Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-05
From the Southern Literary Messenger.
KhwRnda, the Mute; A Southern Tale.
coNTINuED.-oHAFTER vII.

=
ly the curtain from beneath which we have hi'h-
erto obtained but partial glimpses of important
characters in our drama.
The nascent spirit Of liberty, which had well
nigh been siranggled IN the southern peninsulaby
the charlatanry Of Marinda, aganrose in Buenos
Ayres, with more determination against oppres-
sion. The monarchy Of old Spain, which, for
century and a half, had been defoming the land
of the lncas with blood and plllage was sliding
slowly, but with fatal certainty, from its basis in
South America; and Bolivar was, step by step, ac-
quiring to himself such glory, as. of all the he
roes Of modern times rank him next to Washing
ton. OF these struggles in the cause Of liberty,
our own country was not an apathetic witness;
what she could do legtimately, she performed
zealously, but her wisdom taught her TO dscrim-
mate. Already had she witnessed the disastrous
termination Of the effort of 1906, which, at best,
was an unOrganiZCd rebellion, and who could tell
whether the present struggle would not find sim
liar issue! If the latter, our government could,
by acknowledging the independence Of her south
ern neghbors, at once admit them into the sister
hood of nations, but not before. Our executive
looked around for effective agents TO acquire in
formation on the subleci,-to ascertain whether
the elements at work to overum oppression were
so thoroughly organized, as to give promise of
final success. OF those selected for so special
mission, none was more competent than Regi-
nald Forbes. Unincumbered bv familv-pos-
sessrd Of a romantic love Of adventure-bold, in
tegent and forecasting, he was Just the man for
such an agency. Beside, he thoroughly under
stood the South Americans, their language, man.
ners and policy. lie had travelled much among
them in former years, and had resided in the city
Of Buenos Ayres, in discharge of high dploma-
tic trust committed to him by our government
1t is needless to say with what fidelity he execu-
ted the commission. with which he had been last
entrusted. That accomplished, he decided on
not returning, at least for a time, TO his native
country. The ties which had linked him to the
few who remained to him of his kindred had be-
come gradually weakened by long intervals of
absence during the twenty preceding years, and
he now chose to cast his lot in a land Astounding
in exciting incidents, and among a people who
knew him to be theirfrend. To fill up the whole
measure of his time, he invested moiety of his
extensive fortune in mercantile and commercial
enterprise, and became the owner Of the largest
establishment of that kind in Buenos Ayres.
He soon extended his sphere in this depart
ment Of business, and set up a kindred establish.
ment in St. Juan, Porto Rico. To aid him in
conducting his interests, he procured the service
of a Young man, recommended to him by vari-
Gus considerations. He was a native Of Geor-
gia, his parents not unknown to Reginald: he un-
stood the Spanish language; seemed honest, in
telligent was of pleasant manners; and above all
was without friends. His name was Simpson.
He rose rapidly in the confidence of his employ
er, who now readily conferred upon him penary
powers during his own solourn in Porto Rico.-
Did he abuse his trust! o, surely not but we
shall see. Time and circumstances develop the
germs of good or evil in the world; they hew and
pare away with statuary skill, the guise wherein
modest worth or designing vilany invests itself,
when lol the man or the demon stands revealed.
It was the night of the last day permitted by
the new government, TO the adherentS of the fall
len dynasty TO tarry in the city, or the United
Provinces. lJwas night Of peril to thelflpro-
tected Spaniard. The laws which for the five
preceding days had maintained at least, show
Of stringency, were, on that foul night, entirely
suspended. Many of those appointedto see them
reverenced, not only connived at their infringe
,aent, but were the first to violate them. The
name of Spaniard, was name of doom. The
hybrid populace, in whose bosoms so long had
burned revenge for the pride and contumely of a
people they had been obliged to call their mas
ters, was now unclaimed, and lust and rapine, and
boodshed, and awless savagery, unkenneed
from their thousand hiding places, salked and
rampcd that night throughout that vast city, Bu-
enos Ayres. Wo to the unfrended Spaniard!-
Wo to the unfriended Spanish female!
In an obscure street, east of the cathedral of
St. Dominick, and which lay at right angles with
the spacious avenue which opens on the La Plata,
were widow and her daughter Snor de Urbi-
ma had, a short time before, fallen in one of the
many hostile collisions, whichto place between
the republicans and monarchists, and his relict
and beautiful daughter found themselves in the
number of those who were doomed toeXile. Hav.
ing converted their property, which was consid-
cradle, into money and Jewels. they prepared tc
embark for Porto Rico, which still continued a
dependency of Spain. Toavod offensive notice
and injury from the unbrided populace, during
the brief interval allotted for the departure, they
had at ttheinsanceof an only, ,butpowerful friend,
removed from their conspicuous quarters in the
city, to their present humble abode, where they
had now been living for several weeks under a
fc6tious name. That only, but nowerru friend,
was Reginald Forbes. He had departed, a short
time before, for ST. Juan, to prenoro for convey.
ing his friends thther, and in one of his own YES
sells. He had not yet appeared, and night-that
last nght--had already arrived at the hour of ten.
They had every thing in readiness-all thew in
tended TO carry with them, Packed IN there in
those few boxes. With pale cheeks and trer-
bling hearts they counted the minutes, the sec
onds, as they passed. He had not vet arrived,
and it was within a quarter of eleven! Hark!
what noise was that? 1t is but the wailing of the
sick child across the street. Again it falls upon
the earl That is not the plant of sickly child!
And now again, but this time louder than before,
nearer and nearer tapproaches; and nowit deep
ens-swes into roar, which reverberates from
the domes and cupolas of St. Dominick! Moth