The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-05

casualties of insult, Miralda retreated a
step, and at the same moment drawing
a small dagger from the folds of heI
dress, warned the count not to touch
her. Baked in his design, Almante
Withdrew, assuring the girl, with a
smile, that he did but jest; but as he
left the shop he bit his lip and cIinched
his fist with evident disappointment.
| When Pedro heard of what had hap
pened his Indignation was great, and
he resolved to take summary ven
geance; but Miralda begged him not to
precipitate, as she had now no fear OF
further mOlestatiOn from the count
and as days elapsed, and Almante had
not resumed his visits, it seemed ap-
parent that he had taken Miralda's
advice and transferred his custom else
where.
One evening, as Miralda was about
closing her shop for the night, a party
of soldiers halted before her door. The
commanding officer entered, and, with
out word, presented to the astOnished
tObacconist a warrant for her arrest.
Knowing that it would be useless to
disobey any officer i'm the employ of the
| hCi
readiness to accompany the military
escort, who, accordingly, placed her
| in their midst, and conducted her
through the streets in the direction of
the prison. But, instead of hating
here, the party continued their march
until they had reached the confines of
the city. Miralda's courage now de-
serted her, and, with tears i'm her eyes,
she appealed to the officer in COM
mand.
"Por la Virgen Santisima ~ she eX-
claimed, "let me know where l am
being taken to-"
"YOu will learn when YOU get there.
Our orders strictly forbid us to make
any explanation" was the only reply
she Obtained.
Miralda was not long i'm learning the
worst. Very shortly her escort halted
before Count Almante's castle, i'm the
neighbOrhOOd of the CerrO, and, hav-
ing entered the courtyard of that
building, the fair captive was conduct
ed trenblingly into a chamber elegant
ly fitted up for her reception. After
waiting here Il few minutes in painful
suspense, an inner door was thrown
open, and Count Almante stood before
her. The scene which then followed
may he better imagined than described.
We may be sure that the count used
every effort i'm order to prevail upon
his prisoner, but without success.
Miralda's invariable response was a
gleam of her dagger, which never left
her hand from the first moment of
entering the OdiOus building. Find
ing that mild measures would not win
the pretty tObaccOnist, the count, as is
usual under such circumstances with
persons of his nature, threatened her
with violence; and he would, doubt
less, have carried out his threat if
Miralda had not anticipated him by
promising to relent and become his il
her prosecutor would allow her one
short week to reconsider her deter
mination. Deceived by the girls as
sumed manner, Almante acceded to
her desire, and agreed to wait the pre-
scribcd number of days. Mlralda, how
ever, felt assured that before their ex-
piration her lover would discover her
whereabouts, aud by some means effect
her release. She was not disappointed.
Miralda's sudden disappearance was
soon made known to Pedro Mantanez,
who, confident that his beloved had
fallen into the counts clutches, deter
mined TO obtain access to Almante's
palace. For this purpose he assumed
the dress of Il monk; and his face he
ing unknown at the castle, he easily
obtained an entry, and afterward an
interview with Miralda herself The
girls surprise and joy ut behOlding her
lover were unbOunded. In his strong
embrace she became oblivious of her
sorrows, confident that the young boat
man would now conduct her speedily
into an harbor of refuge. She was not
mistaken. Pedro sought and obtained
an audience with General TacOn. The
general was, as usual, immersed in
public affairs; but being gifted with
the enviable faculties of hearing, talk
ing, and writing at the same moment,
merely glanced at his applicant, and
desired him TO tell his story. Pedro
did as he was desired, and when he
had concluded, Tacon, without raising
his eyes from the papers over which he
appeared intently engaged, made the
following inquiry,
as Miralda Estalez your sister?"
"NO. su eXcelencia, she is not" re-
piled Pedro.
"Your wife, perhaps?" suggested
the general.
"She is my betrothed."
General TacOn mOtiOned the young
man to approach. and then directing a
look to him which seemed to read him
through, held up crucifix, and babe
him swear to the truth of all that he
had stated. Pedro knelt, and taking
the cross in both hands, kissed it and
made the oath required of him. Hav-
ing done SO, the general pointed to an
apartment, where he desired Pedro TO
wait until he was summoned. Aware
of the brief and severe manner in
which General Tacon delt with all
social questions, Pedro Mantanez left
the august presence i'm doubt whether
his judge would decide for or against
his case. His suspense was not of long
duration. In an hour or SO one of the
governors guards entered, usheriDg i'm
Count Almante and his captive lady.
The general received the newcomers
in the same manner as he had received
the young boatman. In a tone of ap-
parent indifference he addressed the
count as follows:
wf | am not mistaken you have
abused your authority by effectiDg. the
abduction of this girl?"
al confess | have done sO," replied
the count, i'm a tone intended To assimi-
late that of his superior; 'but," he
| continued, with Il conciliatOry smile,
81 think that the affair is of such a
| nature that it need not occupy the at
| tention of your eXcellencN"
"Well, perhaps not" said his judge,
| still busy over the documents before
him. al simply wish to learn from
you, upon your word of honor, whether
any violence has been used toward the
girl"
"Non whatever, upon my honor"
replied Almante, land | am happy in
believing that none will be required" !"
as the girl already yours, then"
"NOt at present." said the count,
with superciliOus smirk, "but she
has promised to become mine very
shortly"
"Is This true?' inquired the captain
general, for the first time raising his
eyes, and turning to Miralda, who re-
piled,
"My promise was made only with a
view to save myself from threatened
violence"
ado you say this upon your Oath"'
"UpOn my oath l dOv
The general now ordered Pedro
Mantanez to Oappear, aud then carefully
interrogated the lovers upon their Ell
gagement. While doing so he wrote a
| L.