Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-16
WILMINGTON. n. G.. FRIDAY. JULY IS, ls47.

LADY, must obey, and await my time,'
said the youth, and as he spoke wild, strange
light beamed from his eyes, even as if some
desperate conceit had entered his mind. She
did not observe it, but rising, said
"You may now escort me back 10 the city,
Edvardo. The evening dews will soon begin
to fall, and | must dress for the tertullia which
l give to-night-you will be there %
"I will angel mia p responded the cavalier
as he led her forth.
1t was the still hour of midnight, and Gen'l
Rosas was in his private chamber, seated be-
side a table filled with papers and documents,
now reading and signing one, and then anoth-
Ell. Yes, while his people were enjoying the
quiet rest which nature demands he. the great
est among them, was toiling for their benefit
laboring both in mind and body for their good.
His daughter was beside him, busily enga-
ged in copying private letter for her father,
but started, as gentle tap at the door announ-
ed visitor
"Who is there ;" said the stern General, as
he laid his hand upon richly mounted weap-
on which lay near him.
1.-The sentinel:'' was the answer in low
respectful tone.
FsWhat is wanted?'
&c bear present for you excelency, which
has just been left, with strict orders to be de-
livered to your eXcellency, alone''
Enter this, methinks, is strange hour
for present From whom doth it come -
tsl know not, your EXcellency," said the
soldier as he laid neat, square box of rose
wood upon the table, and placing the key on
the card which was fastened on its top, depar-
ted.
"Open it, daughter, have not time,'' said
the General as he again turned his eyes to a
military report which he was reading.
ooh, know who it is from 1t is in his
handwriting! exclaimed she, as she glanced
at the card upon It's top. Oh, what present
could he have destined for the father of her
whom he loves ,"
"He, whom, daughter %
Father, the SUBSCRIPTION on this card is in
the well-known hand writing of the brave
cavalier, Don Edvardo Escudero, and he has
in this delicate way sent you some kingly pre-
sent, I'll varrent me !''
"Well, well, open the box. my child, and
satisfy your curiosity"
The lady took the key and turned it in the
lock, but as she raised the lid the report of a
voley of pistols almost deafened her, and with
one wild scream she reeled, and, fainting, fell
to the floor, amid cloud of smoke from the
now open box
In an instant the President sprang to hel
side.
"Oh, God my daughter is slain!' said he
IN agOny-but his heart was cheered again as
he spoke
would have slain YOU to win me % and again
cbo foi TOD h; IL i'll
with soldiers and officers, drawn thither by
the report of arms, and hasty examination Of
the internal machine, for such it was, explained
the plot against the Generals life, a row Of
loaded pistols had been so placed along the
box that any one standing in front of it tt
open it, would receive the contents in his body
1t had been sent 20 Rosas, at this late hour il
expectation that he would open it himself.
Narrow had been the escape of the daugh
ter. She had stood beside, instead of in from
of the box when she opened it, but the fail
hand, which her lover had kissed but so shortly
before, was now stained in several places with
blood where the balls had glazed it; her arms
and laced sleeves were blackened with the
smoke: but worse than all was the wound he1
pure heart hal received, in the discovery Of
this horrible attempt upon her fathers life, by
one whom she loved and trusted, and who
would have made her an orphan to hasten hel
marriage But she had named him to her ia
her, and within one hour after the discovery
of the plot Edvardo Escudero was arraigned
before a drum head court martial Her danger
confession, and the discovery of hishand-wri
ting, had so thrown him off his guard, tina
when Intercepted he made no denial Brie
was the trail He was sentenced to be sho
on the Retro, or military Plaza, at sunrise
With naughty composure he heard his sen
tence, for he yet dreamed that she-she who
was all powerful with her father, loved, anC
would intercede for, and save HIM.
But he knew not her high stern sense o
duty, if he thought that love and pity would
have pardoned him who would have murdered
her father In vain he sent to seek an inter
view with her. Her answer to his message
was brief, but she would deign no other.
"Tell him to ask Gods mercy-there is non
for him on earth No, not were he my broth
err"
"And when at the mornings first light, thu
weeping mother and sister of the condemne'
knelt at her feet and prayed for one word O
intercession, (for they knew that even yet sh
could save the son and brother, if she woul
but ask his life of her father when in the az
ony of their souls they spoke of his youth
beauty bravery-all now about to be burr
ed in the tomb Of disgrace, with cold, ster
look, as if her innermost veins were frozen
she answered -
&c He would have made me fatherless!' %
And while in that energy of despair tina
would not listen to refusal, they yet kne
in their tears and supplications, the first "a
of the mornings sun cast its soft light upO
her pale cheek, a quick rafting volley of mus
kerry was heard in the direction of the Retire
AS its sound struck her ear she gasped, he
tall and graceful form quivered like an aspl
leaf amid the gale, she staggered toward tn
window, and as she saw the white wreaths c
smoke rise lightly toward the sky, over tn
spot where now lay the corpse, she murmul
ed:
: "God have mercy on his soul !" and faint
ed.
Duty had triumphed over love and mercy
but terrible had been the struggle.
From the st. Louis Reveille.
TAKE IT COOL-BY SOLITAIRE.