Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-09-09

ceivcd quite . passion for the girl, and, indeed,
he had rrownt to be one of her most liberal Gus
toners. With a cunning shreWdness and
knowledge OF human nature, the Count hcscig-
cd the heart Of his intended victim without his
appearing 10 do so, and carried on his plan OF
operations for many weeks before the innocent
girl even suspected his possessing ! part!atity
inr her, until one day she was surprised toy u
present from him Of SO rare AID costly a nature
as to lead her TO suspect the donors intention
at once, and 10 promptly decline the proflered
Gift. Uniisnnycd 10y this, still the Count con-
tlGuc1 his rroias" patronage in a way TO winch
Mir.lda could lind no plausible prctcXt OF COM
plant.
At last, Selling upon what be considered a
favorable moment, Count htmontc declared Iii,
passion TO Mlralda, hcsourht her 10 cone and
be the mistress OF his broad and rich estate III
Ccrito, near the city, and offered all the promi.
scs Of wealth. favor and fortune, hnt in vain,-
The pnr"Lnnfcd cirl acorncd bis offer, and badc
him never more TO Insult her hv visiting her
shop. AbasIcd but not conGoundel, the Conn,
retired, bnt only 10 weave new snare whereby
he couIdcnt ANGLE her, for he was not one 10
be 50 easily thwarlcd.
One afternoon, not long after this, as tie
twilight was setting over the town, n file of
soldiers halted, lust opposite the door OF the
It'll" ,i@ar shop, when i yonn@ man, wearing,
a lhcn;cnant's Insignia, entered and asked the
attendant if her name was Mirllla EslcIcz, to
which size timitig responded.
"Fhcn yon vii! please 10 conc with me"
by Wiiat authority" asked the trembling
| girl.
"Fhr order cG the Governor GcncrAl.'
"Thcn must obey YOU" she answered, and
prepared to to!i"w him at once.
Stepping to the door will, her, the Young
officer directed Biz men to marrI on, and get
TING iato 4 volautc, told iliralIa they wou!i
drive 10 the guard house. Eut to the surprise
o' the Cisl, she soon after discovered that they
were RAPIDLY passing The city gates, and immu-
iiatcly after were dashiag oil on the road to
teriia. THEN it was that She began 10 fear
somc trick bad been played upon her; and these
fears were soon confirmed by the v~olante's
turning down the rtig alley of palms that led
TO tie estate OF Count Aimonte. II was in
vain In eyposlnlatc now: she felt that she was
IN the power Of the reckless notlcman, and the
pretended officer and soldiers were his own
people, who had adopted the DISGUISE Of the
Spanish army uniform.
CouGt Almontc met her nj the door told her
10 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 i~avorably upon him, and that in all things
he was crslave. She replied contcmptuously
10 his words, and charged him with the coward.
ly trek by which he had gained control of her
liberty. But she WAS left by herself though
watched by his orders al all times to prevent
her escape.
She knew very well that the power and will {
Of Count Almontc were too strong for any ;
humble friend OF hers to attempt TO t!iwart; :
and yet size somehow felt 4 conscious strength
in Pedro, and secretly cherished the idea that =
he would discover her place of confinement.
md adopt some means to deliver her. The sli.
.etto is the constant companion of the lower
:~lasses, and Miralda had been used TO wear
'nc even in her store, against contingency: but
3hc now regarded the tiny weapon with pecu. p
lar satisfaction, and slept with it in her bosom. :
Small was the clue by which Pedro Mania. =
lcz discovered the trick of Count Almonte.-
first this was found out, and that circumstance. =
nd these, being put together, they led to other =
until the indefatigabIe lover was at last
nily satisfied that he had discovered her place -
f confinement. Disguised as a frjar of the {
ofSan Felipe, he sought Count Almonte's
ate at Il favorable moment, met Miralla, G.
hecred her with fresh hopes, and retired to
range somc plan for her delivery. There was
me to think now; heretofore, he had not per.
'itted himself even an hours sleep: but she
as safc-that is, not in immediate danger III
nd he could breathe more freely. E,
tie knew not with whom to advise; he fear 81,
| to speak 10 those above him in society, lest SO
icy might betray his purpose to the Count; er
I'D his own liberty, by some means, be thus p,
opardizcd. He could only consider with ali
'mself; he must be his own counsellor in this by
'itical case. ev
at last, as if in despair, he started to his feet Is Is
nc day, and exclaimed to himself. .Why not u, ~
0 to head quarters at once? why not see the Of
General and tell him the whole truth? eli
n! see him. how is that to be effected? And
len this Count Almontc is a aobleman! They OF
" that Taeon loves justice. We shall see. ta'
will go to the Governor General; it cannot do on
ny harm it it does not do any good. can TIC
try" And Pedro did seek tho Governor. De
rue, he did not at once get audience of him 'o
mot the first, nor the second, nor the third VI ~.
but he persevered, and was admitted at rio
st. Here he told his story in a free, manly he
'icc, nndisguiscdIy and open in all things, so st,
at Tacon was pleased. sci
''And the girl" asked the Governor. General, fI
whose countcnance a dark scowl had ra> de
cred. "ls she thy sister," std
mo, exeellencia, she is dearer still: she is o"
y bctrohai." ITO