The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20
Tragedy and Revolution.

Tragedy and Revolution.
In a week the bridal party was TO leave
San Salvador for Santa Ana. Early one
morning the city was shaken as though
| by a terrific earthquake Four carloads
of gunpOWder- drawn by mules and eS-
corted by soldiers, were jolting down the
Gale Conception for the military bar
racks of, Casa Mata. How it happened no
one ever knew. But the powder exploded.
shattering 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
II 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 10 her lover waiting in San Fran
cisco. But she crushed love prOmpungs
ana became the handmaiden of stern
uutE. Among those whom she nurSed
back To life was Eduardo Bracimonte. \
year passed before BracimOnte was able
TO leave the hospital
Each steamer brought letters from Es-
Gallon 10 Carmen. He was growing tired
OF waiting. and he declared he was going
to brave death and venture to return 10
salvador IN hopes of carrying her OFF to
San Francisco. Carmen pleaded with him
10 be patient a little longer True. BraCi-
monte was now well and urging immedi-
ate 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 deposed
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 to measure
strength with Gutierrez The President.
His first attack was directed at Santa
Ana. Santa Ana fell at once into the
hands of Regalados The rebels We're
armed with ammunition intended for the
government party. How had they learn
ed the secret of its hiding place.
Carmen ROdrigueZr' explained some
significantly but there was absolutely no
proof that she had thus helped ReSala-
dos.
Murder and Suicide
However the fall of Santa Ana mean,
the downfall Of Gutierrez and the return
of her lover, 50 QUien sabe2
The political complexion of Salvador
changed Immediately. Gutierrez fled 10
Costa Rica Fernando Escalon's exile
ton Of returning Immediately. and st
sail on the next steamer. Carmen WIS
to secretly meet him at Chalchuapd,
where ;hc padre was ready TO give them
the marriage sacrament Then they
would return together by the first steam
er 10 san FrdacIsco. On the day Esca-
Ion left San Francisco IN re was a large
gathering Of friends and sympathizers 1T
the wharf to bill him 'AdiOs" and "Hasta
manaHa.' Everybody knew the dcspe--
ate chances he was taking, even under
the new order Of things.
Under his friends counsel il was de-
cided best for MIN 10 land at Zacapa.
Guatemala. and thence across overland
20 Chachuapa, Salvador His presence
would b" less likely 10 bs detected if ne
adODted this plan.
on the evening Of the third day. after
weary ride on muleback across streams
and through groves Of palms. EsCalOn
approached the little village OF Anacna-
pan Twenty miles farther, in ChalChu-
dpa- carmen was anXiOusly awaiting him
Carmen VINO, after four years Of separd-
tion and suffering, was at last 10 be his
bride.
Near the outskirts Of Anachapan soy
eral parties intercepted him Among The
first were two ragged soldiers. One Of
them addressed a few words 20 EScalOn
and while he was unsuspeCtingly an
swering, the other struck him down with
a mdChete. BrICimOnte and CarmaU's
brother came up and looked al the body.
Near by was a public bake oven. where
the poor people OF the village baked their
bread ~ common The body OF Escalon
was thrust into ii, and the ragged sol
dieTs lOUnged away.
Meanwhile Carmen. In gown OF white
and bridal wreath. waited i'm ChalChuapa
for her lovers coming. When he did nOt
come and the weary minutes had grown
into hours. Carmen started for Andrhl-
pan. The little village vas IN 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 senOrila the
place"
Carmen felt the dreadful truth.
But she had been prepared for every
thing There Wde quick. sharp report
and Carmen Rodriguez dropped dead be-
fore the oven holding her lover.
They buried them side by side In Chdl-
where they had hrst plighted
their TFOfh