Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-06-28
Mist.s Ilanp
THE BRIDE OF AN HOUR.
I sKErcH Of laYou nRIDE.


happened. when 4 was mere boy.
scarcely ont of my teens, but / have
known the heroine, and you, too,
have known her, much later. -
Where the unseemly heap Of broken
bricks and mortar IIhave shown YOU
lay, arose once q stately mansion,
from whose bright windows the
sound pf music and merriment night
3ly told Fof thelife of pleasure its hap
py inmates led. II was about the
time that Spain retroceded this colo
ny louisiana) to tile French, who
sold ~ to the United States, Don
Vicente de Almedo was one of the
Spanish gentleman TO be-
found in the colony; there was his
villa, and there he kept his mostpre-
cious Treasure, his daughter Maria,
or Nqriquita Ia linda, as she was
commonly named by her numerous
admirers. Maria was the life Of her
father his love for her amounted to
alteration; the old hidalgo thought
and dreampt only Of his daughter 4 to.
satisfyall her wishes, all her whims,
was his continual study. She was
motheriess, and she was his only
child. Maria at sixteen was Justly
termed "a beauty; Of petite stature,
her hands and feet were those Of a
child; her raven tresses would have
touched her feet, if freed from the
golden comb that kept them twisted
like d crown over Her well-shaped
head. Her large black eyes, that
Iteld her Castilian blood, shone with
n light divine, and while they reveal.
ed all the sweet gehtleness OF her
soul, 4 sparkling glance would tell
how deep was the passion which
slept 10 her quiet heart. Her face
Charming; an arch smile played
around her redIlips, and her voice Ind
Il musical sweetness that went to the
heart No wonder then thatshe was
the admired of all admirers. Hpn-
dreds of yoting men sighed for her.
Severed dnelsl had been tonight. by de
spairing lovers. Don Vicente had
received oyertures from many aristo-,
cratic and wealthy families, but his.
.inyariableI answer was that Maria
would not be controlled By. him, but
make her own choice.
That choice was made at last
Charles Du Mesnil, d gay young
Frenchman, wasthe happy mortal "a
He was young, rich and brave; hA5
loved truly ard sued with ALI the elo!
quence of love. Maria's heart was
his. The cid father felt At first a
kind Of jealousy, when he saw that
his daughter shared with another
that affection which had been lis
alone besides, there were many gal
liant young Spaniards, inI ait the
equals Of Du Mesnil, Why should,
Ebis daughter choose a foreigner, and
THAT too, when she saw Louisiana re-
turned to the French, and he had re-
solved on returning to SPAIN But
when he sawahow happy his child
was, when hedsaw that radiant face,
made more beautiful still blythe light
Of love, when he learned 10 appreci-
ate fully the noblenatureof the young
5Frenchman, he would put no obstacle
to their happiness, and liked the day
FIR their nnl1fials ls f@ 54sf
Z How quick fhe few months delay.
passed for the old man, and yet how
slow time seemed to run for the
young lovers. The eve Of the great
day at last arrived numerous guests
had been invited to the reioinings,
after the return of the happy pair
from The church.; Maria was osbe
married in the old Cathedral, where
her mother had become The happy
bride Of Don Vicente On that eve
Don Vicente was seized with a vio-
lent fever, and the doctor pronounced
Ibis state dangerous. Maria wished
to pnt off her nuptials, bltIthe old
man would not consent to it; Ehe
blessed his darling child, and an old
friend and cousin undertook TO lead
ther to the altar.
The ceremony is over. the happy
Du Mesni1 clasps his beautiful BRIDE
Ito his arms: they are ii the family
carriage, and the proud coachman On
tthe seat starts his horses To- a sharp
frots followed BY numerous equipa-
lges Of the invited guests. They will
isoon arrive; but what lnrid glare Is
That beyond the turn Of tile road l--
| What noises Onward I onward ] Y
Alas! tie mansion is on fix! Red
| flames thrust their curved tongues
Through The windows of the lower
floor, and Don Vicente's room il ii
the story above, .Es5
tsv.s Fatheri where is my father r.
tcffes the Young bride, springingiout
lof tlic carriage. An ominous silence
reighs among the horrifed bv-stand:
ers. III one IF them points ID Tile closed
window above. 8 Charles II inyh hs-
Ibandl Oh ] save save my father -
Du MesniI has moi hesitated. With
presence Of mind and GOODNESS OF ac-
Etion, he runs to an ont honse yet m
touched BY the flames, re-appeaEs
" IT, y q, - II e Il