The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-06-26
THE FLOWER GIRL
OF
MADRID.
Listen ! and III relate a tale.
Oflove and flial duty.


.ad mask at masquerade, dressed
a flower girl to a person disguised as a
Monarch and arrayed in royal robes /; at
The same time dropping on her knees
and presenting her basket. HIS Mnjes.
ty TO preserve his character, selected a
few bunches with proud air, and haugh-
lilly tossed piece of gold upon the floor
of the saloon, which rolled behind an
arch in the corner. The flower girl in
pursuit of the gold, went behind the
arch, and STOPPING forward to reach it,
her basket was unfortunately overturned
and her flowers scattered upon the floor.
While she was busily engaged in gath
ering them up, she was startled by n
voice at her side, and looking up she be-
| held
But it is necessary before proceeding
farther to introduce to my readers our
heroine, the Flower Girl.
ST. Idelfenso, a town of considerable
population and wealth, situated on the
banks of the Tagus in Spain, was gov
crned by Don Pedro di Grastienburg.
gentleman who had inherited from bis
| forefathers an exalted birth and pedi-
gree, and had also received from them
what he considered as good as either
an immense fortune. Few men IN
Spain could boast of more bravery than
he had possessed in his youth, and his
deeds Of gallantry and acts of daring,
those characteristic Of the Spanish ma
ton, unparalleled. He had early joined
the standard of his Sovereign and been
his particular favorite, but as he advan-
ced in years, feeling desire for retire.
ment, he had asked and had received
the goyernnent of St. ldelfonso. Here
his days were spent in the duties incnm-
bent upon his office, and so faithful was
he to them, that he had but little leisure
to attend a masquerade or bull-fght, the
common amusements Of Spain conse-
quently the Donna Inez (his daughter)
had but seldom appeared IN public
Her parents were extravagantly fond OF
her, and their love was SO amply return
ed, TINT Inez, who had never experien-
ced its pleasures, had no desire to min
gle in society, while she was able by
staying at home tn add TO their amuse-
ment or comfort. She lived almost as
secluded from the world as if she had in
reali become nun, and had taken
the veil but she was continually storing
and gracing her mind her pesonal APP
pearance needed no alteration with
knowledge and accomplishment. In
this manner did Inez pass her time, till
she had completed her eighteenth year.
About this time the Governor of Villa
| NuIva, a town two or three hundred
miles distant from St. Idelfonso, an old
intimate friend of Don Pedro, paying
him friendly visit, was so forcibly
struck with Che beauty and good quail
ties of Inez, as 10 propose to him, her
marriage with his son Don Sebastian dI
Caste,lax. The old gentleman conycrs-.
ed on the subject, and neither of them
doubling the willingness Of their chill
dren to obey them, executed the neces-
sary writings, and Don Sebastian and
Denna Inez were betrothed without ev-
er having seen each other. Don Sa5as-
tian was gentleman of first rate tai
ents and his black hair, large, dark and
piercing eyes, and his elegantly curled
mustachoes left little to be added in
point of beauty. He had heard Inez
spoken of in terms Of high admiration,
and his heart not being previously attach
ed, made no objection to his parents
proposal.
Previous to her marriage, Inez was
invited to spend few weeks in Madrid
with relative, and her parents think
ing it advisable that she should see
little of the world, consented, though re-
luctantly. 1t was at masquerade that
she attended, where the scene occurred
with which the tale is commenced. A.
mong the beauty and fashion of Madrid,
IneZ for she was masked as the flower
girl stood conspicuous. The neatness so
happily blended with elegance, with
which she was attred, and her agreea-
ble occupation, were too striking not to
be noticed, and when noticed, could not
fail to be admitted. Her sparkling eyes
beaming with good nature and affahility
could be seen through the holes in the
mask, and besides being a stranger she
was doubly interesting. She several
times in the course Of The evening, per-
celved the eyes of person masked as a
knight errant, fixed on her which she not
being skilled in the lore of love, could
not understand. After this when they
were separated, those eyes and that ex-
preston were before her imagination.
Inez, while STOPPING to collect her
flowers, was startled by voice at her
side, and looking up behed the knight
who addressed her thus
"Fair damsel, crave boon, allow
| mn M, an a, ,rthy Il ,;obt hut II, o.~,,ol