The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-11-16

VI Soiut0hS liaiteu JuSe Oppusite bile uoOl- VI
the little cigar shop, whena young man,
wearing lieutenant's insignia, entered
I and asked the attendant if her name was
Miralda Estates, to which she timidly re-
: sponded. IT, ) '5a.i 1i s.s "a g Is -
( ",Ihep you will please to come with
"By what authority" asked the tremb-
ling girl. ....s.5 ..,,'. e II. l.s
"The order Of the Governor General"
'"Then | must obey you" she answered;
and prepared to follow him at once.
i Stepping to the door with her,the young
officer directed his men to march on, and
|; fgetting into a volahte, told Miralda they
would drive to the guard house. But to
the surprise of the girl, she soon after dis
( covered that they were rapidly passing the
city gates, automatically after were dash
] ing off on the road to Cerite. Then it was
\ that she began to fear. some trick had been
i played upon her; and these fears were soon
confirmed by the volante's turning down
| the long alley Of palms that led to the estate
Iof Count Almonte 1t was in vain to ex-
postulate now, she felt that she was in the
power of the reckless nobleman, and the
pretended officers and soldiers were his own
people, who had adopted the disguise Of
the Spanish army uniform. =,
Count Almonte met her at the door, told
her to fear no violence, that her wishes
should be respected in all things save her
personal liberty; that he trusted, in time,to
persuade her to look more favorably upon
him., and that in all things he was her
slave She replied contemptuously to his
words, and charged him with the cowardly
trick by which he had gained control Of
her liberty. But she was left by herself,
though watched by his orders all times to
prevent her escape. 't.r.
She knew very we'll that the power and
will of Count Almonte were too strong for
any humble friend Of hers to attempt to
thwart; and yetshe somehow felt a con-
scious strength in Pedro; and secretly
cherished the idea that he would discover
her place of confinement, and adopt some
means to deliver. her. The stiletto is the
constant, companion of the lower classes,
and Miralda had been used to wear one
leven in her store against contingency; but
she now regarded the tiny weapon with pc
|culiar satisfaction, and slept with it in her
bosom. s @ is st-ca ~
Small was the clue by which Pedro Man
tanez discovered the trick of Count AL
monte. First this was found out, then that
circumstance, and these, being put togeth'
er, they led to other results, until the inde-
fatigable lover was at last fully satisfied
that he had discovered her place ofconfne'
ment. Disguised as friar ofthe order o.
/, San Felipe, he sought Count Almonte's
gates at a favorable moment, met Miralda
: cheered her with fresh hopes, and retired
to arrange some plan for her delivery
, There was time to think now; heretofore,ho
had not permitted himself even an hour:
sleep; but she was safe-thatis, not in inn
mediate danger, and he could breathe
more freely. He knew not with whom tc
!, advise; he feared to speak to. those above
him in society, lest they might betray hi:
, purpose to the Count, and his own liberty
by some means be thus jeopardized, HI
could only consider with himself: he mus
be his own counsellor in this critical case.
, AT last, as ifin despair, he started to hi'
| feet one day, and exclaimed to himself, =
''Why not go to headquarters at once?-
r Why not see the Governor General, ant
{. tell him the whole truth? Ah!see him.
r How is that to be effected? And then thi
Count Almonte is RoJlenedn! They say
t Tacon loves justice. We shall see. Iwil
t 90 to the Governor General; it cannot dt
: any harm, if it does not do any good. b.
! can but try" And Pedro did seek tht
3 Governor True, he did not at once ge
audience ofhim-not the first, nor second
: nor third time; but he epersevered, and wa
: admitted atlast. Here he told his storyiI
1 free, manly voice, undisguisedly and o
! pen in all things, SO that Tacon was pleas
: ed. .,-,,5.-, .-. .,. s.y..,....
"And the girll'' asked the Governor
3 General, over whose countenance darl
scowl had gathered Is she thy sister?'
5 ,"No, Excelencia, she is dearer still, sht
r is my betrothed." p sSs4 ~is''l
> 'The Governor bidding him come nearer
t took q golden cross from his table, ,anc
handing it to the boatman, as he regarded
/, him searchingly, said:- a.a ~
-"Swear that what you have related t'
| me Is true, as you hope for heavenP"
( II swear!" said Pedro, kneeling and kis
, sing the emblem with simple reverence.
: The Governor turned to his table, wrot'
i few brief lines, and touching the bell
| summoned apage from an adjoining room
whom he ordered to send the captain 0
+ the guard to him, Prompt as we're all whc
} had any connection with the Governor
household, the, officer appeared at once, ,ant
received the written order, with directions
to bring Count Almonte and young CIR
named Miralda, Immediately before him
: Pedro was sent to an ante-room, and th'
. business of the day passed on as usual-ir
4 the reception hall of the Governor. &
: Less than two hours had transpired
t when the Count and Miralda stood before
; Tacon. Neither knew tho nature of. tn
. business which had summoned themthefe
t Almoute half suspected The truth, and tn
poor girl argued to herself that her fat
!. could not be improved by the interference
1 lei its nature be what it might.
9 "Count Almonte, you doubtless know
y why have ordered you to appeare here:'
y :" .f'Excelencia, L fear that I have been in
9 discreet, was the reply. &. 4. i.',. =,
d 'You adopted the uniform ofthe guard
for your own private purposes upon thi
young girl, did you not?'