Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-09-09
From Ballou's History f-Cuba -
THE STORY OF
COUNT AIN ONTE.
L

ICONCbUUEpl
The Governor bidding him come nearer, took
Golden cross ftom bis table and handing II
70 the boatman, as he regarded him searching
~, said:
.,re az Won hope for heaven"
81 swearr' said Pedro, k~neeling and kissing
fine emblem with sacred reverence.
Tho Governor turned to his table, wrote q
few brief lines, and touching a bell, summoned
q maze from en- adjoining room, whom he or
Jarod to send the captain of the Guard to him
p,ompt as were all who had any connection
witb the Governors household, the officer APP.
neared at once, and received the written order
with directions to bring Count Almonte and a
Young girl named Miralda Immediately before
him. Pedro was sent to an anteroom, and the
business of the day passed on as usual in the
receptiop.hall of the Governor.
Less than two hours had transpired when
the Count and Miralda stood before Tacon-
Neither knew the nature ofthe business which
had summoned them there. Almonte ha'fsus-
pected the truth, and the poor girl argued to
herself that her fate could not but be improved
by the interference, let its nature be what 1t
might. 81,
"COunC AimOnte, you uoupIie'o h"o" why
have ordered you to appear here"
"Excelencia, l fear that ! have been lndls>
Greet" was the reply.
"You adopted the uniform OF the guards for
your own private purposes upon this young girl,
did you not?" 90.
"Excelencia, I cannot deny it"
"Declare upon your honor, Count Almonte,
whether she is unframed whom you have thus
kept a prisoner"
aaExcelencia, she is as pure as when she en-
tered beneath my roof" was his truthful reply.
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
turned his back for one moment as if to seek
tor some papers upon his table, while Miralda
was pressed in the boatman's arms. 1t was
but for a moment, and the next, Pedro was
bowling humbIy before Tacon. A few mo-
ments more and the Governors page returned,
accompanied by a monk of the Church of st.
Clara, with the emblem of his Office.
"Holy father" said Tacon, "you will bind
the hands of this Count Almonte and Miralda
Estalez together in the bonds of wedlock!!"
"Excelencia!." exclaimed the Count in amaze
ment.
"Not a word, Senior; it is your partto obey"
MY nobility, Excelencia..'
as forfeited" said Tacon.
Count Almonte had too many evidences be.
fore his minds eye of Tacon's mode of admin
istering Justice and of enforcing his own will to
dare to rebel, and he doggerdly yielded silence
Poor Pedro, not daring to speak, was half era
zed 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
bewildered girl not daring to thwart the Gov
errors orders, and the priest declared them
husband and wife. The captain of the guard
was summoned and dispatched with some writ.
ten order, and in a few subsequent moments
Count AImonte completely subdued and brok>
en- spirited, was ordered to return to bis plan
tation. Pedro and Miralda were 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
a single attendant soon passed out of the city
gates. But hardly had he passed the corner Of
the Pasoe, when a dozen muskets fired a yolIey
upon him, and he fell a corpse upon the road.
His body was quietly removed, and the Cap
tain Of the Guard, who had witnessed the act,
made a minute upon his order as to the time
and place; and, mounting bis horse, rode to the
Governors palace, entering the presence-cham-
Der Just as Pedro and Miralda were once more
summoned before the Governor.
"ExreIencia," said the officer returning the
order, ut is executed"
as the Count deadm
"Excelencia, yes"
"Proclaim. in the usual manner, the marriage
of Count Almonte and Miralda Etalez, and also
that she is his legal widow, possessed of his
titles and estates. See that a proper officer
attends her to the Counts estate, aud ~enforces
this decision" Then, turning to Pedro Mans
tanez, he said, "No man Or woman in this ISL
and is so humble but they may claim justice
of Tacon."