The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-02-16
MANUELA:
Or, the Flower-Girl of Madrid.

=; b.......,. MANUELA; ,4 g
Or, the Flower.Girl Of Madrid.
G0iSstaSGE ~ i75tdl--5 .S! #a--+tti
Y The unhappy state of Spain-that land
where ardent feeling makes every disa-
greement personal or political, assume an
aggravated and imbittered form-drove
many of the inhabitant,, some years ago,
to the neighboring territory of France. In
Bordeaux alone, as many as 10000
Spaniards fixed their residence during the
struggles betwixt the Carlists and Christ
mos. Thenatives and the strangers man
aged, on the whole, to do very well to-
gether5; and many connexions were form
ed in consequence of their being associa-
tedin one place, by the accidents and for
funeof thewar / OFF sE6r a-l
. In, 1885, the Countess de Villa Fuente
came to live in Bordeaux 1t was known
that she came from Madrid, but few or
none seemed to be, acquainted with her
private history, or with the causes of her
exile. No one accompanied her, with the
exception of an infant boy, on whom she
lavished the most tender cares, and in re-
ference to whom the character of widow
was, generally assigned to her, despite of
her youth and unimpaired beauty. She
appeared to be very rich, and kept up
handsome establishment, so that the best
society Of Bordeaux was open to her at
all times. But though not stunning COM
pany altogether, she lived, on the whole,
in retired manner, and the most un-
charitable could attach no impropriety to
herhame, though more than one suitor
futtered around her and sought her good
braces ai 70 81 E5nEaV .aala
otSuch was the state of matters during
the first three months of her stay in Bor-
deaix.7 aAtthe end ofthat time, the coun-
tess, without any known cause, assumed
all the outward marks of deep mourning,
and threw her establishment into the same
sable icololsg Within month or two af-
forwards, it was noticed by observant eyes
that she seemed to distinguish more than
usually a certain Monsieur Longpre, a
wealthy gentleman of Bordeaux, who had
pursued her with unabated aldor for three
years, inspite of all her reserve, and even
her coldness. The alteration in her man
ncr TO hip was sufficiently pointed to lead
people to conclude that he would prove
the happy man. in due. time. But his own
thoughts about the matter were very unset
tied, as the following words from the lips
will partly prove. q tlyu
-gSeizipg an occasion to press his suit,
when the countess allowed him the honor
ofan interview, he broke forth at length
i'm half-reproachful tones -" Inessilla,
why prolong this state of suspense, SO
torturlng TO me-? Unless I deceive my
SELF youufavorl me above others around
you; yes, you love nae. l own l have
this happy belief What, then, causes
your hesitation, since you are widow,
and free !? sit not SO? If youare NOV
edbyany feelings respecting your child,
you know that I love him, and for your
sake viii love him always
The countess, at these words, rose from
her seat, walked to where her guitar lay,
and ran heedlessly over its strings for a
few moments. She then turned to the
htsle boy who was playing near her and,
said to him: Juanito! Juanito go and
drive your humning- top elsewhere; the
noise gives me headache. The bow
came and sought a caress, and then ran
cheerfully away. After his departure,
there was a pause for minute or. two,
which the countess, broke in by saying
"Letsus talk Monsieur Longpre, on sub,
ject, different from the last. This guitar
has reminded me of Spain-of-Madrc
and of Manuela, q poor girl there 5Hel
story is an interesting one listen and
will telhitto you--7that is if you choose tt
hear it." Though the lover was by nc
means pleased, at this evasion of the sub
jectswhich he had SO much at heart, there
was somuch Of grave sweetness in the
toneswith which the countess made the
reqdess,' thatahe at once expressed hi.
willingness to hear the story.