Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-11
demonstrations, his assurances aud

heart and kissed a hurried fare
well.
He must get her ont of this
moster's clutches-bnt how2 The
count was rich and, powerful,
while he, Pedro, was a poor soldier
with no influence to aid him. He
had heard Tacon, the governor
general, loved justice; he would ap-
peal to him, and he determined to
go to him at oace.
He gained an audience laid and
thematter before him IN a straight
forward way, giving the details OF
Miralda's abduction with vigorous
earnestness. When lie had finished
the governors general asked:
is Mlralda your sisterF
'She is my betrolhed,' proudly
replied Pedro.
Tacon looked at him searching
ly, aud then, turning. picked up a
crucl1x and commanded him 10
swear 20 the truth of what he had
said, while his keen, penetrating
eye seemed to look into the inner
most soul VT the man before him.
Pedro knelt and kissing the
cross made oath.
TacOn took leave of him Tor a
few moments and bade hlm walt
Two hours laler the count and
Miralda were brought before
TacOn. With his usual sIerDness
Tacon demanded:
Count Almont, yOu adopted tue
uniform of the guards TO work
your own private purpose upou
this young girl, did YOU notf
ExcelIeucla, DID, the count re-
piled.
Declare, SIT, upon your honor
whether she whom you haye had
as prisoner is unharUled.'
'Exce,eucia. she is as pure as
when she entered beneath my root
was the reply with a sneering ac'
cent which conveyed an imputa
ton of her former chastity
Turning from the group to an
attendant he requested the pres
ence of priest from the cDufch
near by. In a few minutes the
priest entered.
Holy father said Tacon, you
bind the hands of this Count Al
mont and Mralda Esralez together
in wedlOck.'
tExcelIenciav cried the count IN
CONSERVATION, while the girl anC
her lover exclaimed protest in dis
mayed concert.
Not a word, SaDOr,' sternll
commanded TacOn.
Bat mY nobility, Excellencia'
rbe count traglcally explained.
your nobility, is forfeited. slr,
calmly returned TAcon.
The three people forming such a
dramatic tableau knew 1t was use
less 70 combat the power beior'
them, ami so they stood as If beref
of hope and waited the final wort
which was to end human existe nee
The count was the picture q
logged Submission, which bood &c
NJ good when revenge was IN n'
oOwer. Poor Pedro stood like
statue, with a half craLed ant
desperate expression on his white
haggard face, looking upon th'
bowed head of the weeping Mlrald'
as if all that Was dear in life wa
being snatched from him.
} AZ If bereft Of her senses tb
wretched MralGa stood throug'
the marriage ceremony. When Il
r was over Tacon summoned a cal
tain OF the guard, to whom H.
gave a histlly written order. II
: then directed Miralda aud Pedr
to remain. while the cOnnt wa
I commanded to go to his castle.
The miserable couple waited II
silence; the governor general wen
on with the routine OF business
r quietly A guard entered, and
= he, looking mp, asked: SIS my or
} der executedT
Yes, excellencia. Nine bullet
= passed through the counts bod
@ as he rode round the corner OF 10
street you mentioned
n TacOn calmly turned TO u
s priest and said: You will see tina
the legal announcement Is made
i the marriage Just performed here
b as well as the legal annOunc
1 ment of the death OF Count a
!. mont, with the addltOoA that b
y widow becomes sole helresS
q hls property and his Hame.'
d Tnen with queer little s'nll
=