The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20

save herself is not known. She wrote To
EsCalOn that she had a plot whereby she
would not only escape the marriage, hut
would soon be with him in San Francisco,
Then cams a tragedy, that. while II
thwarted her plans, prevented the we'd
ding.
Tragedy and Revolution.
In a week the bridal party was to leave
san Salvador for Santa Ana. Early one
morning the city vas shaken as though
by terrific earthquake. Four carloads
of gunpOwdeT. drawn by mules and es
corted by soldiers, We're jClting down the
Gale Conception for the military bar
racks OF Casa Mata. How it happened no
one ever knew. But the powder exploded
ShatteTing the houses on both sides OF
the street killing two hundred people out
right and injuring as many others. Among
the wounded was Eduardo BracimOnte.
Carmen Rodriguez worked among the
dead and dying from morning until night.
1t was not considered the proper thing for
girl in her station of life tO so far for
get her caste. But there was no work
TOO painful for her willing hands During
all those days of suffering and agony she
Succored the wounded, she sOOthed the dy-
ing.
This was the time when she might have
escaped TO her lover waiting in San Fran
cisco. But she crushed love pTOmpungs
ana became the handmaiden of stern
duty. Among those whom she nursed
back to life was Eduardo Bracimonte. \
year passed before Bracimonte was able
10 leave the hospital
Each steamer brought letters from Es-
calOn TO Carmen. He was growing tired
OF waiting, and he declared he was going
10 brave death and venture to return TO
Salvador in hopes of carrying her off to
San Francisco. Carmen pleaded with him
10 De patient little longer. True, Braci
monte was now well and urging immedi-
te marriage but she would manage to
put 1t off. There was another revolution
IN the air. and times were dangerous. If
President Gutierrez should be ;ieposed
EscalOn could then safely come to Saliva
dor and claim her as his bride. So she
bade him wait.
Then the promised revolution began to
gather force Regalados, the rebel leader
united his forces. and prepared 10 measure
strength with Gutierrez The President
Ana. Santa Ana fell at once into the
hands of Regalados- The rebels were
armed with ammunition intended for the
government party. How had they learn
ed the secret of its hiding place.
Carmen Rodriguez explained some,
Significantly, but there was absolutely no
proof that she had thus helped Resald-
dos.
Murder and Suicide.
However the fall of Santa Ana meant
the downfall Of Gutierrez and the return
of her lover, so Quien sabe?
The political complexion of Salvador
changed Immediately. Gutierrez fled TO
Costa Rica. Fernando Escaon's exile
was now over. He announced his inten-
ton Of returning Immediately. and set
sail on the next steamer. Carmen was
to secretly meet him at Chalchuapa,
where the padre was ready to give them
the marriage sacrament. Then they
would return together by the first steam
er 10 san FralciscO. On the day EsCa-
Ion left San Francisco there was a large
gathering Of friends and sympathiz At
the wharf to bill him 'AdiOs'' ana ''Hasta
manana." Everybody knew the despe.-
ate chances he was taking. even under
the new order of things.
Under his friends counsel it was de-
cided best for MIN 10 land at Zacapa.
Guatemala, and thence across overland
20 Chaichuapa, Salvador. His presence
would b" less likely TO bs detected il NJ
ADOPTED this plan.
On the evening Of the third day. after
weary ride on muleback across streams
and through groves Of palms, EscaIOn
approached the little village OF Anacha-
pan. twenty miles farther, in Chdlchu-
dpa, carmen was anXiOusly awaiting him.
Carmen. who, after four years Of separd-
tion and suffering, was al last 10 BE- his
bride
Near the outskirts Of Anachapan sev-
eIdt pdTlleT intercepted him. Among the
first were two ragged soldiers. One Of
them addressed few words TO Escalon.
and while he was unsuspeCtingly an
sWering. the other struck him down with
machete. Br1cimOnte and Garments
brother came up and looked at the BODY.
Near by was a public bake oven. where
the poor people OF the village baked their
bread IN common. The body OF Eecalon
was thrust into IT, and the ragged sol
diers iOunged away.
Meanwhile Carmen In gown Of white
and bridal wreath. waited i'm Chalchuapa
for her lovers coming. When he did nor
come and the weary minutes had grown
into hours. Carmen started for Anacba-
pan. The little village was I'm a state of
excitement. Some children playing near
the oven had found in it the body OF a
dead man.
Yes, they would show the senorita the
place"
Carmen felt the dreadful truth.
But she had been prepared for every
thing. There Wde d quick. sharp report.
and Carmen Rodriguez dropped dead be-
fore the oven holding her lover
They buried them side by side in ChaI-
chuapa, where they had first plighted
their TFofh