Of the Puente Del Clerigo by Thomas A. Janvier
The narrative unfolds in a historical setting where a priest, Don Juan de Nava, is murdered and thrown into a river, igniting scandal in the community. The priest, a respected figure, is the guardian of his beautiful orphaned niece, Dona Margarita Jauregui. She is courted by Don Duarte de Sarraza, a wealthy and noble young man with a reputation for vice, which her uncle disapproves of. Despite the uncle's warnings, the young couple's mutual affection persists. One fateful night, as Don Duarte professes his love to Dona Margarita, he spots her uncle returning home. In a fit of rage and desperation, he ambushes the priest on the bridge, fatally stabbing him and disposing of his body in the river, leaving the dagger embedded in the priest's skull. To avoid suspicion, Don Duarte distances himself from Dona Margarita for nearly a year. However, his longing drives him to return under the cover of night, intending to elope with her. Instead, he meets a grim fate. The next morning, townsfolk discover his lifeless body on the bridge, held down by a skeleton dressed in a clerical cassock, with the same dagger that killed Don Juan embedded in its skull. The townspeople conclude that the priest's spirit has avenged his murder, leading to a chilling tale of retribution and the intertwining of love, betrayal, and supernatural justice. The story explores themes of honor, the consequences of sin, and the inescapable nature of guilt, culminating in a haunting resolution that leaves the community in shock.
By Thomas A. Janvier · First published 1892 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Mystery · 758 words
First lines
This priest who was murdered and thrown over the bridge, Senor, was a very good man, and there was very little excuse for murdering him. Moreover, he belonged to a most respectable family, and so did the gentleman who murdered him, and so did the young lady; and because of all that, and because at the best of times the killing of a priest is sacrilege, the scandal of that murder made a stir in the whole town.
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical context involving a priest's murder and societal norms of the time.
- Gothic Fiction — The presence of supernatural elements, such as the skeleton seeking revenge, aligns with Gothic themes.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder and the subsequent mysterious circumstances surrounding it.
- Romance — The narrative includes a romantic subplot between Dona Margarita and Don Duarte.
Tags
bridge · architecture · history · urban · landmark · culture · travel · Spain · engineering · design · tourism · landscape
What this Textopian page supports
Of the Puente Del Clerigo is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas A. Janvier, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Thomas A. Janvier
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Tragedy
- Length: 758 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for Of the Puente Del Clerigo by Thomas A. Janvier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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