The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-05-06
CHAPTER i.
THg RUfPLED MARQUIS.

rHE RurFLEp MARQUIS.
"Isay will, eounti' cried the young Marquis 90
sorhauo 70 his companion, the Count de Perez, as
hey walked along the piaas hea.'ns s.eas
rrha M.rou,s was in his five and twentieth year /;
snonIv son: very proud, very sensitive, very rich,
and from boyhood up, very much accustomed TO
have his own way
ar thirty ave than thirty with bold, command
;ns Air. moderately good looking face, of modest
foptuue and with hue reputation ~ q soldier,
hayiug had the honor. with small handful OF men,
f thr,cs rescuing the standard Of his native city,
IN . siosIs battle from the Moors He was laugh
log cafe ,ess, good humored gentleman, with par
tculsr object 10 life except TO amuse himself and
was withal partly from nature and partly from ex-
perience, somewhat of . philosopher.
II say will. COUNT cried the marquis, who. as
the reader " Ill readily understand was considera
bly excited Il will call him out and run him
through. My b. nor dem ,nds it,
Ths count laugningly shrugged his shoulders.
20. if your honor demands it,, he returned,
have nothing more TO say, Still, would IKE TO
urge one little thought for your attention.
What Is III" asked the marquis
"rhis What If Juan, who, As can testify-ior
he gave me 4 sword thrust once for treadins In
c.u:iousiy on his shadow what Juan, say,
VINO WELD, as dexterous rapier as any man In
Toledo" -
Except Leon, the fair widows secretary" in
terrup:ed the marquis
the count, But what if Juan should refuse to be
run through, He is proud, ana, II You win take
mains 10 remember, not over apt to follow any
mans bidding He is impusive, high spirited.
hooks neither threats counsel, is wiry, supple
and 1uiek OF eye and hand. As for myself, though
I have seen some service, ard am considered TO
possess some skill ia the use of the sword should
he careful TO fee priest for masses for my soul,
ere I voluntarily went out TO match my blade With
JuAn's"
But my honor demands it'll" repeated the mar
oui., upon whom this gentle admonition had no eff
feet Jusn must meet meP'
80 you will not have to ask him twice." laughed
the count But seriously, now-you would not
fight man about a woman who would consider il
a blessed thing if seven eghths of her suitors-
Juan and yourself amongst them-wouId only kill
each other aad thereby relieve her of their impor.
tunites!"
No matter" said the marquis proudly. Il will
fght hm!'
ERE you do" said the count, as they approach
ed acted tavern the resort of the fast cavaliers
of the day, lets into the Lodge of our Blessed
Lady aod try q fagon Of 'Cadiz' Since nothing
eau say will drive this thought out of your head,
let's see if the generous grape will not be more
successful"
The count, followed by his companion pushed
his way through the garden, which fairly humUed
with the voices of gay throng, to IN unoccuped
table near the fountain and after giving an order
for two hagons of bis favori.e 'Cadz,' he ran his
clear dark eye rapidly around to observe bis i'm
mediate neighbours, and perceiving an old acquan =
lance smoking cigarette In a brown study, and
occasionally noistening his lips with q measure Of
wine, he smilingly muttersd-
Poor Lopez! hs is meditating upon the lecture
that awaits him from the gray mare, and wishing
bu self free cavalier once more!'
"Stay!" said the marquis. 'Something Is going
on
He made this remark on noticing that there was
q general movement on the part of the throng to
wards the entrance of the garden. Looking In
that direction, be and the count beheld short
stout parsonage with a small round head q sugar,
loaf hat, turned up nose, small thin lips, a re.
treating chin round shoulders and short arms
standing, in scarlet trunks and hose, on q large
table between two alguazi.s, one of whom held il
his right hand a long narrow rod, emblematic of hi
Office as constable, and in the other small hane
bell, which, at sign from the short, stout individ
ual, which was none other than the city crier, b.
nov rang to attract attention.
Hear, hear, all ye peoplel" cried the crier, in
wheszy voice Then turning to The alguazil on hi
right, he commanded him TO sound whereupo.
that worthy raised a long narrow trumpet to hi
lips, and blew a loud shril blast which grated OF
the of the crowd with a sharpness that causeC
many to shrink back with every nerve on edge
The crier. unfolding a roll of parchment, from
which danged large circular blue seal, held 1t up
and cried aloud In his wheezy tone. (which wa
scarcely heard through the din:
Hear, hear all ye people In the name of hi
most Catholic Ma esty, Charles the Second by thu
grace of God and the Spanish Monarchy King O
Spain, give audience"
In tue name of the King shouted the alsuazi
with the trumpet, in a voice of thunder
Every voice was hushed and every hat off, in IL
instant
The alguazil smiled triumphantly and glanced q
the crier TO proceed
The latter cleared bis throat, with 40 air of i'm
portance that provoked general smile, and the
read as 70 lows:
"Wharess it has been represented 10 US that DO
Garcia de Vega, whiom Of this court, is living con
ceaied un6ers false in our good c,y of To dc
this is to inform all to whom this proclamation
shall come, that whososver 10 cognIzant OF his abb
inc place snail reveal the to the Judge OF III
city ttibuns who is hereby charged to deliver him
bourd hsnd and foot II needs be, into our 10Y a
hands Ana II any pers IN or rersors to whom thl
prccls aton sh Ill come, be aware of the abioi y
Place of ths said Don Garcia de Vega soG shall wi
hold his knowledge ofihe Same from tho Off GER afore
SAID, such person or persons shall fyrf.iG all he
they may possess TO the crown and his their bodi.
bspublc burnt in the market place Sisnsd will
our HANDS and sealed with our most royal seal
"CHAaLEs, REX"
Hssing finished the reading of this epistle to tn.
Toledans, the crier, throwing up his short. rou oG
arm, shouted Long live the King T. and then fol
lowed by the alguazils, stepped carefully down
from the table, and, with iudcrous air of assum
ed dignity. took his departure.
AS ne disappeared, the spectators brea thed freer
and resumed their seats and winp and ere long
the atmosphere was Is heavy with the buzzing
murmur Of their voices as before
Don Garcia dc Vega" said the marquis to his
companion, who was looking down musingly -
who was het'
-, Il sm trying to think" answered the coupt.
put for the life of me, / cannot. The name is
nosting dimly IN my memory, like a wrecked shin
on the ses; but / am unabe to make out when.
Where, or under what circumstances frat head of
IT, 1t seems to me as lift belongs to one who made
noise iu political circles long time ago but am
not surer
Let ne enlighten you, gentlemen" said q voice
near them.
Ii was that of q parsonage at an adjoining table.
whom the count and marquis recognized As the
city recorder clerk
Don Garcia de Vega" he said, approaching
tnep, three and twenty years ago. was one of
the hings eounsellors and stood high at court;
Out haviag Incurred the enmity Of Ramirez, the
prime minister, whose brother he slew In a duel,
ne was charged with treason, his estates coufcated
and himself sentenced to the headsman; but,
through the instfumentslty of friends he avoided
the axe by escaping from prison the night pre-
cedns the day appointed for his execution, ing
WIN BIN, as was supposed, bis wife and babe,
since neither could be found after his flight Pub
lie sympathy was with him At the time, rs few be-
Heved him guilty of the charge which he was
arrsigped; most regarding it IS trumpsd up by
the prime minister to avenge the death of his kins-
man, who, was reported, had made dishonora.
Bile proposals. to Don Gareia's wife, who repealed
them with the indignation Of virtuous and high
born lady"
"Poor Gareia :" acclaimed the eount aEJa Ala