The Van Buren press., 1878-04-02
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MISCELLANY.
A Romance of the Pyrinees.

am Spaniard, and the only son and
sole heir of Don Guznan de Mansoria,
grandee of Spain, of the second class.
by whom was educated according to my
fortune and exalted rank At the age of
twenty-five lost my father. 1t is the
custom in Spain, that at the death of the
father, the mobiles should wear mourning
for one year, and pass that time in state
of absol tie solitude at their remotest es
tates. l loved my father tenderly, and
deeply regretted his loss. l observed
holy duty. and in conformity thereto re-
moved into Arragon. where had cas-
tie situated at the foot of Maladetta, on
the extreme frontier between Spain and
France. This was in the year 1879,
when Spain was still beautiful and nigh
ty, although the nobility and clergy ruled
it with an iron despotism and the feu-
dial laws, more rigidly enforced than they
had ever been, even in France, were bet
ter consolidated by the perfect understan-
ding on this point between the priests
and the crown. The mobiles ruled the
people, and the king ruled all. For my
part, frankly admit that ! was proud of
my title as count, and priced the prerog-
atives of my rank and the rights of my
birth. My steward dispensed justice to
my vassals in my name, and when his de-
cisions appeared unjust to them, they APP
pealed to me in person,
The gallows, which stood before the
great gate Of the castle, pithily announc-
ed my power of condemning to death
within the limits of my county. BY law
all smugglers were subject to this rigor-
Gus penalty, to which my deputy always
condemned them with unsparing scveri-
ty, and which | always committed to q
lighter punishment. At this time the
smugglers were in greater numbers than
they are now, and, as had received d.
rcctions from court to suppress this lille.
gal traffic, had armed my vassals, who
patrolled all the defles and by roads,
secured the mountains, and assisted the
officers of the kings customs on all oc
casions, This rigorous pursuit of the
smugglers increased their audaeity, and
inspired them with desperation and re-
venge. Before, they were only dealers
in prohibited articles they now became
brigands, organized regular bands into
troops, and offered open resistance in the
field to the kings and my jurisdiction.
One day fifty Of my people were at
tackled near La Picade and cruelty mas
sacred by these bandits; whereupon
vowed never again to remit or commute
the sentence of my deputy, but to hang
up the first smuggler that should be cap
tured.
A few days afterwards the worthy
functionary was announced, and present
ed me with death warrant for my sig
ature. hestated, trembled and could
not proceed. 1t is such shocking. chill.
ling thought that u few letters, so rapidly
and easily traced. should nave the power
of deprivlng fellow creature of life l
tried to read the sentence, but my eyes
were clouded, and l could not see dis
tinctly, so | asked the steward to read it.
He commenced in an official tone, but
stopped him at the second line--when l
found that the culprit was girl only Is
years OLD
"My lord" said the functionary, "Mi-
ianctta is tHe uauehteE VI tue captain VI
the smugglers, She daily deceves the
vigilance of the guards, and passes and
repasses between Spain aud France with
intelligence to direct the movements of
the two troops Of bandits, and they could
not possibly battle our authority but for
her. This woman is guilty, have con
demn,d her, and it is your duty to sane
ton the laws award. You have pledged
yourself to the rigid execution of justice
to your vassals, and you owe it to the
king. The word of Spanish grandee is
sacred; therefore, my Lord, you must
sign that paper
Never! What! send girl only Is
years old to death! l couldn't muster
strength.to az it. What did she urge in
her defence f''