Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-01-19

but to us it was anything else.
Written for the Clarksburg Register.
THE SPY.
i By MARIE JANE TAYLOR.
In the early part of the year 1846 The
sun had just touched the edge of the ives.
tern horizon and lighted up the balmy re
glons of the South with his farewell rays,
when small and stoutly built schooner
was seen to enter the calm waters of Mo-
bile bay, and rest for moment upon its
glossy surface. The ships boat was quick
ly lowered to the water, and several trunks
carefully placed in the bottom, and then
young man descended from the vessel,
sprang lightly into her, and waving his
hat TO the crew who had gathered upon
The deck, rowed swiftly towards the shore;
while the vessel, spreading all her sails TO
the wind, left wide track of foam in her
wake as she scudded along towards the
blue Atlantic.
:" By our patron Saint but you are a
good rover" said rough son of Erin, as
the boat struck the land and the occupant
sPrang upon the shore.
Five pistoles to the man that will con-
vey my luggage to the nearest hotel, -
said the unknown, without seeming to
heed the remark of the Irishman.
But the hasty departure of the vessel,
and the evident wish of the stranger to
avoid all conversation, had awakened Gu
riosity and he was soon surrounded by
a host of idlers who overwhelmed him
with numberless questions, as to who he
was, where he came from, and to what ma
ton the ship belonged from which he had
taken such hasty departure.
A shade of anger gathered for a mo-
ment over his handsome features, but in
stantly suppressing it. he said in mild
tone, to which slightly foreign accent
gave additional sweetness.
81 am Spaniard and traveller, !
have come to visit your country, and /
landed from the good ship De la Verde,
which is now bound to one of your north
ern ports. She is competitor for prize
for the swiftest expedition from Havana
to Boston, and to prevent delay, the cap
tain gave me baat that might land
alone, and that boat present to the city
authorities, as shall have no further use
for it, and bowing TO the crowd, he slung
light yalise upon his shoulder and fol-
lowed the porter who was conveying his
trunks to the hospitable door of the "Swan
and Eagle
| The stranger who had thus excited the
curiosity of the good people of Mobile,
could not have been more than twenty
two years old. In person, he was tall,
straight and we'll proportioned his COM
plexion was dark. but clear and rich and
the quick, restless glance of his keen dark
eyes, lighted up his handsome features
with charm that seemed to fascinate all
with whom he conversed. He possessed
to its full extent. that easy grace, and
bland polish Of manners, so peculiar to the
high born gentry of every land and the
slight pencilling of jetty mustache that
curved his aristocratic lip, would have i'm
parted look of naughty scorn to his
countenanee, had it not been relieved by
bright smile of winning kindness with
which he greeted all who approached him,
and like Absalomof old seemed TO steal the
hearts of those with whom he conyersed
On reaching the hotel, he entered his
name, "Otho De Canoya, Cosmopolite, %
and turning to the host, he said. '' am.
indeed, citizen of the world, and that is
a country no man need blush before his
fellow man to own," and bidding them to
place his property in the rooms he was
to occupy, he left the house and bent his
steps towards the strand, where crowds OF
people had gathered to enjoy the soft
beauties of moonlight night, beneath a
southern sky; and was soon engaged in
conversation with those around him.
| Mobile, at the time of which we have
speak, was great resort for inValids from
the Western and Middle States, who flock
ed hiihcr to enjoy the mild salubrity of =
southern winter: and they knew that the
genial breath of May had clad with YER
dure the groves and meadows of their own
more northern homes yet the gay scenes
of pleasure which they daily shared with
the hospitable southerners-the bright
beauties of the surrounding country and
their own reviving health, made them 10th
to quit place whose very air seemed i'm.
ipregnated with delight. Anxious to i'm.
part to others the happiness experienced
} by themselves. they crowded around the
young stranger and begged that he would
grace by his presence. a great ball tha
was to be given that night by the wealthy
heiress of Montford.
"But will warn you beforehand, gen
tie stranger" said a young fop, as h'
stood with a pocket glass in his hand, sur
yeying with evident delight, his richly de
corated person. 81 warn you not 10 fal
in love with the "Queen of the South,
as she is called, for she is the greatest co
, quette alive, and there has been as man,
/ victims to her charms as there are tree
in her fathers orange grove, which yol
see spread out on yonder hill She IS Ger
: tainly beautiful, and withal, an heiress
1 but she is so vain-so heartless, that n
one should attempt conquest, for re
: pulse and derisive laugh, would be a