The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-08-07

| 1"4A w AlAACCllj Ao 10 ViAAo OesANdsoS NAAO1
prevents me from seeing
ARRIVING at San Felipe, they took off TIN
bandage The sudden and complete know
| ledge that he had Of his misfortune made hin
| lose his reason.
"San Felipe is small village situated fit,
miles from Arispe, to the south of the Ri
ella, in fertile but uncultiyate plain, ofwhicl
the greater part is occupied bymarshy rice
fields. The prodigious deposits of gold which
Sonora includes are more to the south. AT SAL
Felipe there are two Or three dozen cabin
grouped around wooden fort, which is sur
mounted by high tower. This tower wa
the place selected for Count Albert's prison
Gin the village there we're some who wer'
in favor of putting him todcath; but the sen
Tor alcalde and his council expected to Obtain
ransom for him. Hatred and avarice art
two Spanish passions, and between the two
the heart of true Mexican balances. These
Vecinos who pronounced for the counts
death were in the minority. The pleasure
which would be afforded by killing an enemy
who could furnish q ransom would have beer
criminal prodigality.
'.Ehe alcade was named Senior joan Maris
Tristany. He was grave, taciturn, thin
man, living upon tobacco, chocolate, and cold
water; a good christian-for he tasted three
days in the week Vt d thief up to the ends
Of his fingers.
ale had daughter, twenty years Of age
named Carmel.
"The poor Albert de Rosen could not see
her but she had a voice which descended to
the bottom of his heart And the Count AL
bert knew that size was as beautiful as an
angel. na
ESPECIALLY her hair They spoken Of her
BAREBACK as jet, softer than silk, and fall
ing, when she loosened it, even to her feet,
like the cloak of king"
Helene, who at this moment was looking
at George Leslie, lowered her eyes, as if too
much light had suddenly struck them.
"Donna Carmel, kind and charitable, hav-
ing learned that the prisoner was blind, wish
cd to afford him consolation She asked
permission Of her father to the tower.
'sThe old alcalde consented on condition
that she would say to the mayor that the We
cinos would be satisfied with eight thousand
ounces of gold for his ransom.
"When Donna Carmel entered the little
cell Of the captive, in the midst Of the dark
ness which oppressed him, it was as if a ray
of light had penetrated there. She sat down
by the side Of his bed. The bandage which
covered his eyes gave to her modesty GER
tain sort of security
s'In leaving him she oounseled him to ODE
dience to the will Of God, which is the true
courage Of sufferers.
az will return, sir cavalier she said.
"Albert asked to kiss her hand, but she
had crossed the threshold That night he
slept soundly.
''she came again the next day. Albert
touched with his lips t. sN Get tips of her
fingers. His heart saw land how beauti
full she seemed.
''The third day the voice %of Donna Car
mel trembled when she left the cell. She
said (: ~
sssWill you be my brother? will be your
sister,
THE fourth day her voice trembled still
more. She asked him it he had ever loved.
'sThe Count Albert discharged faithfully
the duty Of gentleman. He opened his
whole heart to her, where was craven the
image Of Ellen.
ssSiuce you love her, I will love her, muir
INJURED Donna Carmel
CHOSEN suspected that she had tears Ill her
eyes.
''The old alcalde, in the meantime, asked
his daughter every morning when the mayor
would pay his ransom.
ssFrom this time Donna Carmel and Ro-
sen spoke often Of Ellen. His long hours
of captivity had some relief. Sometimes she
would say:
ssHow sad she must be, far away from
you'll If your Ellen had been daughter Of
Mexico she added, you would not have been
alone. For myself, | would have said to my
affanced Il am willing to be your wife and
to share my half Of your dangers.
"Several months passed BY In this wood
Ell tower the heat was sitting during the day.
Rosen remained a part OF each night by the
side of the window to catch the fresh breeze
which blew from the northeast.
ssThis breeze came from Baltimore. 1t had
caressed the golden hair Of Ellen.
Gone evening, while thus alone, idle and
dreaming, he started suddenly and rose to
his feet.
'The wind brought to him a sound we'll
known, but one which he had not for long
time heard-the signal by which Towah and
Lille found each other when in the woods.
Gle thought it was dream-but the sig
nal was repeated Then silence reigned in
the darkness. %
"Roscn leaned out Of the window to en-
dcavor to hear some fresh noise.
''The village was asleep.
Gle heard nothing but the sad voice Of
the wind passing through the grand forests
Gas he was about to go to his couch shot
from carbine resounded afar off.
asIt is the sound Of Towahs carbine' cried
Rosen.
HE remained listening attentively until
the morning Donna Carmel came sooner
than was her custom.
"sAn Indian has been seen proving around
the ramparts,' she said,
"sIt is my servant, my faithful friend !!
cried the count. Save him, in the name of
God
II will save him. she replied.
"She went to the alealde, and said to him
esSir, the prisoner has intelligence from
without. An Indian from the mountains has
made his signals under the rampant
"I know itv answered Joan-Marla Iris
tany THANK God, our sentinels are Meth
er deaf nor blind