The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-01


the most lovely girl of DOsolirO and
the surrounding countryside, and the
young men of GravedOna spoke with
enthusiasm of her matchless beauty.
They named her The Mountain
Rose" and even the dreaded custom
house officers fell, one ana all prey
to the charms of the peerless daugh-
ter of Manila the smuggler. But the
latter guarded her with the most
savage ferocity, giving her this brief
counsel: "Amuse yourself as much
as you please with these young fools;
but beware of seriously encOurag-
ing any one of them, more especially
one of my own calling; for should you
ever become the fiancee of Snug
gler the lives of both of you shall pay
the forfeit"
All knew from the determined and
desperate character of the man that
he would keep his word
As yet Rosa had felt no temptation
to disobey the imperious mandate of
her father, for the young men Of the
neigh borhood had each and all failed
to walen the slum bering passions of
the darl-eyed beauty
4 care for none of them" she said
with proud Indifference, not unmin-
gled with contempt. But if ever L
meet with one whom I can truly love
the case will be different I shall
take my destiny IN my own hands,
About this time Constantine Val
sassina, a daring smuggler. and IA
nous hunter of the mountains, whose
name was well known as a desperate
in all the country round, appeared on
the scene. He was strong, courage
Gus and handsome. The hitherto
lage beauty was stirred to its depths,
and she determined that, come what
might she would wed no other than
this one hero this Napoleon Of the
forests. What did the bold and young
snuggler care for the threats Of Ma
nlla? He resolved that he would win
the splendid Rose of the Mountains,
and he kept his word.
She was just 20 years of age, and,
perhaps, had tired of the lonely life
she had hitherto been compelled to
lead, or it may be that her affections,
like some marvellous mountain plants.
were late in lowering; for never be-
fore had Rosa Manilla's heart been
stirred by that mysterious passion
which men call love. The first time
she met the hunter she only blushed
deeply, and then turned pale. He
noted the sigh, and then ventured
one evening at sunset, on returning
from the forest, to place a bouquet Of
mountain flowers on her balcony.
Instead of receiving them with in
difference or merriment, as was her
won't, she raised the smelling
blossoms to her lips and kissed them
with a sigh.
From that moment Valsassina felt
he had conquered, and the lovers lost
no opportunity of being together.
Soon the neigh bors began to gossip.
and those who had at first pitied the
girl, condemned to live a solitary and
loveless life. with strange inconsis-
tency now blamed her severely for
her disobedience to her father. Her
companions, the village maidens, be-
gan to experience the pangs of jeal-
ousy, for the handsom smuggler had
won other hearts besides that Of the
Mountain Rose. while the men felt
wounded because each imagined that
in past days she had shown some
preference for himself, and hated his
victorious rival accordingly While
they had all felt that she
could be the bride of none of
them. they had been resigned
to their fate; but the sight of the
newcomer, the adventurer, winning
the prize over their heads, was too