The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-05-12
THE BRInE OF AN HOUR.
A SKHTli OF BAYOU BRIDGE,


my teens, hut have known the heroine,
and, you too have known her, but much
later. Where tho unsecmly heap of
broken bricks and mortar l have shown
you lay, arose once n stately mansion, from
whose bright windows tho sound Of music
snd merriment nightly told of tho lilo of
pleasure its happy inmates led 1t was
about tho time that Spain retrocccded
.his colony 7 YI,ourisana) to the French, who
sold it to the United States. Don Nj
ccnto dc Almedo was one Of the richest
Spanish gentlemen to be found in the
colony; there was his villa, and here ho
kcrt his most precious treasure, his Jaugh-
Ter Maria, or Muriquita la linda, as she
was commonly named by her numerous
admirers. Maria WAS the life of her old
father, his love for hof amounted to
alteration; tho old lidalgo thought and
drompt only Of his daughter; to satisfy
al her wishes, all her whims, was his con-
tiuual study. She was motherless, and she
was his only child. Maria at sixteen was
justly termed beauty; of petite stature,
her hands and feet were those Of child :;
her raven tresses would have touched her
feet, if froed from tho gold comb that kept
them twisted like a crown over her well
shaped head. Her large black eyes, tl,a:
told of her Castiian blood, slone with a
light divine, and whilst they revealed all
tho sweet gcnlcncss Of her soul, a spark
ling glance would tell how deep was tie
passion which slept in her quiet heart
Her face was charming; an arch smile
played around her red lips, and her voice
had musical sweetness that went to
the heart. No wonder then that she
was the admired Of all admirers. IIun-
dreds of young men sighed for her.
Several duels had been fought 10y de-
spairing lovers. Don Vicente had re.
ceived ovcrturcs from many aristocratic
and wealthy families, but his invarble
answer was that Maria would not be
controlled by him, but make her own
choice.
That choice was made at last Charles
Du Mesnil, n gay young Frencbman, was
the happy mortal. lie was young, rich
and bravo lie loved truly and sued will,
MI the eloquenco Of love. Maria's heart
was his. The old father felt at first a kind
Of jealousy, when he saw that his daug gh.
ter shared with another that affection Which
had been his alone; besides, there were
many gallant young Spasiards, in all the
equals of Du Mesnil. Why should his
daughter choose foreigner, and that, too,
when he saw that Louisiana returned TO the
French, and he had resolved on returning
70 Spain. But when he saw how happy
his child WAS; when lie saw that radiant
face, made more beautiful still by the light
of love; when lie learned to appreciate
fully the noble nature Of tho young French
man he would put no obstacle to their
happiness, and fixed the day for their nup-
tials.
How quick tho few months delay
passed for the old man, and yet how
slow time seemed to..run for tho young
lovers. Tho eve Of tho great day at last
arrived; numerous guests l,aG been in
vited to tho rejoicins', after the return
OF the happy pair from the church; Ma,
ria WAS to be married in tho old Cathc.
dral where her mother had become the
happy bride Of Don Vicente. On that
cvo, Don Vicente was seized witI, violent
fever, and the doctor pronounced his state
dangerous. Maria wished to put of her
nuptials, but the old man would not con
sent to it; lie blessed his darling child, and
an old friend and cousin undertook to lead
her to the altar.
The ceremony is over tho happy Du
Mesnil clasps his beautiful tridc to his
arms, they are in the family carriage, and
the proud coachman on the scat starts his
horses to sharp trot, followed by the nu.
merous equipages Of the invited guests
They will soon arrive; but what lurid glare
is that, beyond that turn in the road
What noise7 Onward, onward Alas
the mansion is on fire! Red flames
thrust their curved tongues through the
windows of tho lower floor, and Don vi.
'cente's room is in the story above.
Father! where is my father. 2 cries the
young bride, springing out Of the car
riage. An ominous silence rcigns among
the Mortified bystandcrs, rs one Of them
points TO the closed window above
Charles! my husband! Oh! save my
fatlern Du Mesnil has not hcsitated.-
With presence Of mind and GOODNESS of &C
ton, he runs to an clubhouse yet untouched
by the flames, and 70 appears with lad
der and an ax. In an instant he is at tho
window, and attacks it with repeated
blows. 1t is open, and a dense smoke is.
suing from it tells tile painful fact that the