Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-10-05
s. Truf fraul Guhun Nistnrg.
A Thrilling Story Of Life in Cuba,

>~~~~~~~
A Thrilling Story Of Life in Cub
During the first year of Tacon
governorship, there was young Or
ole girl, named Miralda Estalez, wi
kept little cigar store in the Cal
de Mereadras, and whose sht
was t he resort Of all the young me
of the town, who loved choic
ly made and superior cigar. Mira
da was only seventeen, without motl
er or father living, and earned a
humble though sufficient support b
her industry, in the manufactory "
have named, and by the sales of he
little store. She was picture {
ripened tropical beauty, With a finel
rounded form, a lovely face, of sol
oliveetint, and teeth that Tuscaro
IA might envy her. At times, ther
was dash Of languor in her dream,
eye that would have warmed an an
chorite; and then her cheerful jest
were so delicate yet free, that shs
had unwittingly turned the heads
not to say hearts, of half the young
merchants in the Gale de Merca
dares. But she dispensed her IA
vors without partiality; none of the
rich and gay exquisites of Havana
could say they had ever received any
particular acknowledgment from the
fair young girl to their warm and
constant attention. For this one
she had pleasant smile, for another
a few words of pleasing gossip, and
fora third a snatch of a Spanish song;
but to none did she give her conf
dence, except to young Pedro Man
tanez, fine looking boatman, who
piled between the Punta and Moro
Castle, on the opposite side of the
harbor.
Pedro was manly and courage
Gus young fellow, rather above his
class in intelligence, appearance and
associations, and pulled his oars with
a strong and light heart, and loved
the beautiful Miralda with an ardor
in its fidelity and truth. He
was sort Of leader among the boat
men in the harbor, for reason Of his
superior cultivation and intelligence,
and his quickwitted sagacity was of
ten for the benefit of his comrades.
Many were the noble deeds he had
lone in and about the harbor since a
BOY, for he had followed his calling
If waterman from boyhood, as his
ather had done before him. N1iral-
la in turn ardently loved Pedro, and
ghen he came at night and sat in
he back part Of her little shop, she
lad always a neat and fragrant cigar
or his lips. Now and then, when she
'ould steal away from her shop on
ome holiday, Pedro would hoist a
iny sail in the PROV of his boat, and
occurring the little awning over Mi
alda's head, would steer out into
he gulf and coast along the roman
ic shore.
There was famous roue, we'll
,nown at this time in Havana,
famed Count Almonte, who frequent
y visited Mirslda's shop and con-
eived quite a passion for the girl,
nd, indeed, he had grown to be one
f her most liberal customers. With !
cunning shrewdness and knowl-
dge of human nature, the Count be-
legged the heart of his intended
ictim without appearing to do so,
nd carried or his plan of operations
Or many weeks before the innocent
:irl even suspected his possessing a
artiality for her, until one day she
Tas surprised by present from. him
f so rare and costly a nature as to
sad her to suspect the donors inten-
ions at once. and to promptly decline
be offered gift. Undismayed by
bis, still the Count continued his
rofuse patronage in e way to which
Iiralda could find plausible pre-
ext of complaint.
At last, seizing upon what be con-
dered a favorable moment, Count
.lmonte declared his passion to Mi
ida, ,besought her to come and be the
distress of his broad and rich estate
Cerito, near the city, and Of
red all the promises of wealth,
Ivor, and fortune; but in vain
he pure-minded girl scorned his of
II, and bade him never more insult
ar by visiting her shop. Abashed, {
ut not confounded, the Count re-
red, but only to weave a new snare