The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-07-20
From BIaekWooa'a MaraaIns.
IGNAcIo GUERRAANDELsAN oRADoI

house 20 question, was narrow valley, iOme
BY double range ofwood-c0vered hills, ID
lower limbs Of mountain chain that bounde.
the horizon some miles 10 the rear Of the villa
The house itself was a long, low building, 0
which the white stone walls had acquired ID
mellow tint that time and exposure 10 the sea
sons can alone impart. A solid balcony Q
carved Imprinted oak ran completely round th
house, is breadth preventing the rays Of ID
sun from entering the rooms on the groun
floor, and thereby converting them into a coo
and delightful refuge from the heats Of summer
The windows Of the first and only story openel
upon this balcony, which, in its turn, receives
shelter from root ofyeLow canes, laid side b.
side, and fastened BY iunumerable packthreads
in the same way as Indian mating. This s0r
Of awning was supported BY light wooden pill
lars, placed at distances Of five or six feet from
each other, and corresponding with tho NOR
massive columns that sustained the balcony
At the foot Of these latter, various creepin!
plants had taken root. broad-loafed vinS
pushed its knotty branches andcuried tendri,
up TO the very roof Of the dwelling, and pas
sion-fower displayed its mystical purple bios
SONS nearly at as great height; while the
small white Stars ofjhe jasmine Rllliered among
lis narrow dark-green leaves, aud every pas.
sing breeze waited the scent Of the honey.
suckle and cematis through the open windows
in puts Of ovorpowering fragrance.
About two hundred yards to the right Of the
house, rose one Of the ranges Of hills already
mentioned, and on the opposite side the eye
glanced over some Of those luxuriant corn fields
which form so important a part Of the riches
Of the fertile province Of Navarro. The ground
IN front ofthe villa was tastefully laid out as a
flower garden, and, midway between two mag
nifcent chesnut trees, a mountain riyulet iell
INTO a large stone basin, and fed a fountain,
from which il was spouted twenty feet into The
air, greatly 10 the refreshment Of the surround
ing pastures.
The party on the evening in question was
enjoying the scent ofthe flowers and the song
Of the nightingales, to which the neighboring
trees afforded shelter, consisted, in the first
place, Of Don Torribio Diana, a wealthy pro.
prietor Of La Rioja, an owner Of the country
house that has been described He had been
long used to pass the hot months Of each year
at this pleasant retreat; and It was no small
calamity 10 him when the civil war that broke
out on the death Of Ferdinand, rendered il
scarcely safe in Navarro at least, 70 live out Of
musket.shot ofa garrison. Sometime, howev-
er, and 10 spite Of the advice ofhls friends, who
urged him 70 greater prudence, The worthy
Rioano would mount his easy-going round
auartered cab, and leave the town lot a few
En7js.s, 'iYr,lgsei nnmoleated either by C8slists
Or by me numerous predatory bandaths.l over.
ran The country, he took for companions Of bis
excursions bis daughter Getrudis. and an or
phan niece, 70 whom be supplied the place Of
father Five years Of Impulity we're taken
as guarantee for future safety, and Don Tor.
rbo now no longer hesit2ted to pass the night
al his colntry-house a. often as he found il con.
veuieat Il was observed, also, that many Of
those persons who had al first loudly blamed
him for riskihg his neck, and that Of his daugh.
ter and nice, IN order TO enjoy purer atmos.
pheFe than could be enhaled the dusty streets
Of LogroRo, at length gathered so much cour'
age, from hrs example, as 10 accompany ,hu
out t. the Retro. and eat his excellent dinners
and empty his cobweb-covered bottles, without
allowing their fear ofthe Carl.sts to diminish
their thirst or disturb their digestion.
Upon this occasion, however The only CUES
was a young and handsome man, whose sun
burnt countenance and military gait bespoke
the soldier, while double stripe ofgold lace Of
the cuff Of his blue frock-eoSt, marked his ranl
az that Of lieutenant-colonel. Although no
more than thirty years Of age, Don lgnaciC
Guerra had already attained grade which
often the price Of as many years service bu
/ his rapid promotion was so well justified BY hi
merit and galantry, that few were found t
complain Of a preference which all felt was do
served. Both BY moral and physical qualities
he was admirably suited TO the profession h
had embraced. Slender in persnn, but wei
knit and muscular, he possessed extraordinary
activity, and a capacity OF enduring great "a
tigue Indulgent to those under his command
ana sslEdenying in ali thai regarded hmsel
personally, his enthusiasm for the cause b
served was such, that during nearly two year
that he had been the accepted lover Of Dom
| Gsrtrudis Diana, this was only the second TIM
he had left bis regiment for a few days' VS.
10 bis alianced bride. He had arrived at Ia
qrono the preceding day from 3 town lowe
| down the Ebro, where the battalion be con
manded was stationed; and Don TOuibio, wit
whom he was a great favorie, bad lost no tim
IN taking him out TO the Retro nors perhap
were the lovers sorry to leave tue noise an
hustle Of the town for this calm and peaceii
retreat.
Il was about an hour after sunset, and Do
Touibio sat doing in an armchair, with b
old black dog Moro cooled up at his feet an
is niece Teresa beside him busying herself
the arrangement OF a boquet Of choice hpwerr
while at the other end of.the 5alcony Gerirnd
and her lover were looking out upon The ga
den. The silence was uuvr0ken, save by q
sblashing noise of the fountain as fell hae
uoon The water.hllies that covered It's basil
The moon was yes concealed behind the BIG
Ground 70 the right of4he house; but the SKY
that direction was GIFTED up by lis beams, al
the outline Of every tree aHd bush 90 the SUI
nit Of the bin was defined and cut out, as
were, against tbs clear blue background. So
denly Gertrudis called her companlon's ate
ton to the neighboring mountain. "See, J
nacio - exclaimed she 'syonder bush on q
Verv highest point Of the bill Could not o.
almost fancy il to be man with gun m }
hand and that clump Of leaves on the
bough might BY the bOiHa Of one Of those hori
Carlsls ."
, While she spoke the officer ran his eye alo
: the ridge ofthe hill and started when be eaue
. sight o. the object pointed out BY Gertrud
bot before he could reply to her remark
: was called away BY her father. AZ that n
7 ment the supposed bush made . sudden mo,
L ment. and the long bright barrel Of mus
e pltiered in the moonbeams. The next insi
lie figure disappeared as suddenly as thou
|, il bad sunk mo The earth.
= The Christine colonel remained Tor
2 mont gazing on the mountain, and then, turn
d awav. FASTENED 70 accompany bis host and
!. / 49, -, h.a r.rat,af sunsuasns 10 sum