Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-07-21

hid away amid little Ialry ""~~....
orange and a variety of other tropical trees
festooned with every species of creeping
vines and Towering shrub known in the gar.
den world, you can discover three persons
engaged in low desultory conversation, as
they recline there in the cool shade and
watch the glorious sun, as he sinks to rest
in the bright sparkling waters Of the calm
sleeping ocean.
As you approach the mansion, you will
readily recognize them all as old acquaiu.
tances, at least you have met them before
and need not tell you, that the noble look.
ing man in the white linen jacket and broad
leafed sombrero is Don Francisco Maldona.
do; or that the magnificent woman, who sits
by his side toying with an exquisitively
wrought chain of massive gold, is his sister
the lady Dorotca Maldonado, or that yonder
glorious creature, reclining upon the velvet
covered lounge, and gazing wistfulIy out up.
on the boundless expanse, is the daughter OF
Don Francisco. The beautiful Dona Josef;l,
for more than three months the afianced
wife'of the American, Francis Burnct, who
is now in the United States, from whence he
is daily, hourly expected, when the ceremo.
ny will be performed that unites him to his
Josefa forever.
Gradually, the soft twilight fades away,
night settles down upon the world, and the
piazza of the beautiful mansion there in the
little garden wilderness by the sea shore,
some twelve miles away to the westward OF
Cardenas, is deserted.
Don Francisco and his daughter, and the
lady Dorotea have retired within the man.
sion. For more than two hours they sat
there, and talked of Frank" and looked
impatiently out TO sea for some vessel bound
into Cardenas. But it is too late; he will
not come tonight; and so they have all re.
tired to rest
Slowly the hours glide by, and the full
round moon rides high in the heavens, when
suddenly the: inmates of the mansion are
aroused from slumber by the tramp of iron
shod troops and the clang Of sabre scab.
bards, as troop of twenty dragons gallop
up to the door and dismount.
The next moment, the voice of the ruffian
Colonel, Don Alvaro Torres, alias Mateo
Aquino, the bandit of Toledo, is heard
summoning Don Francisco to open his doors,
and surrender himself prisoner.
A brief space of time, and lights are seen
within the mansion, the doors are flung open,
and twenty grim soldiers rush into the hall
and throng the private apartment of Don
Francisco Maldonado, who is informed by
the brutal Colonel, that he must prepare to
accompany him at once to Havana, to an.
swer to the Governor. General for aiding and
assisting the American pirates in their late
attack upon Cardenas.
"Holy virgin~ almost shrieks the beau,
tiful Josefa, who at this moment rushes to
the side OF her half bewildered father; I" this
is some foul plot to drag you hence, and
leave me at the mercy of the vile wretch
whose very presence is living curse. May
Heaven protect me !"
"Well argued, my proud beauty, you say
truly that you will be completely in my pow
er and your naughty father once secure ir
the dungeons Of the Moro, there is little
prospect of bis coming hither again to in
terfere with our domestic affairs. fs