Squatter sovereign., 1855-04-17
Mlistfllaneous.
Written for Ballou's Pictorial.
THE POISONED DRAUGHT.
BY GEORGE p. BURNHAM.


GAS surely as nov speak this sentence,
ALTO. so surely will wed her." exclaimed
fiery-tempered Spaniard to his compan-
ion, at the conclusion Of their interview, one
clear starry evening.
"You promise well, Pierre,' responded
his friend; "but it is one thing to threaten,
and quite another affair to get rid of the
willy and handsome Englishman."
"We shall see, them" replied Pierre;
1--WE shall see anon;" and the friends sep
arated for the night.
The Englishman thus alluded to was
the Oldest son of rich gentleman Of Sus-
sex, who was then abroad, making a tour
of Europe. Ellis Mendon was twenty.
four years old, and had met the daughter
of wealthy Spaniard at Madrid, some
four months previously, of whom he be.
came enamored at first sight. The lady's
name was Estelle, and her father, Don
Sebastin Morelle, was the descendant of an
ancient and honored family in Spain.
Pierre Souall was high strung-fellow
valiant, determined, desperate in his likes
or dislikes, and a young man who was not
easily turned from his purpose, albeit he
was occasionally extravagant and unrea-
sonable in his follies. In the present in
stance, he had long been the favored ac-
quaintance of the Morelle family, and
was as deeply in love with the old don's
daughter as it was possible for such tenn
pered man conveniently to be. From the
fact that he had known Estelle for many
years, and had long intended, at some time
or other, to declare himself in the conf
dent expectation that the young lady could
not refuse an alliance with him), and,
moreover, entertaining a determination
that no rival.much less foreigner, should
ever displace him, he was not little
piqucd when he suddenly learned that Men
don had forestalled him in Estelle's favor,
and was actually her accepted lover.
The threat he made to his companion
ALTO was serious one, and he resolved to
carry it out, at any hazard. His first bus
mess was, however, to get rid of Mendon;
then he believed he could execute his OBJ
ject the more readily with Estelle. But
how was this to be accomplished
He could challenge the Englishman, he
thought, with or without cause. He could
insult him, and thus bring about meeting,
and slay the foreigner. This was promis-
ing, but for one simple reason. He had
learned the character and antecedents OF
his rival, and he knew him to be a most
adroit and accomplished swordsman.-
Might not the chances be thus against himi
For, to tell tie truth, Pierre Souall was
not skilled in the use of the rapier. He
could waylay him, and the poignard would
finish his business, neatly and effectually
This would do, admirably, only that Men.
don rarely exposed himself after nightfall
and always went we'll armed. Pierre Inn
agined that he might thus come off only
"second-best;" and at this suggestion, he
concluded to think it over little, though
not in accordance with his usual custom, II
cases where he was. so particularly ane
personally interested.
While the envious and unscrupulous ri
val contemplated upon the probability o
his chances of success with Estelle, and tn.
likelihood of his triumph over Mendon. ht
learned that the Englishman was TO b
present at supper, on the third day after
wards, at the residence of friend of hi
own, where Estelle, too, was to be a guest
Here was the opportunity for the certain
accomplishment of his will; stealthily, sure
ly, and all Unexpectedly. 1t was an cas-,
matter, in Madrid, to procure subtle po;s
on, and Pierre Souall went to the evening
feast prepared to finish his rival, who en-
tertained not the slightest suspicion of tn,
Spaniards feelings, or of his designs
against him.
The belle Of the feast was the delightful
and always charming Lady Estelle, who's
beauty and grace ofmanner had long come
to be known in the fashionable circles Q
the Spanish capital. Since it was curren
that she was the afianced of the gentle
manly and generous Englishman, NOR
than one of the sons of the lordly mobiles
who had fitted about her, had envied hi
enjoyment; but none were SO bitter as wa
Pierre Souall, who had secretly resolves
upon the foreigners death, and the gain
ing of Estelle's hand subsequently,.
| The fair lady was not ignorant of Pier
res passion for her, and she was also thor
loughly conversant with his desperate char