Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-08-01
oIs Miralda Estalez your sister?''

replied Pedro. +
"Your wife, perhaps 2" sugges
ted the general. ...a ~.
e"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 a crucIfix and made him swear
toothe truth of all that he had
stated. Pedro knelt, and taking
the cross in both hands, kissed it
and made the cath required of
him. Having done SO, the gener-
| APPOINTED to an apartment, where
he desired Pedro to wait until he
was summoned. Aware of the
brief and severe manner in which
General Tacon dealt with all So
cial questions, Pedro Mantanez
left the august presence in doubt
whether his judge would decide
for or against his case. His sus-
penSe was not of long duration.
In an hour or so, one of the gov
ernor'S guards entered, ushering
in Count Almante and his captive
lady. The general received the
newcomers in the same manner
as he had received the young
boatman.4 In tone of apparent
indifference he addressed the
count as follows: .: .
s'If | am not mistaken you have
abused your authority by effecting
the abduction of this girl?'
81 confess l have done So re-
piled the count, in a tone inten-
ded to assimilate that Of his SUI
perior; "but," he continued, with
a conciliatory smile, Il think that
the affair is Of such a nature that
it need not occupy the attention
Of your excellency." ..
@ "WelI, perhaps not" said his
judge, still busy over the docu-
lnentS before him. Il simply
wish to learn from you, upon your
word of honor, whether any vio-
-lence has been used toward the
GIRL"
"None whatever, upon my hon.
or, replied Almante, "and | am
happy in believing that none will
be required
''Is the girl already yours, thent''
"Not at present, said the count,
with snpercilious smirk, 'but
she has promised to become mine
very shortly"
lis this true?" inquired the
captain general, for the first time
raising his eyes, and turning to
Miralda, who replied
"My promise was made only
with view to save myself from
threatened violence"
DO you say this upon your
oath?"
Upon my oath, | do y
- The general now ordered Pedro
Mantanez to appear, and then
carefully Intercepted the lovers
upon their engagement. While
dong SO he wrote dispatch and
handed it to one of his guards.
When the latter had departed,
Tacon dispatched messenger in |
quest of a priest and lawyer
When these arrived, the general
commanded the priest to perform
the ceremony OF marriage between
Miralda Estalez and Count AL |
mante, and bid the lawyer pre-
pare the necessary documents for
the same purpose.
The count, who had already eX-
pressed his veXation at what
promised to be an attempt to de-
prive him OF his new iavorite by
allying her with the boatman,
was Mortified when he heard what
the governors mandate really was.
His Indignation was extreme, and I.
he endeavored 10 show how pre-
posterous such an alliance would
be by reminding the general of
his noble birth and honorable call /
ing. Pedro was equally disap-
pointed at being thus dispossessed
of his betrothed, and appealed to
Tacon's generosity and sense Of |
right. Miralda remained speech
less with astonishment, but with
the most perfect reliance in the
wisdom of her judge. Mean
while, in spite of all remonstran
ces, the marriage was formally
celebrated, and Miralda Estalez
and Count Almante were man and
wife. The unhappy bridegroom
was then requested to return to
his palace in the Cerro, while his
bride and her late lover were de-
sired to remain.
Upward of an hour had passed
since the counts departure, and
nothing further transpired. They
governor had resumed bis busi-
ness affairs, and appeared, as be-
fore. utterly unconscious of all