The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-03-21
: CYRUS TOWNSEND

roy sfernIy. Speak but another word
until ] give you leave and I'll have you
gagged! You said strange words. holy
father, when you came into the hall
You heard
"Some Of the conversation, sir, from
which I gathered that this unfortunate
man"-pointing to Morgan, who as one
Of the chief actors in the transaction
had been placed In the front rank Of
the circle, although tightly bound and
guarded by the grim soldiers-"claimed
to be the father Of the brave young
soldier"
aAye, and he hath established the
claim" answered De Lara.
.sNay, my lord; that cannot be-
teWhy not, sir?'' interrupted Alvara-
do, stepping forward.
Because it is not true"
ssThank God, Thank God" cried Al
yara1o. Indeed. he almost shouted in
his relief.
.sHow know you this?' asked Mer-
cedes.
"My lady, gentles all. I have proof
irrefutable. He is not the child OF that
wicked man. His father is
81 care not who," cried Alyarado,
.eyen though he were the meanest and
poorest peasant, so he were an honest
man"
.aIy lord" said the priest, che was
a noble gentleman. Your excellency," :"
turning to the viceroy, "his blood is
as noble as your own"
had stood unmoved in the midst Of the
tumult.
Captain Alvarado that was" cried
the Dominican, with an Unborn love Of
the dramatic In his tones, 'stand forth.
My lord and lady and gentles all, I
present to you Don Francisco de Guz-
man, the son Of his excellency the for
mer governor Of Panama and Of his
wife, Isabella Zerega, noble and vir-
tuous lady, though Of humber walk Of
life and circumstances than her hus-
band"
cit is Hep shouted Hornigold. "He
Is Morgan's son. He was given to me
as such. left him at Cuchillo. You
found him, SIR
He appealed to the viceroy.
sMy venerable father, with due re-
spect to you. sir, we require something
more than your unsupported statement
to establish so great fact" said the
viceroy.
.sYour grace speaks WELL" said Nor
gan, clutching at his hope still.
.tI require nothing more. see and
believe" interrupted Mercedes.
"But I want proof" sternly said her
father.
"And you shall have it." answered
the priest 4"That cross he wears
s.As I am about to die" exclaimed
Morgan, 81 saw his mother wear it
many time, and she put it upon his
breastr
'sNot this one, SIR" said Fra Antonio,
..but it's fellow. There were two sis
ters in the family Of Zerega. There
were two crosses made, one for each.
In an evil hour the elder sister mar
ried you
eve did, indeed, go through some
Eaockery of a ceremony" muttered
Morgan.
..You did, sir, and twas legal one,
for when you won her-by what means
I know not-in Maracaibo you married
her. You were forced to do so before
you received her consent. One Of my
brethren who performed the service
told me the tale. After you took her
away from Maracaibo her old father,
broken hearted at her detection, sought
asylum in Panama with the remaining
daughter, and there she met the gov
ernor, Don Francisco de Guzman. he
loved her, he wooed and won her, and
at last he married her, but secretly.
She was poor and humble by compari-
son with him; she had only her beauty
and her virtue for her dover, and
there were reasons why it were better
the marriage should be concealed for
awhile.
"a child was born. You we're that
child. sir. Thither came this man with
his bloody marauders. In his train
were his wretched wife and her own
boy, an infant, born but short time
before that Of the governor. De Guz-
man sailed out to meet them and was
1-;,1a3 o+ Tho boo6 of biS troor,G They
burned Panama and turned that beau
tifrl city into hell like unto La Quay
"a. I found means to secrete Isabella
de Guzman and her child. The plague
ragged In the town This mans wife
died. He gave command to Hornigold
to take the child away. He consulted
me. as a priest whose life he had
The priest seated himself On stool
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