New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-17
Il swear, : said Pedro, Ineeling and kissing

al swear" said Pedro, kneeling and kissing
the emblem with simple reverence,
The Governor turned to his table, wrote 2
few brief lines, and, touching q bell, summoned
q page from an adjoining room, whom he or
dered to send the captain of the guard to him,
Prompt as were all who had any connection
with the Governors household, the officer ap-
peared at once, and received the written ORDER,
with directions to bring Count Almonfe ana
young girl named Miralda Immediately before
him Pedro was sent TO ante-room, ana the
business of the day passed on as usual IN the
reception hall Of the Governor.
Less than two hours had transpired when the
Count and Miralda stood before Tacon. Neither
knew the nature Of the business which had sum-
moned them there. Almonte half suspected the
truth, and the poor girl argued Of herself that
her fate could not but be improved by the inter
ference, let Its nature be what it might.
Count Almonte, you doubtless know why l
have ordered you to appear here?
&C Excelencia, fear that have been indis-
Greet, was the reply. fN3i
& You adopted the uniform Of the guards for
your own private purposes upon this young girl,
did you not |" Mtss3
sExeelencia, cannot deny it, Res ''sal
&C Declare upon your honor, Count Almonte,
whether she is unframed, whom you have thus
kept prisoner. H III 81
:. Exeslencia, she is as pure as when she en-.
The Governor turned, and whispered some
thing to his page, then continued his questions
to the Count, while he made some minutes upon
paper. Pedro was now summoned to explain
some matter, and as he entered the Governor
General turned his back for one moment as if to
seek for some papers upon his table, while Mi
ralda was pressed in the boatman's arms. 1T
was but for o moment. and the next, Pedro was
bowling shumbly before Taeon. A few moments
panied by monk of the church Of Santa Clara,
with the emblems of his Office. '.e9 4i4 ~ x
g Holy father" said Tacon, tsyou viii bind
the hands of this Count Almonte and Miralda
Estalez together in the bonds of wedlock. y IL ~
Excelencia ? exclaimed the Count in amaze
nent Fl ~ ~
). Not ia word, Senior tits your part to obey -
ssMy nobility, Excelencia!"
is forfeited!' said Taoon.
Count Alm0nte had too many evidences before
his mind eye of Tacon's mode Of administering
Justice and Of enforcing his own will to dare to
rebel, and he doggedly yielded in silence. Poor
Pedro, not daring to speak, was half crazed to
see the prize he had so long coveted thus about
to be torn from him. In a few moments the
ceremony was performed, the trembling and be-
wildered girl not daring to thwart the Govern
or's orders, and the priest declared them hus
band and wife. The captain of the guard was
summoned and dispatched with some written
order, and in a few subsequent moments Count
Almonte, completely subdued and bYoken-spirit-
ed. was ordered to return to his plantation.
Pedro and Miralda we're directed to remain in
an adjoining apartment to that which had been
the scene Of this singular procedure, Count
Almonte mounted his horse, and with q single
attendant soon passed out of the city gates.
But hardly hsd he passed the corner Of the
Paseo, when dozen muskets fred q yolley upon
him, and he fell corpse upon the road
His body was quietly removed, and the cap
tain Of the guard, who had witnessed the act,
made q minute upon his order as to the time
and place, and, mounting his horse, rode to the
Governors palace, entering the presence cham
Der just as Pedro and Miralda were once more
summoned before the Governor
Excelencia,' said the officer, returning the
order, sit is executed r.
Ss Is the Count dead ="
g Excelencia. yes. =
ssProclaim in the usual manner, the marriage
of Count Almonte and Miralda Estaletz, and also
that she is his legal widow, possessed of his titles
and estates. See that proper officer attends
her to the Counts estate, and enforees this de-
cision.''
Then, turning to Pedro Mantanez, he said :
IS No man or woman in this Island is SO humble
but they may claim justice of Tacon!''
The story furnishes its own moral
Mr.. Ballou closes his volume with lively
picture Of the benefit which would accrue
to Cuba from her annexation to the United
States