The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-19
A Lima Romance.

A most romantic story, and true
,ne, is now attracting the attention OF
society in Lima. In August, 1868, an
attempt was made on the life of Miss
Carmen Vidaurre, the daughter of Don
Melchor Vidaurre, an Associate Judge
Of the Supreme Court of Peru, by an
Ecuadorian servant in the employ Of
1er father. Miss Vidaurre, acknow-
lodged to be one of the reigning bellies
Of Lima-and in the matter of beauty
little more could be said-was noted
for her retiring and modest character.
Don Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos, son of a
former Minister of Peru to France, and
who had Just returned from Paris, per-
fectly educated, skilled in drawing-room
and Cabinet diplomacy, fell in love
with her. The tender sentiment was
reciprocated, but for some reason the
father of the lady frowned on the course
Of true love.
An Ecuadorian of good family, re-
Gently arrived in the city, became hope
lessly infatuated with the young lady in
question. Despairing of an opportunity
to declare his passion openly, for the
reason that it was well known that her
affections were engaged. the adventur-
Gus lover adopted the STACEY expedient
of entering the service of her father in
the somewhat modest character of o
butler. Installed in his new position.
this individual, whose name must not
appear, for reasons to be given here
after, by series of ridiculous postur.
ings and more absurd silent declara-
tons. rendered himself so Objectionable
as r, call forth a request from the
da,.rhte to her father to dismiss the
intrusive servant. The Judge was slow
to accede to the request of his daugh-
ter, and at last the servant actually
dared to make declaration to Miss
Vidaurre, threatening her with VEN
was made to her father. There was nc
hesitancy, however, on her part. She
told her father and he summarily dis.
missed the kcuadorian.
1t was only two or three days after
the dismissal Of the aspiring servant
when Miss Vidaurre had occasion to
leave her house on a shopping errand.
The young lady was reaching her house
accompanied by an old nurse, when
suddenly the discharged butler threw
himself upon her. knife il hsEd. pulled
her to the ground, and in a moment had
dashed his cowardly weapon into heI
breast, hoping to take from others the
prize denied him. Twelve or thirteen
times the fainting girl was struck by
her assailant. The nurse shrieked and
implored for assistance, but the street
was dark, and people were quietly at
home after the labor of the day. For.
tunately the strong corset used by the
victim. bound with ribs of steel, caused
the knife to glance aside, and thus all
fatal wounds were avoided, although
several severe flesh injuries were in
fiicted, and the young lady, now sense
less, was covered with blood and prone
on the sidewalk. The murderer thought
that his CHASTITY work was accomplished.
He turned away quietly, still keeping
the knife, and walked up the street;
but there was no escape. The cries OF
the nurse had attracted assistance. He
was captured, tried and sentenced to
fifteen years penal servitude, which is
now nearly ended.
Frustrated. naturally, more by the
nervous shock received than by her
physical injuries, the young lady re-
NAMED long an invalid. Her every
wish had to be obeyed, and she was
finally united to young Zevallos, who
for so long had been denied her door.
But now the fifteen years of captivity
are nearly concluded for the criminal.
Next month (0ctober) his term OF
Imprisonment will be over, and he is
to be let loose on the community, to
resume his love-making in such saw
age fashion. Rumors, and well found
ed, have been current for year gone
by that this man has vowed vengeance
on his quondam love; that her life
must atone for his sufferings in the Jail.
and that her death and that of her
husband at his hands would be a fit
sequel to his attempted tragedy. The
character of the culprit is well known
- desperate case = hardened, anG
struck in that soft point of South
Americans-theirs elf-pride and esteem
He cares not what may befall him sc
that his end may be accomplished
Mrs. Zevallos, nee Vidaurre,. can mo-
sleep. Her mind is becoming disor
dered; at dinner she insists upon the
food being examined; and, to crown all
her state of health, so affected BY
terror, has become so perilous that hei
husband has found himself obliged te
close his lucrative and growing law
practice-he being one of the foremos
advocates of the capital-sell his house
and movable property, and by this
steamer he carries his affrighted wife to
Paris, where they will be obliged to re-
main until death or kismet removes
this obstacle from the path of their hap
piness-Lima (Peru) Cor. N. Y. Her
aid.