The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-08-26
A STORY OF CCRA.

L.
tatIon in Havana, his energy in eflcc,inr i'm
provementS, having been combined with such
degree of violence, that to the people at
large he was an object Of terror. rather than
OF gratitude In accompli>hin. his purposes.
life was counted Of little value, and MANY Of
the flrst people were sacrificed to his unscru-
Pnous zeal The following story, which was
related to the author in Havana, illustrates
his romantic love of Justice. and Will bear re
peatng.
During the first wear of Tacon's cye,n-
orsh'p there was young Creole girl named
M'ra!da Estalcz, who kept little cigar store
III the Calic de Mcrcalcrcs. and whose sbor
was the resort of all the Young men of th,.
town who loved a choicclv made and suncr;-
or cigar. Miralla was only seventeen with
out mother or father living. and earninc an
humble, though sufficient support b, her il.
duStry in the manufacture we have namcI
and by the sale of her little store. She was
picture OF ripcncd tropical beauty. with a
finely rounded form, a lovely face of so.i o..
I'VE TINT, and teeth that a Tu>carora nioht en-
w her At times there was a dash of Ian
Suor IN her dreamy eye, that would have
warmed an anchoiIc: and then her cheerful
Icst> were 50 drliratc vet free. that she had
,t,y NJ,
hearts. OF halt the Young merchants in the
'alle dc Mcrca,lares. But she dispensed her
iavors without parti;!itv: none of the ric!,
ana gay .NIui>ltc> o; Havana could say ,hrv
had ever received any particular acknowlci,-
ments from the taIr Young Girl to their warm
and constant attention. For this ore She mad
a lca>ant smile. for another a few words o,
pleasing gossip. and for thir,! snatch Of 4
Spanish song; but to no one did She r,v, her
confidence. except To .oun" Pedro Man'ancz.
fine looking l"atman who piled l.twern
the l'nnto and Moro Castle. on the opposite
side O. The harbor
Pedro was a manly and Courageous vounr
fellow, rather above his class in intc!lircncc.
appearance and associations. and pulled h;>
oars with strong arm and iirht heart. and
loved the beautiful Mirada with an arlor ro-
mantle in its fidelity and truth. lie was \
sort OF leader among the hoatm, Of the har
bor Tor reason OF his superior cultivation and
intelligence. and his quick wi;.cd >ara.itv was
often turned for Tie benefit of his comrades
Many were the noble deeds he had done in
and about the harbor since boy. for he had
followed his calling of waterman from boy
hood, as his fathers had done before him
Miralda in turn ardcntlv loved Pedro and
when he came at night and sat in the back
part OF her little shop. >h, had always a neat
and fragrant ci.ar for LIS lips. Now and
then. when She could steal away from her
shop on some holiday. Pedro would hoist 4
tiny Sar! in the prov of his boat. and securing
the little stern awning over MiraIa's head
steer out into the guilt and coast along the ro-
mantle shore.
There WAS a famous rouc. well known \;
lIS tine IN Havana. named Count Nlmontc.
who had frequently visited Mraldas Shon.
and conceived quite Il passion for the rirl.
and. indeed. he had grown to hc one of the
most liberal customers. With Il cunning
'hrcw,.nc>> and knowledge of human nature.
he Count bc>icgel the heart of his intended
victim without appearing TO DO 50. and ear
red on his plan OF operations for many weeks
before the innocent "irl even SUSPECTED his
possessing rartiality for her. until one ,,av
hc was surprised hv present from him OF 50
are and costly nature as led her To SUSPECT
he donors intentions at once. and topromp:-
Y decline the offered GIFT. t'ndi>mavcI hv
his. still the Connt continucIhi proil.>r pat
ona@c in way to which MraIda could find
10 plausible rretcxt of complaint
At last. seizirC what he considered to be a
avorahle moment, Count Amontc declared
lis passion for Mirada, bc>oucht her 20 come
md be the mistress Of his broad and rich cs
atcS at Ccrlto. near the city, and offered all
he promises of wealth. favor and fortune
'ut in vain. The pure minded girl scorncd ,
lis offer. and babe him never more to insult
Ter by visiting her shop. Abashcd but not
onfounded, the Count retired, but only to
reavc new snare whereby he could entan-
lie her, for he was rot one to be so easily
hwartcd Il.
One afternoon, not long after this, as the
wiight was settling over the town. file Of
oldIcrs halted just opposite the door of the
tile cigar-shop, when young man. wearing y
lieutenants insignia, entered and asked the .
ttendant if her name was Miralda Estalcz, to
hich she tmidlv responded. o
",Then you will please come with me-" !,
"By what authority" asked the trembling
rl +,
"The order of the General" ii
"Ihen must obey you," she answered, and u
repaired to follow him at once. @,
Stepping to the door with her, the Young II
ilCer directed his men to march on and O,
stting into a volantc, told Miralda they OF
ould drive to the guard house. But, to the til
rprise of the girl. she soon discovered that m
ey were rapidly passing the city gates, and I
'mediately after were dashing off on the Ell
ad to Cerito. Then it was that she began m