Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-03-28
Romantic Story and Tragic Ending.

This visit of the late Representative
Leonard OF Louisiana TO Cubs, where he
died of yellog fever. Friday week was ola
peculiarly interesting, delicate and roman
tic character. Some time ago, al New Or
leans. he met young lady, native or
Cuba. who was visiting ih. country with
her parents. aud between whom aud Judge
Leonard q warm attachment sprang up,
which ripened into love. \ marriage en-
gagenent was the result. but the parents
OF the young lady, 10 consequence OF her
youth opposed the match, aud Judge Leon
ard was no, permitted 10 see the object Of
hi. a.s-riiVu except In the presence Of her
pareuts When tue lime arrived Tor the de-
parture of the Cuban aud his family IRON
New Orleans, the young lady manifested
some reluctance 10 return homo. but al ar
rangement was finally made By which she
aud Judge Leonard were permitted 10 hold
free and unrestricted correspondence.
After her departure. Judge Leonard wrcte
her several letters. TO which no answers
were received, which annoyed him very
much aud gave rise TO the suspicion that
biz letters bad been Intercepted and the
yoGng lady preyrnted from commuDie ating
with him. After 4 long iaterrai. he feceiv-
ed a hritf letter from the lady, which simp-
IL stated that abe had not heard from him
since her return TO Cuba. and that she could
not hear from him. This brief letter bore
evidence OF having been hurridy written.
and its broken and soiled condition led
Judge Leonard to suspect that II had been
carried some distance by a negro to be Sc
creily mailed ARer writing other letters
aud waiting anXiou-ly for replies, be be-
came convinced that the parents of the
young lady were not acting In good faith.
and he determined to visit Cuba. A week
or two before his departure he called on
the President. and, informing him OF his
uoable, requested the President 10 write a
letter to the consul general requesting him
to ascertain. II possible, the situation and
whereabouts OF the lady. The President
did so. and 10 due time Judge Leonard re-
ceived cable dispatch from Havana.
which informed him that Maria had been
sent " a plantation in the country" This
| dispatch was not signed by the consul gen
eral. bat bore the name OF party unknown
| 70 Judge Leonard This added 10 his per
plexty, aud he determined TO set out at
once for Cuba. He called on Senior Man
tllla, the Spanish minister at Washington,
and making known TO him his trouble. OF
| tanned a letter from that official TO the cap
tain general OF Cuba, recommending him
| t. do whatever Was proper TO aid Judge
Leonard 10 his delicate mission. The sym.
pathies of Nine. Mantilla were also enlisted
| In behalf Of Judge Leonard, and she wrote
! 6 letter to the captain general to do every
thing possible 10 unite the lovers.
| With these letters Judge Leonard sailed
| for Havana. where he duly arrived. Moth
/ ing was heard from him directly until Fri
| DAY, when friend ct Washington received
q letter written by him from Havana
March Z. 10 which be said he had seen the
lady 10 the presence OF her parents Nc
details as to the success Of his mission were
furnished, bu, from the general tone Of de
spondency pervading the letter his frienc
believes he failed to obtain the consent o.
the parents 10 his addresses TO their daugh
ter. He had engaged bis passage home
when he was attacked with yellow fever
and the first mail adyices received from
him aud the telegram announcing his dealt
reached Washington almost Simultaneous
ly Friday week.