The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-08

each was a date graved in deep letters.
One had been sealed up some 80 years be-
fore and one hard upon q hundred
These men were the only occupants Of
the vault when we entered it, but present
" sound of soft and solemn singing
stole down the second passage. Then the
door was opened, the mason monks ceased
laboring at the heap of lime and the sound
| of singing grew louder, so that 1 could
catch the refrain. 1t was that OF Latin
hymn for the dying. Next through the
open door came the choir, eight yelled
nuns walking two by two, and ranging
themselves on either side Of the vault they
ceased their singing. After them follow
ed the doomed woman, guarded by two
more nuns, and last Of all priest bearing
a crucifix This man wore black robe,
and his thin, half frenzied face was un-
covered. All these and other things no
ticed and remembered, yet at the time it
seemed to me that saw nothing except
the figure Of the victim. Iknew her again,
although had seen her but once in the
moonlight She was changed indeed; her
lovely face was fuller, and the great, tor
mented eyes shone like stars against its
waxen pallor, relieved by the carmine Of
her lips alone Still it was the same face
that some months before I had seen lifted
in entreaty to her false lover. Now her
tall shape was wrapped about with grave
clothes, over which her black hair stream
| ed, and in her arms she bore sleeping
babe that from time to time she pressed
convulsively to her breast
On the threshold of her tomb Isabella
de Siguenza paused and looked round wild
" as though for help, scanning each Of the
silent watchers to find a friend among
them. Then her eye fell upon the niche,
and the heap Of smoking lime, and the
men who guarded it, and she shuddered
| and would have fallen had not those who
attended her led her to the chair and plac-
ed her in it-a living corpse.
Now the dreadful rites began. The Do
minican father stood before her and recit-
ed her offense and the sentence which
had been passed upon her, which doomed
her ''to be left alone with God and the
child of your sin, that he may deal with
you as he sees fit." Lest such cruelty
should seem impossible and unprecedent-
ed, the writer may mention that in the mu-
scum Of the city of Mexico he has seen the
desiccated body of a young woman which
was found immured in the walls Of reli-
gious building. With it is the body Of an
infant. Although the exact cause Of her
execution remains matter Of conjecture,
there can be no doubt as to the manner
Of her death, for in addition to other eyi-
dences the marks Of the rope with which
| her limbs were bound in life are distinct
ly visible. Such in those days were the
| mercies Of religion!
To all Of this she seemed to pay no heed
nor to the exhortation that followed. At
length he ceased, with sigh, and turning
to me said:
"Draw nearer to this sinner, brother,
and speak with her before it is too late"
Then he bade all present gather them
selves at the far end of the vault that our
talk might not be overheard, and they did
so without wonder, thinking doubtless
that I was monk sent to confess the
doomed woman.
So drew near, with a beating heart,
and bending over her I spoke in her ear.
Listen to me, Isabella de Siguenza?' /
said, and as I uttered the name she start
ed wildly. Where is that De Garcia who
deceived and deserted you?''
''How have you learned his true name:"
she answered. mot even torture would
have wrung it from me. as you know
'sI am no monk, and know nothing. I
am that man who fought with De Garcia
on the night when you were taken, and
who would have killed him had you not
seized me-"
cat the least saved him-that is my
comfort nowl"
Isabella de Siguenza," said, II am
your friend, the best you ever had and the
last, as you shall learn presently. Tell me
where this man is, for there is that be
tween US which must be settled -
''If you are my friend, weary me no
more. I do not know where he is. Months
ago he went whittier you will scarcely fol-
low, to the farther Indies, but you will
never find him there. -
''It may be that I shall, and if it should
so chance, say, have you any message for
this man?''
.sNone-yes, this: Tell him how we
died, his child and his wife Tell him that
did my best to hide his name from the
priests lest some like fate should befall
him.
els that all?''
"Yes-no, it is not all. Tell him that
passed away loving and forgiving."
my time is short, - I said Awake
and listen.'' For having spoken thus she
seemed to be sinking into lethargy. Il
was the assistant Of that Andres de Fonse-
ca whose counsel you put aside to your
ruin, and I have given certain drug to
the abbess yonder. When she offers you
the cup of water, see that you drink and
drink deep, you and the child. If so, none
shall ever die more happily. Do you un-
derstand?'
Eyes, yes" she gasped, land may bless
ings rest upon you for the gift. Now am
no more afraid, for have long desired to
die-it was the way feared. -
'Then farewell, and God be with you,
unhappy woman"
Farewell" she answered softly, "but
call me not unhappy who am about to die
thus easily with that love. :" And she
glanced at the sleeping babe.
Then drew back and stood with bent
head, speaking no word. Now the Domin-
lean motioned to all to take the places
where they stood before and asked her,
ItT .3cko ho- fo he.