The National tribune., 1892-09-22

So rleS. One, the Hacienda de ESplritu
santo da Cruz Alta belonged to fernando Mo.
rales; the other, the Quinta Da Sac Martinho
to Juan Garrider, neighbors and intimate
friends. Morales had handsome daughter,
Jesgsita, and. a son, Pedro. celebrated through.
out the province for his fine shot, good humor,
and courage. Juan Garridor had an only son,
Manoel, eood-looking fellow of %, his fathers
pride and joy.
Manoel and Jesusta loved each other, and,
as may be imagined, no objections were made
when the proprietor of Sac Martinho asked of
his friend of Espiritu Santo the hand of Je-
susita for his dear son Manoel.
The fetes celebrating the signing of the mar
riage contract Wed with those of Carries we'd
ding, and for eight entire days both peasants
and servants got drunk in honor of the be.
trothed couple. 1t was decided that the we'd
ding ceremony would take place at the end of
the month, and the young people awaited that
date with poetic impatience.
Ono day the girl expressed wish for some
rare flowers which did not grow on their plant
alton, so Manoel. wishing to content her,
mounted his horse and gailoPed over the coun-
try for hours in search of the blossoms desired
by his lady fair.
Returning home with his precious burden
be was followed, attacked and bitten by one of
those wild dogs that infest the savanna. The
young man killed the beast with single shot
the house had his wound deeply cauterized
II was suspected, however, that he dog which
had bitten Manoel was mad, and the fathers
caused the body to be examined by their doctor.
But he was unable to decide whether such was
really the case or not, and for that reason
much TO the SORROW Of the young people, the
marriage was delayed and Manoel subjected to
rigid cure.
Three, six, eight months passed and the
health OF Manoel continued perfect The doc
tors declared that all danger was passed, and
that they might without the least fear put an
end TO the martyr9om OF the lovers. Neither to
them nor TO their father was 10 necessary to
repeat the permission, and eight days later all
the neighbors were invited to the marriage of
Jesusita and Manoel, the little chapel attached
10 the brides home being insufficient to hold
the crowd that flocked from 90 miles around to
witness the festivities. Jesusita was respiend-
ent under her flowing vail aud crown of orange
blossoms, while Manoel was equally pleasing
in the full flush of his manly force and beamng
with happiness. After the nuptial dinner a
ball vas given ia the immense salon OF the ha-
cienda, which was decorated with pomp aud
taste truly European. The bridal couple danced
the first Aabanera together, and Pedro noticed
with satisfaction their reciprocal tenderness,
and was content in the thought that his sister
had found her happiness.
"How you love heri" he exclaimed to his
newly brother; and tho bridegroom
grasped his hand, which be wruug vigorously,
as he answered with q happy smile:
80, If you only knew how adore her |"
Long indeed were the hours. AT last mid
night struck and Manoel, coming near to Jesu-
sta, took her on his arm as though intending
again TO Join the dancers, bat instead, profting
by door half hidden behind drapery and fiow-
ers, made good their escape.
Half an hour had passed since Jesusita and
Manoel had abandoned the salon. every one
was still dancing, the orchestra seemed to have
doubled its force. Suddenly an acute cry in
terrupled the gay tumnlt, and was followed by
others, heartreDdiug, entreating, and doleful,
like those CT the damned. The orchestra
stopped, and every one frozen with fear, lis
tened. Pedro, followed by his father and Juan
Garridor, rushed toward the bridal apartments,
from which the cries seemed to come. Pedro
with blow broke In the door. but imme-
diately drew back, uttering Mortified excla.
nation. Jesusita lay prone on the floor. Her
| thin night-dress, torn in pieces. showed her
| white breast frightfully mutilated as with a
| knife the flesh on her arms torn away in
strips. leaving the bone bare, while her face
was covered with bites.
On all fours beside her, roaring like wild
animal, Manoel, his face all blood his eyes
starting from their sockets, and frothinq at the
| mouth, continued his terrible work of tearing
the shoulders and breast of the girl, who had
ceased to lament. Crazed by the sight, Pedro
| seized q gun and fred, and Manoel fell over
dead by the side of his murdered bride.
| The hydrophobia, lying dormant In bis sys.
| tenn. had been caused by tie excitement Of bis
| wedding day to manifest itself Unexpectedly,
aud the ravenous bite of mailman had been
] given to the lovely girl In place of the FIRST
Bender kiss Of an adoring husband.