Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-16
LOVES DESPERATION.
A ROMANCE OF REALITY.

Manuelita, the only daughter of Rosas, the ia
nous and powerful President of the Argentine
Republic powerful in the strength of his
mind, and IN the iron resolution of his charac-
ter, which has enabled him to control and
sway people whom none save him can keep
in order, and to defy the united attempts of
England and France to break up his COM
merce and bend him to their terms.
We say that the lady Manuelita is beauti-
full, but her talents. graces, and accomplish
ments, alone sustain and render her beauties
perfect and harmonious.
1t almost seems a subject of surprise that
this fair lady, so attractive in manners, and so
elevated in her position, should have arrived
at the age of twenty-five years, without
thought OF approaching the hymeneal altar,
yet so it hath been: not, however, from lack
OF soiicatlon and opportunity; for many no.
BILE and brave cavalier has knelt and sued for
the love and hand which might bless King,
but because:
First-of all her suitors, not one, when
weighed in the careful balance of her discrimi-
mating Judgment, but lacked some of those
qualities of head and heart which alone could
win and fix her pure and lofty affections.
Secondly-Had any cavalier presented him
self, possessed of all the qualities which would
gain her love, she could not leave her fathers
side, for as necessary as dew is to the flower,
as light in darkdess is to man. was she to him.
She has ever acted as his adviser and conf
dant; she alone can guide and sway his stern
will, she alone can soften his heart when it
is frozen in its stern resolves He could not
live without her. She receives his company,
writes his private and important documents,
ofoh0 oH ord l. -,,l
safety, and becomes even as it were a second
self unto him. But to our story.
A short distance up the river above Buenos
Ayres, Gen. Rosas has beautiful country seat,
where often in the warm summer time he and
his daughter retire TO enjoy the fragrant per-
fume which arrives with the evening breeze
from the groves of peach, lemon, and orange,
which cover it. A few years ago during a
heavy gale, ship was driven high and dry
by the winds and swollen waters into the We
ry midst of this favorte plantation Of the Pre-
sidents, and when the gale abated she was
LETT IN position from which it was found i'm
possible to remove her.
TO please his daughter, Gen. Rosas bought
this vessel and refitted her beautifully to serve
the Lady Manueita as a summer house, and
a unique and beautiful one did it make; i'm
bedded not in the azure waves of the ocean,
but in perfect sea of flowers and fruits. In
the elegant cabin of this vessel occurred the
first scene of this brief but true story.
1t was on a lovely afternoon in summer; the
Lady Manuelita sat by the stern window of
the vessel, enjoying the sweet breathing zeph-
Yrs as they came to her from their homes a.
mid the fragrant flowers. She was alone, and
as she sat and gazed out upon the waving
trees and bright-winged birds which flew from
branch to branch, she sighed, as if she felt
she had not been formed for loneliness.
At the same moment the door towards which
her back was turned was cautiously opened
She heard it not. Then, between the rich
velvet hangings which hung in crimson folds
before it, quietly stepped noble looking Ca
Waller and as he slowly advanced towards
her, there could be read in his face the writ
ten poetry of love, aye, even to a passionate
ldolatry of her who was before him. He was
young, not more than twenty five, his features
| regular as Apollo could have desired, his eyes
dark and bright as gazelles, his lofty brow
and neck as white as alabaster, was wreathed
by dark and curling masses of jet and glossy
hair; glossy moustache and beard as soft
and curling as the hair which crept down up
on his broad shoulders, contrasted with the
rich rosy hue of health worn upon his express
sive and pleasing face. His tall manly form
was dressed in rich uniform, which beto-
kened that he had a commission in her fathers
cavalry.
Slowly and cautiously the young officer ap-
preached the lady, still unseen and unheard
by her.
Again she sighed. He knelt by her side,
and gazed upon the snow-white hand, which
with its taper fingers covered with Jewels
hung down against the arm Of the ottoman up.
on which she reclined. Again she sighed -
The cavalier bent down his noble head, and
the lady started to her feet as she felt warn
kiss impressed upon her hand
Not terror stricken did she scream or turn tc
fly, as other maidens would have done, but
with flashing eye, Redeemed cheek, and frown
ing brow, as she drew up her stately form il
queenly dignity, she proudly exclaimed,
"Who dare intrude"-but ere she finished
the exclamation, she saw the sad and respect
full gaze of the youth, who still knelt at he
| feet, and her anger seemed to vanish and he
tone softened, as she continued:
''Ah is 1t you, Don Edvardo I Nigh
have known none other would have daret
the liberty which you have taken"
&c Pardon, lady, | could not have gazed up
on the hand which SO long have coveted, AM
refrain from telling it how much l loved it
mistress"
Rise, Edvardo !'' said the lady, sadly; &c
wish YOU would never speak of love to me a
gain, at least while-whiIe-''
The lady blushed confusedly, and paused
The youth observing it, eagerly and FASHION
ately exclaimed
"While oh, what mean you by tina
word ? even it gives light to the hope whicl
alone keeps my heart alive Oh, lady, TO
the love of holy Heaven, tell me, have caus
to hope? Am more to you than the man,
others who kneel in homage to your charms ?
"Were you not, do you think would per
nit him to live who has dared the familiarit,
for which you but now crave humbly m,
pardon %
"Oh, lady, then am blessed indeed Oh
when may call you mine :"
"When am tree from my present engage
ments."
"Free present engagements! Lady, it /
cruel to trife with bursting heart p
81 do not trife, Edvardo, | am willing t
acknowledge that | love you, but it may b
long before we can unite. l have duty,
sacred, imperative duty to perform, whIc
love nor pleasure nor aught On earth can IN
duce me to forego. Ifyou love me, your Low
will not fade, like yon summer flowers, wit
age. Nv father cannot alone bear the cares, ia
tigues & vexations of his office, he cannot spar
me, and I cannot marry while he is in Office
indeed, he never will consent to part with mt
so necessary have now become to him.
LADY, cruel, cruel, would be the delay =
Know YOU not that while he lives the Peopl