Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-02

seated in her chamber with her compan
IONS, when footstep was heard at tn,
door OF the apartment. "You cannot en-
ter-do not enter, Don Miguel :" cried
one or two of the ladies, starting Up from
the easy poStures, into which, fatigied b,
the dance, they had throw Al themselves.
They conceived that Don Miguel had
m, 5scd Dolores from the dance, and had
come to inquire after her. But when, in
spite of their exclamation, the door of the
chamber was opened, they beheld-not
Don Miguel, but Manuela, the flower
girl.
Manucla. the flower girl, was so re.
markable fer her beauty and handsome
ligure, that few who were in the habit of
walking on the Prado were unacquainted
with her by name and appearance. But
when she entered the chamber of Dolores
on the marriage evening Of the latter
very unlike her usual aspect was that
present by the flower girl. Her lon
black hair hung in disorder around her
pale face, and her dark eyes famed with
leverlSh excitement. She bore before her.
by strap, her flower basket, in which
lay, bedded upon flowers, an infant of
two months old.
Where is the bride?" demanded Man.
uela, hoarsely, as sson as she entered.
Manucla !" cried Dolores, trem bling.
she knew not why, yet cndeayoring TO
seem at case, :" | am the bride and you
shall bear my boGuets to surt.''
- l OF the bride - exclaimed Manucla
w Eron n
- Is 1T you whom he is to marry ?''
- W hom he IS to marry, Manuela q"
answered Dolores " say whom he has
married! Has not Don Miguel sent you
sent you to strew our nuptial way
with flowers g"
g The traitor ~ cried Manuela. BE.
hold that infant it is his-it is mine-it
is ours - The tears Of the flower-girl
then burst forth in torrents, but She
checked them, and continued, All, il
you knew all his treachery-all his wick
cdness. IA poor girl-sought TO avoid
HIM; but he married me, and the mar
rage was false one, | discovered his
deceit; but he came to my father, and to
my mother, and he calmcd them by re.
ncwing all his rostcstations and promises. |
1t is two months since nv child was
torn: he was with me then, but | knew
not, though know now, that it was bui |
to deceive me the more fully. He already
loved me-already - :
Here the poor fiower-girl fell down in |
an exhausted state. She was tenderly |
cared for by the agitated bride and her
friends, and recovered somewhat her
strength. ''Only to-day, about two hours
since, learned that Don Miguel Wax to
wed another. Then l thought, in my
madness, of killing him: bu+ i grew more
calm. Poor child what would have be.
come of him-lis father killed-his
mother poisoned" The fainting condi
ton of the flower girl explained her
words: She had not avenged herself on
taken SslM't poison. Take axe m my child said
she to the bride, as she grew momentalily
weaker; protect him, watch over him,
be mother to him. If you can still love
Don Miguel, after his cruel abandonment
Of his child and me, the poor fower-girl
shall not lin your way. But, oh pro-
mise to a dying mother that you will take
care of her child '"
Dolores had rather sighed than spoken
the desired promise, when a knock was
heard at the chamber door. Dolores in
stantly caused it. to be fastened within.
The knocks were then repe-ted, and the
voice of Don Miguel was heard desiring
You cannot enter" an
swered one of the womcn. The bride
.room addressed himself to Dolores, ana
seeming to believe her Ill, bcsought ad-
mittance. The passionate words of af
lection which he peur"d out for the car
Of the bride fell unhceded. Dolores hung
over the dying flower girl. 'Manutla,"
parted from me while l live. Manuela
continued she, in tones of the
deepest sympathy, live for your child
and Don Miguel--he shall be restored to
you; mine he is not, and never shall be
All, help. she dies - -.-..
While Dolores was thus engaged, Don
Miguel continued to press for admittance;
and by this time, either through the
noise, or by reason of the brides alb
sence, whisper had gone through the
mansion that something was amiSs. Mo
rales, with number of the party, left
The ball room, and came to the door Of
his daughters chamber. My child"
be cried, " it is l. Open to me /; if any
thing be alnisS, let me be with you. Open
10 me"
On hearing her fathers voice, Dolores,
who was tenderly wiping the foam from
the convulsed lips Of Nanuela, reused
herself, and gave orders for the opening
of the chamber door. "Let all enter,'
she said firmly. Her command was
obeyed: and the first person who rushed
fo-word was Don Miguel. What was
his amazement and horror when, upon
the bridal bed of Dolores. he saw the
pale countenancc of one but too well
known to him. Manuela had not yet
expired. At the instant of his advance,
she opened her dark eyes, and fash of
fire Shot across their enfeebled lustre.
She slowly raised her finger, and direct
ing it towards him, she said - Misera.
BILE man, ] pardon thee! But beware Of
my father-he will kill thee" As she
spoke, Manuela sunk backwards, and
died almost instantly in the arms of Do
lores. 'af'
The dying woman, her words, and the
sight of the infant, formed but too full an
explanation Of this scene to all who had
entered the chamber. Conscience struck.