The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-06-15


horses prancing on all sides, told them any
attemptto escape would prove futile a mo-
ment more, and Lord Manville and Sir Char
les were roughly bound. l8a
"What want you Sir Biigand, Of us be-
lated travellers?" asked Lord Manyille, "if it
is our money, take it, and let us. go safely on
our way our lives could be ofno service to
you, except to add another stain 10 your al
ready black soulp
Lord Manyille, l am no stranger toyou,
though in this thick darkness you may not
recognize me. TTis not your life or gold of
which would rob. you, but something that
to you may be, and to me certainly is, of
far greater value. DO you not remember
Don Pedro the rejected suitor of the fair
Eleanor Manville2 am he, and the time
of my revenge is at hand mine she shall be-
and never another's." -
sMerciful God save my Child !. exclaiin-
ed Lord Manyille, while the hue of death
rested on his lip and brow, for he well knew
into whose hands his daughter had fallen
and that her captor was not better than the
yilest miscreant. Don Pedro now seized
the insensible form of Eleanor, and springing
upon his fiery steed, thus addressed Sir Char
. fH. .
you, gentleman, can now be liberated,
and proceed unmolested on your journey, or
turn you homeward, for of what use is the
wedding without the bride? Ha, ha ha I!
you see am aware of the intent of your
journey. But, Sir Dalton, you may choose
another bride if it please you, for her you
will never we'd !"
| Nor you, vile wretch, while Dalton lives
and were / not thus pinioned, your worth
less life should pay the forfeit of your insul-
ting hands" replied Sir Charles; but the
last sentence was lost upon the ear of the re-
treating Don Pedro, now known as Captain
DE Casio among his followers; for his fear
less steed was fast bearing away the tiger
and his prey unto his mountain fastness. =
o, Eleanor would that the pure heart
might be spared the wild grief of thy dread
awaking! ~
Two years previous to the date of my sto-
ry, Don Pedro had visited the village OF
R, with the assumed name and garb Of
"a gentleman this village was about twenty
miles from the before mentioned city of
M, and was the summer residence of
the fashionable, who wished remission from
the foibles of the city life. Lord Manville
and family were among the number who
had sought this calm retreat.
Don Pedro's gentlemanly appearance and
rich dress, added to really fine features, soon
rendered him the fayorite of the fashionable
circle; and at a grand levee given by the
the elite of the place, he first met Eleanor
Manville. He was captivated by her beauty,
and delighted with her manners, but more
by her reputed wealth and he determined
to carry off the prize. -.
He was never favorite with Eleanor, for
from the first time they met, she had ever
fell an instructive dread of his presence.
They met often at gay parties, and his very
obsequeous attention always greatly annoy
Ell her; however, she was obliged to receive
them kindly, though from close observation
ofhis character, she discovered many obserss
wanda which were disagreeabIe to her. AT
length he proposed to the father for his
daughters hand. Lord Manville replied
that his daughters good sense must decide
] the case-and referred him to her. Don
Pedro little chagrined at his cool reception
from the father, delayed few days before
proposing to the Lady Eleanor herself; but
when he did so, what was his modification,
| anger, ana disappointment, at receiving a
prompt and full denial Eleanor, at the
same time, expressed a wish that he would
intrude no more into her presence, especial
ly in her fathers mansion, aud if they met
elsewhere they must meet as strangers. !.
Don Pedro left the house forever. swear
| ing vengeance and revenge ON the inmates
The following day he left the village, and the
Manvilles had heard nothing of him vi, to
the eve We first introduced him to the read.
er. 4ff .g
Shortly after his departure, Eleanor met
the noble Sir Charles Dalton, a man every
way worthy of her esteem, and after shor,
acquaintance, they were betrothed. On the
evening they were overtaken by the robbers
they were on theirway to the city where the
marriage ceremony was to be performed or
the following morning. Don Pedro, it seems
had joined himself to the brigands, that he
might the easier carry out his plan of re
yenge and lurking near the village, he had
heard the plan of the journey to- the city
and determined to interceptthem on the way
The reader knows well how his fendish plot
has succeeded. @
III CHAPTER II.