
some of unusual size and lustre, some
uncut and some all ready for the jewell
er's setting. Beneath these bags were
packed a number OF pieces OF silk, vel
vet, and cloth Of gold, each piece being
wrapped by itself in sort of oiskin,
strongly perfumed with camphOr and
other spices. There were also three
lengths of old lace, tne as gossamer, of
matchless artistic design, in perfect con-
dition. Among these materials lay two
large trays of solid gold workmanship,
most exquisitely engraved and orna-
mented, also four drinking cups OF
quaint and massive construction. Other
valuable and curious trifles there were,
such as an ivory statuette Of Psyche on
a silver pedestal, waistband of coins
linked together, a painted fan with
handle set in amber and turquoise,
a fine steel dagger in jeweled sheath,
and a mirror framed in old pearls.
Last, but not least, at the very
bottom of the chest, lay rolls upon rolls
of paper money amounting to some mil
lions Of francs-in all far surprising
what l had myself formerly enjoyed