Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-08-18
AN INCIDENT OF CUBAN LIFE.
BY N. NJ. BALLoU.

ernorship there was young Creole gun,
named Mralda EStalez, who kept little
cigar store in the Gale de Mercaderes,
and whose shop was the resort of all the
young men of the town who loved a
choicely-made and superior cigar. Mi
raids was only seventeen, without moth
err or father living, and earned humble
though sufficient support by her industry
in the mandatory we have named, and
by the sales of her little store. She was
a picture of ripened tropical beauty, with
a fnaly-rounded form, lovely face. of
soft, ol5ve tint, and teeth that Tuscaro-
ra might envy her. At times there was
dAsh of languor in her dreamy eye
tlagt would have warmed an anchorite !;
and then her cheerful jests were so deli
cate yet free, that she had urwittingly
turned the heads, not to say hearts, of
half the young merchants in the Gale
de Mercadares. But she dispensed her
favors without partiality; none of the
rich and gay eXquisites of Havana could
s.y they had ever received any particu-
lar acknowledgment from the fair young
girl to their warm and constant atten-
ton. For this one she had pleasant
smile. for another few words Of pleas
ing gossip, and for third q snatch of a
Spanish song; but to none did she give
her confidence, except to young Pedro
Mantanez, a tine-looking boatman, who
piled between the Punta and Moro Cas-
tie, on the opposite side of the harbor.
Pedro was manly and courageous
young fellow, rather above his class IN
intelligence, appearance and associations,
and pulled his oars with a strong arm and
light heart, and loved the beautiful Mi
ralda with an ardor romantic iii its hdel-
ity and truth. He was a sort of leader
among the boatmcn in the harbor for rea-
son of his superior cultivation and intel
ligence, and his quick-witted sagacity was
often turned for the benefit of his com
rades. Many were the noble deeds he
had done in and about the harbor since
a boy, for he had followed his calling of
a waterman from boyhood, as his fathers
had done before him. Miralda in turn
ardently loved Pedro; and when he came
at night and sat in the back part of her
little shop, she had always neat and
fragrant cigar for his lips. Now and then,
when she could steal away from her shop
on some holiday, Pedro would hoist a
tiny sail in the PROV Of his boat, and Sc
curing the little stern awning over Mi
ralda's head, would steer out into the
gulf and coast along the romantic shore.
There was famous roue, we'll known
at this time in Havana, named Count Al
monte, who had frequently visited Miral-
da's shop and conceived quite a passion
for the girl, and, indeed, he had grown
to be one of her most liberal customers.
With cunning shrewdness and knowl-
edge of human nature, the Count besicg-
ed the heart Of his intended victim with
out appearing to do so, and carried on
his plan of operations for many weeks
before the innocent girl even suspected
his possessing partiality for her, until
one day she was surprised by present
from him of so rare and costly a nature
as to lead her to suspect the donors in
tentions at once, and to promptly decline
the offered gift. Undismayed by this,
still the Count continued his profuse pat
ronage in way to which Miralda could
find no plausible preteXt of complaint.
At last, Selling upon what he consid-
cred favorable moment, Count Almonte
declared his passion to Miralda, besought
her to come and be the mistress of his
broad and rich estates at Cerito, near the
city, and offered all the promises Of wealth,
favor and fortune; but in vain. The pure
minded girl scorned his offer and babe
him never more to insult her by visiting
her shop. Abashed but not COMPOUNDED,
81 10 -
new snare whereby he could entangle
her, for he was not one to be SO easily
thwarted.
One afternoon, not long after this, as
the twilight was settling over the town,
file of soldiers halted just opposite the
door of the little cigar-shop, when a young
man, wearing a Leutenant's insignia. en-
tered and asked the attendant if her name
was Mralda Estalez to which she timid-
ly responded.
Then you viii please to come with
me-"
by what cuthoyisy?" asked the t-cm-
bling girl.
The order of the Governor-G General"
''Then must obey you" she answer
ed and prepared to follow him at once.
Stepping to the door with her. the
Young officer directed his men to march
on and. getting into volante, told Mi
ralda they would drive to the guard-house.
But, to the surprise of the girl, she soon
after discovered that they were rapidly
passing the city gates, and Immediately
after were dashing off on the road to Ce-
rito. Then it was that she began to fear
some trick had been played upon her; and
these fears were soon confirmed by the
volante's turning down the long alley Of
palmes that led to the estate of Count
Almonte. 1t was in vain to expostulate
now she felt that she was in the power
of the reckless nobleman, and the pre-
tended officer and soldiers were ms own
people. who had adopted the disguise of
the Spanish army uniform.
Count Almonte met her at the door,
told her to fear no violence. that her wish
es should be respected in all things, save
her personal liberty; that he trusted, in
time, to persuade her to look more favo-
rably upon him, and that in all things he
was her slave. She replied contcmptu
ously 20 his words, and charged him with
the cowardly trick by which he had gal
ned control Of her liberty. But she was
left by herself though watched by his or
ders at all times to prevent her escape.
= But she felt a conscious strength in Pc
dro, and secretly cherished the idea that
he would discover her place of continc-
ment, and adopt some means to denver
her.
Small was the clue by which Pedro
Nantanez discovered the trick Of Count
AImonte. First this was found out, then
that circumstance, and these, being put
together, they led to other results, until
the interchangeable lover was at last fully
satisfied that he had discovered her place
of confinement. Discussed as a frair Of