National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-02-04

y
Cuban of good family, whom mis-.
fOrtuue had rendered poor, and who
was dependent upon the bounty of
some distant relatives. 1t was ru-
mored that shc--Estelle-had been
at one time affianced to a cousin
"a Cuban, alsO--but that, in con,
sequence of the poverty of bOtll, her
friends had succeeded in breaking
off the engagement. But, when l
saw the lady, ] could not credit the
story. She was 50 happy and so
careless that ! would have sworn
she had never been in love. She
was a child of laughter and song.
Like some bright winged butterfly,
she danced amid the most perfumed
flowers. Her eyes were black, flash
ing, even restless, ana nothing can
paint her rich and glowing complex.
ion. Her form was tall, slight and
willowy hci head magnificent in
it's proud poise, with its wreath of
banded raven hair. But enough !!
She was more than beautiful. and |
was soon enthralled and became
her slave. l placed both my fortune
and my heart at her feet, and she
took them up with words of burn
ming gratitude and love. Our troth
was plighted, and in due time we
became man and wife. For a year
one little blissful year-she was all
my own. We travelled in strange
lands, ,and she appeared very happy.
Her every wish was gratified, and l
could have showered blessings upon
her fair young head
He paused. walked the floor rap
idly, looked out into the clear night
as if to cool his hot brain and still
the wild beating of his heart, then
controlled himself by mighty
effort, reseated himself, and again
continued:
'We returned home. Upon the
evening of our arrival, she was told
that her cousin was visiting with
friends who resided near. When
we were alone, she wound her arms
around my neck, and sail, with a
pretty pout:
Il have got to he polite to cousin
Carlos. But he is so tiresome and
exacting! Besides, have neither
eyes nor ears for any one but you,
my darling
Il cannot recall all | said, but l
gave her permission to entertain
her cousin at our house. But from
the first moment we met detested
him although he was loud in his
praise of the beauty of Estelle, her
good fortune in marrying me, and
my extreme kindness to her. he
was a baushty, Overbearing man,
with small white hands, sparkling
with Jewels, and to the ladies ex.
ceedingly polite-in fact, favorite.
about this time | became deeply
engrosscd in business, and was away
from home much of the time. Yet
| had noticed no change in Estele.
She was tender and fond as ever,
aud often clung 20 me with caresses
when I was leaving. But one day
| awokc from my dream of bliss to
find my wife thing | cannot name.
. God how many times have iiv.
ed over the horror and madness OF
that day! 1t does not matter row
how found out her Infamous peril
dy. Enough that | learned it with
my owl eyes and ears. Learned
| thank Heaven that | did not &c
insane that | was dishonored -
that, even when lying in my arms
clasped to my heart, she had onl,, :,
loved her corsin.'
He paused as he had previously
done, took a heavy draught of cold
water. bathed his head, and, chock
ing down sighs and sobs, r, sumed
There '"as no doubling the terri
bic know lge that come upon mt
like the it, blasting lightning 8
and | sto with heart and brail
of fire, b, body Of stone. tried
to raise n strong right arm to xii
them botl n the very midst Of theil
guilty love, but it hung powerles'
and paralyzed by my side. They
passed out almost without any
knowledge Of my presence and
cannot tell how long remained II
my place of concealment, or wheth
er lost my consciousness. | only
know that, at last, | was following
them down the garden. walk, with
knife in my hand. could see he
I soft, white dress floating out from
the green shrubbcry; and, takin,
7 another path, intercepted and stOo'
j, suddenly in front of them. Some
; thing in my face caused Estelle t
drop the arm of her lover an'
scream with fright and the mex
instant my knife was buried in hi
black, pcrfiduous heart. She cluns
wildly to me, and shri Jked for mer
cy. / cannot tell what / replied
what stayed my arm, for l had full.
r intended to kill them both. | tor
D the arms Of Esielle from around N.
!. neck, and with it a long lock q
f shining hair that had become fils
c tened to \ button, and crushed
4 under my heel as ] would have don
= a viper. Then holding her at arm
!, length and forcing her to look at INT
! | poured out the knowledge Of he
r shame and sin. She wilted like
: flower; and 1 pushed her, and sll
Il fell in IL swoon upon her lover
s Then | rushed to u valued frient
n and told him, in hurried words, ,wha