Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-02
THE FLOWER-GIRL GF MADRID

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The unhappy state of Spain-that land
where ardent feelings makes every disa
greemcnt, personal or political, assume
an aggravated and imbittered form
drove many inha abitants, some wears oro
to the nelghboring territory of France,
In Bordeaux alone, as many as twenty
thousand Spanlards fixed their residence
during the struggles betwixt the Carlists
and Christinos. The natives and the
strangers managed, on the whole, to de
very well together; and many perma-
nent connections were formed in conse-
quence o. their being associated in one
place, by the accidents of fortune and
war.
In 1884, the Countess de Villa Frente
came to live in Bordeaux. twas known
that She came from Madrid, but few or
none seemed acquainted with her private
history, or with the causes of her exile
No one accompanied her, with the excep-
ton of an infant boy, Oh whom she lavish
ed the most tender cares, and in reference
to whom the character Of widow was
very generally assigned to her, despite
her youth and unimpaired beauty. She
appeared rich, and kept up handsome
establishment, so that the best society of
Bordeaux was open to her at all times,
But, trough not stunning company alto.
gether, she lived, on the whole, in a re-
tired manner. and the most uncharitablc
could attach no impropriety to her name.
although she was q single and unprotect.
cd woman, and though more than one
sultor tluttered round her and sought her
good graces.
Such was the state of matters during
the first three years of her STAY in Bor.
deaux. At the end of that time. the
Countess, without any known cause. as.
sumed all the outward marks of deem
mourning, and threw her establishment
into the same sable colors. Within q
month or two afterwards, it was noticed
by obscryant eyes that she seemed To dis
tinguish more than usually certain
Monsieur Longpre, wealthy gentleman
of Bordeaux, who pursued her with un.
abated ardor for three years, in spite of
all her reserve, and even her coldness.
The alteration in her manner to him was
sufficiently pointed to lead people to con-
clude that he would be the happy man in
due time. But his own thoughts about
the matter were very unsettled, as the
following words from his lips will rartl,
prove. Seizing an occasion to press his
suit, when the Countess allowed him the
honor of an interview, he broke forth at
length in half reproachful tones:
"Incsilla, why prolong this state of
suspense, so torturing to me! Unless [
deceive myself, you favor me above others
around you; yes, you love NE. l own I
have this happy belief. What, then,
causes your hesitation, since you arc a
widow, and free! Is it not sot If YOU
are II owed by any feelings respecting
your child, you know that | love him,
and for your sake will love him always"
The countess, at these words, rose from
her seat, walked to where here guitar Law,
and ran heedlessly over its strings for a
few moments. She then turned to the
little boy who was playing near her, and
said to him:
''Juanito Juanito! go and drive your
humming top elsewhere; the noise gives
me headache"
The boy came and sought caress, and
then ran cheerfully away. After his de-
parture, there was a pause for minute
or two, which the countess broke in upon
him by saying:
Let us talk, Monsieur Longpre, Oh a
subject different from the last. This
guitar has remainded me of Spain-of
Madrid-and of Manuela, a poor girl
there. Her story is an interesting one:
listen, and will tell it to you; that is, if
you choose to hear it,
Though the lover was by no means
pleased at this evasion of the subject
which he had SO much at heart, there was
SO much of grave sweetness in the tones
with which the countess made the e.
quest, that he at once expressed his will
lingnesS to hear.
There lived at Madrid, five years
ago." began the countess, "a merchant
named Morales, whose fortune was so
considerable, that his only daughter was
deemed one of the best matches in the city
Dolores, as she was called, joined to her
pecuniary advantages countenance and
form which the young men Of Madrid
declared to be OF superior beauty. A
cavalier, the flower of the noble youths
of Spain, saw and loved her. l will spare
you my friend an account of all the con-
certs and serenades by which Don Miguel
sought to excite a reciprocal passion in
the heart of Dolores. Young, noble, ac-
complished, and rich, he soon made the
desired impression, and no obstacles be
ing interposed, he was received in the
house of Morales as an accepted suitor.
Like others of her race and sex, Dolores
was jealous Of possessing love where she
gave love: and again and again to please
her, Don Miguel vowed that the daughter
Of Morales was the only women who had
ever touched his heart, and thatsh should
be his last love, as she was his first. The
marriage day of the happy pair was fixed:
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