Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-12-13

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vt,, A TALE OF CUBA.
Don Manuel De Cartney was one of the
wealthiest planters in the western portion Of
Cuba. He owned broad lands and numer-
Gus slaves, and his revenues derived from
them were so great that the money flowed
into his Golfers with steady current which
bid fair to amass for him fortune in gold
scarcely inferior to that Of his estates
The Don was possessed with but one child
and heir to all these huge estates, ard this
was daughter, as beautiful as poets
dream, or ever lover conceived his mis-
tress to be Tiki
Fair indeed was tina beautiful Inez, As
her father was rich so was she beautiful.
Lovers she had by the score, who one
and all vorsbipped her, as they would some
fair saint But to one did she give .encour-
agement, and he, like most Of the others,
was banished from home
Don Manuel-had no notion that any com
mon lover should carry of his daughter,
much less an American, who had only his
good looks to recommend him .at
He had rendered his daughter some little
service upon one occasion at a crowded fair,
and for this she bad been very grateful, and
in return had asked him to the house.
\ To this the don had made no objection,
but his sharp eyes bad soon discovered that
the American was daring to make love to her,
so one day he impaired to him the informa.
ton tina. his presence there was no longer
desirable
\ Walter Garland took this rather plainly
impaired hint and departed but he did not
by any means give up the plans he had in
view So long as he felt sure Of the love of
Inez, he did not despair.
There were ways enough for him to see
her, if it was not in the old don's drawing
rooms, he reasoned, and he determined to
improve them.
Two or three times they had met thus,
while the cid don was put asleep aud uucon-
scious of what was going on under his very
nose.
He thought that Inez like dutiful child,
had obeyed him by casting off her American
lover, who. he deemed. was only after his
gold, and had sought his child as a matter
Of speculation.
One evening, gust as the sun was going
down, and the western sky was all afame
with purple and gold, Inez sat by the vim
dow of her apartment. which opened out into
the grounds which surrounded the house
A casket of jewels lay open upon the table
by her side, sparkling in the golden light
that flashed 10 through the window.
She was expecting the arrival of her low.
err as soon as the darkness was we'll down,
and was arraypg herself so that she might
please him, whom she loved with all her
soul.
The rising of the moon was to be the sig
nal of his coming, but that would not
follow the sunset for more than an hour, 30
she had plenty of time to make herself look
as beautiful as possible in his eyes.
Taking glittering necklace from the
casket she threw it over her beautiful head,
while each gem of which it was composed
flashed like fame in the, golden light
Thus engaged in beautityiug her person
for the eyes of him she loved, she was not
aware that evsry motion Of hers was watched
by the sinister gaze of person SO close to
her that she could almost have touched him
had she put out her hand.
Crouchirg beneath the window by which
sheasat was man whose every look showed
him to be villain of the very deepest dye,
and one who would not hesitate to strike a
blow in the breast of innocence, if thereby
be could accomplish bis wicked ends
He had gained bis present position un-
seen by Inez, who, absorbed in the comtem.
plation of her jewels and her toilet, had cast
no look outside.
From out the other building on the op
posite side of the court he had crept, keep.
ing behind that which would afford him shell
ter until be had gained the position in which
We see him.
With every movement of Inez, and with
every flash of the jewels, the eager, wistful
look deepened upon the face of the villain,
! and blended with that which bespoke the de-
pravity Of his soul, while his hand played
nervously with long murderous looking
knife which he carried but half concealed 10
hissgarments.
Evidently he would have slain her with
out the least hesitation, to have possessed
himself of the wealth she was all uncon
sciously displaying to his eager eye.
That to rob the house or her, was his In
tenticn, there could be no doubt. With biz
body half hidden by the shrubbery which
grew beneath the window, be remained mo-
tionless, but with his eyes fixed upon ths
jewels. 'a a.aa
And SO the sun went down, and the gold
en- light died out, and the shadows OF nigh
began to usurp its place sa-I ei
Still lnez' sat by the window as she hao
done for the hour past. But her eyes were
no longer fixed upon her jewels, but out
through the window to catch the first glimpse
of her lover, who would come with the hrs'
rays Of the white moon beams falling upon
the grounds without. sfaa's + ad
The villain beneath the window did moi
try to look into the room now. He dared
not do it for fear be should be detected