Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-03-18
THE STORY TELLER.
VICISSITUDES OF FORTUNE.
CHAPTER /.


There lived formerly in Lisbon a rich mer-
chant of the name of Lopez who carried on a
very extensive business. The prosperity ofths
man had become almost proverbial in the city.
His ships always came safely to port, and every
speculation he entered into sure to turn TO
good account; his only daughter, Margarita,
was about to marry rich ship owner of Bar
celona.
For more than eighteen years Fortune had
heaped upon Lopez her richest favors. With
one breath she threw down the gigantic edifce
she had raised. All his ships were either
wrecked taken by pirates and the unex-
pected failure of four large houses swallowed
up the capital of the unfortunate old man.
The marrige of his daughter was broken off,
for he could no longer give portion. In two
years he was completely ruined. All that re-
mained 10 him was claim of hundred thou
sand dollars, which he had upon merchant of
Madrid; this man refused 10 pay the claim,
and Lopez was obliged to leave Lisbon and
proceed to Spain, in order to substantate it by
legal measures.
Justice is slower and more costly in Spain
than in any other country. The lawsuit lasted
three years, during which time Lopez, his
wife and daughter, were reduced to abject pow
erty they were all obliged 10 work for their
support The father kept the books of two or
three petty shop-keepers, the mother and daugh-
ter were employed .in sewing for some of the
first milliners of Madrid. The adversary of
Don Lopez delayed the suit by every means in
his power; he dragged him from court to
court, but, finally, after having exhausted all
the resources of chicanery, he was sentenced to
pay the whole amount of the claim, with inter-
est and costs. One evening Lopez returned to
his miserable lodgings, and with shout of JOY
showed TO his wife and daughter his pocket
book, containing the amount he had recovered
sum, which, in their reduced position, was
large fortune.
After having consulted for short time, as to
the disposal of his treasure, it was determined
that Don Lopez should lodge it with one of the
first brokers in Madrid, to be by him remitted
TO Portugal, and employed in snch way as to
secure them decent income.
Il will 60 to him Immediately said Don
Lopez, and will be back again in half an
hour
A whole hour elapsed, but Don Lopez did
not return.
The two ladies began to grow uneasy ; but
Judge Of their agony and despair when midday
arrived ard Don Lopez was still abseut. The
whole Of the night was passed in dreadful sus-
pense. At day-break the unfortunate women
set oat in search of him, but it was useless
The bedy cf a man had been found on the street,
pierced with many wounds. 1t was with hor-
ror that they discovered this to be the only pro-
tector they had on earth. 1t is needless to add
shat the pocket-book, containing their whole
fortune, had disappeared; doubtless some rob-
Der had aeea sPprsed that Don Lopez had re-
ceiVed a considerable sum, and had assassinated
Aim- The mother of Donna Margarita was
struck with paralysis on seeing the dsfgured
and bleeding corpse of her husband all that
science could do for her recovery was attempted,
bnt without success {; she had entirely lost the
use of her hands, and even her reason was
much impaired. Donna Margarita was COM
PEELED to devote her whole time to the care of
her unfortunate mother.
For long time these unfortunates had been
accustomed to poverty; absolute misery now
succeeded to it; misery accompanied by cold,
hunger and rags. Obliged to attend constantly
on her mother, to watch her every movement,
Margarita could no longer work.
At length the day arrived when she could
not produce a loaf of bread.
The old lady was sitting upon miserable
straw mattress, the only remaining article of
furniture they possessed, when she suddenly
cried out with horrid laugh which character
ICES insanity
am hungry! l am hungry'
Margarita had not single article left that
she could sell all her clothes, excepting those
she wore, had been little by little disposed of ;
it was in vain she looked around for something
to raise money upon to purchase provisions for
her suffering mother. Suddenly bitter smile
contracted her pale features she rose, and hur-
rying out Of the house, directed her steps to the
shop of a fashionable hair-dresser, lately opened
in one of the principal and most frequented
streets of Madrid.
will you buy my hair,' said Margarita to
the master of the shop, taking out the comb that
held it-reaching almost to her feet
The hair-dresser had never beheld such mag
nifcent tresses-he expressed his surprise at
their surprising beauty.
He offered her price for them. Margarita
without hesitation agreed to take it. She was
anxious that this, perhaps the most painful sac
rifce that misery had entailed upon her, should
be speedily accomplished.
The hair-dresser took large pair of scissors
and was about to cut off the hair. Margarita
trembled in every limb--a condemned culprit
could not with greater agony await the falling
of the axe of the executioner, than she did the
approach of those dreadful scissors.
In the name of the Holy Virgin exclaim-
ed the trembling girl, for PHYS sake be
quick
1t would be great pity observed the hair
dresser, to cut off such hair, and to deprive 10
lovely face Of it,
BE quick reiterated Margarita, for mer-